Assab Steel Wires,ASSAB XW-5 Cold Work Steel Wire

Assab Steel Wires ASSAB XW-5 Cold Work Steel Wire Product Information -:- For detailed product information, please contact sales. -: Assab Steel Wires ASSAB XW-5 Cold Work Steel Wire Synonyms -:- For detailed product information, please contact sales. -:

Assab Steels ASSAB XW-5 Cold Work Steel Product Information -:- For detailed product information, please contact sales. -: # Technical Datasheet: ASSAB XW-5 (AISI A2 Type) Cold Work Steel --- ## **1. Product Overview** **ASSAB XW-5** is a premium **air-hardening, medium-alloy cold work tool steel** developed by Uddeholm (now part of the ASSAB group). It is the ASSAB proprietary designation equivalent to the widely recognized **AISI A2 grade**. This steel is engineered to deliver an **excellent balance of wear resistance, toughness, and dimensional stability** during heat treatment, making it one of the most versatile and widely used cold work tool steels globally. Characterized by its **5% chromium content**, XW-5 hardens by air cooling, which minimizes distortion and quenching stresses compared to oil- or water-hardening steels. It offers better wear resistance than O1 oil-hardening steel and significantly better toughness than high-carbon, high-chromium steels like D2. This combination makes it a **"workhorse" grade** suitable for a vast range of precision tooling applications requiring good performance at a reasonable cost. --- ## **2. Key International Standards & Designations** | Country/System | Standard Designation | Equivalent Grade Name | | :--- | :--- | :--- | | **Sweden / ASSAB** | **ASSAB XW-5** | Proprietary Brand Name | | **USA (AISI/SAE)** | **AISI A2** | UNS T30102 | | **ISO** | **ISO 4957:2018** | **1.2363** | | **Europe (EN)** | **EN ISO 4957:2018** | **1.2363** / X100CrMoV5 | | **Germany (DIN/W-Nr.)** | **1.2363** | X100CrMoV5-1 | | **Japan (JIS)** | **JIS G4404** | **SKD12** | | **United Kingdom (BS)** | **BA2** | - | | **China (GB)** | **GB/T 1299-2014** | **Cr5Mo1V** | --- ## **3. Chemical Composition (Typical %)** The composition of XW-5 is optimized to provide good hardenability through air quenching, adequate wear resistance from carbide-forming elements, and sufficient toughness. | Element | Weight % (Typical) | Metallurgical Function | | :--- | :--- | :--- | | **Carbon (C)** | 1.00 | Provides matrix hardness and forms carbides for wear resistance. Balanced for good toughness. | | **Chromium (Cr)** | 5.00 | Primary alloying element. Provides deep hardenability via air cooling, contributes to wear resistance (forms M₇C₃ carbides), and improves corrosion resistance. | | **Molybdenum (Mo)** | 1.00 | Enhances hardenability, refines grain structure, improves toughness and wear resistance, and contributes to secondary hardening. | | **Vanadium (V)** | 0.20 | Forms hard, fine MC-type carbides for grain refinement and improved wear resistance. | | **Silicon (Si)** | 0.50 | Deoxidizer and strengthens the matrix. | | **Manganese (Mn)** | 0.60 | Enhances hardenability and acts as a deoxidizer. | | **Other (P, S)** | < 0.025 | Impurities kept at low levels. | **Key Microstructural Feature:** Contains a **moderate volume of chromium-rich carbides**, providing better wear resistance than O1, but less than the high-carbide-volume steels like D2. This results in its characteristic good toughness. --- ## **4. Physical & Mechanical Properties** ### **4.1 Standard Heat Treatment** * **Annealing:** Heat to 850-880°C (1560-1615°F), slow furnace cool to 500°C (930°F), then air cool. Annealed hardness: **~210 HB**. * **Stress Relieving (after machining):** 600-650°C (1110-1200°F). * **Austenitizing (Hardening):** **940-980°C (1725-1795°F)**. Soak time: 20-30 min/inch in preheated furnace. * **Quenching:** **Still or forced air**. This is the critical advantage—minimal distortion and stress. * **Tempering:** Temper immediately after reaching room temperature. **Double tempering is strongly recommended.** * **For High Wear Resistance:** Temper at 180-250°C (355-480°F), achieving **60-62 HRC**. * **For Optimal Toughness:** Temper at 450-500°C (840-930°F), achieving **56-58 HRC** (most common general-purpose range). ### **4.2 Typical Mechanical Properties (Hardened & Tempered to ~58 HRC)** | Property | Value / Rating | Notes | | :--- | :--- | :--- | | **Hardness** | **57 - 60 HRC** (common working range) | Can be tempered from 54 to 62 HRC. | | **Ultimate Tensile Strength** | ~ 1900 - 2100 MPa | | | **Yield Strength (0.2% Offset)** | ~ 1600 - 1800 MPa | | | **Compressive Strength** | ~ 2400 - 2600 MPa | Excellent for cold forming applications. | | **Impact Toughness (Charpy)** | **Good (20-40 J)** | Significantly better than D2 at similar hardness. | | **Wear Resistance** | **Very Good** | Better than O1, suitable for most cold work applications. | | **Dimensional Stability** | **Excellent** | Minimal size change and distortion from air quenching. | | **Deep Hardenability** | **Excellent** | Through-hardens in air in sections up to ~100 mm (4"). | ### **4.3 Physical Properties (Approximate)** * Density: 7.86 g/cm³ * Thermal Conductivity: ~30 W/m·K (at 20°C) * Coefficient of Thermal Expansion: 11.5 x 10⁻⁶/K (20-100°C) * Modulus of Elasticity: 210 GPa (30.5 x 10⁶ psi) --- ## **5. Typical Product Applications** ASSAB XW-5 is exceptionally versatile and is used for a wide array of precision cold work tooling. * **Blanking and Piercing Dies:** For medium to long production runs, especially for thicker materials or where a balance of wear and toughness is needed. * **Forming, Bending, and Drawing Dies:** Excellent for complex shapes due to good toughness and minimal distortion. * **Master Hubs, Form Rolls, and Shear Blades.** * **Thread Rolling Dies and Knurls.** * **Gauges, Precision Measuring Tools, and Fixtures:** Where dimensional stability is critical. * **Plastic Injection Molds** (for non-abrasive plastics) and die-casting inserts. * **Slitter Knives and Industrial Cutting Blades.** --- ## **6. Processing & Manufacturing Guidelines** * **Machinability (Annealed ~210 HB):** **Good.** Rated approximately **50-55%** of that of 1% carbon steel. Use positive rake tools and adequate cooling. * **Grindability:** **Fair to Good.** Use aluminum oxide wheels with appropriate grit and grade. Proper cooling is necessary to avoid burns, especially in higher hardness conditions. * **EDM Machining:** Well-suited. A low-temperature stress relief (150-200°C) is recommended after EDM to remove the brittle white layer on critical surfaces. * **Polishability:** **Excellent.** Capable of achieving a very high surface finish, which is crucial for plastic molding applications. * **Nitriding & Surface Treatments:** Responds well to nitriding, PVD coatings (TiN, TiCN, CrN), and other surface treatments to further enhance wear and anti-galling properties. --- ## **7. Comparative Performance & Selection Notes** * **vs. O1 (Oil-Hardening):** XW-5 (A2) offers superior dimensional stability, deeper hardenability, better wear resistance, and can be used for larger sections. O1 is easier to machine and slightly tougher at the same hardness but distorts more. * **vs. D2 (High-Carbon, High-Chromium):** D2 offers superior wear resistance but has significantly lower toughness and is more prone to chipping. XW-5 is the preferred choice for applications involving shock, uneven loading, or complex geometries where toughness is critical. * **vs. S7 (Shock-Resisting):** S7 offers much higher impact toughness but lower wear resistance. Choose XW-5 when wear is a greater concern than extreme shock. * **Why Choose ASSAB XW-5?** ASSAB grades are known for superior **micro-cleanliness and consistency** due to advanced melting processes (like ESR - Electroslag Remelting). This translates to better polishability, more predictable heat treatment response, and improved tool performance and life compared to standard A2. --- ## **8. Important Design & Handling Notes** 1. **Air Hardening Advantage:** Utilize the low-distortion characteristic for complex, precision tools. Avoid designs that would require straightening after heat treatment. 2. **Toughness Consideration:** While good, it is not an impact steel. Avoid sharp internal corners; use generous fillet radii (min. R2 mm). 3. **Corrosion Resistance:** The 5% Cr provides only **moderate corrosion resistance** (stainless under non-aggressive conditions). For humid or corrosive environments, consider protective coatings or stainless grades like ASSAB STAVAX (420). 4. **Temperature Limit:** Not designed for hot work. Useful hardness is maintained up to approximately **400-450°C (750-840°F)**. --- ## **9. Conclusion** **ASSAB XW-5 (AISI A2) is a quintessential, high-performance cold work tool steel that sets the standard for versatility and reliability.** Its outstanding balance of wear resistance, toughness, and—most importantly—**exceptional dimensional stability during air quenching** makes it the first choice for a vast majority of precision cold work tooling applications. The ASSAB-branded XW-5 offers the added benefit of premium **steelmaking quality and consistency**, ensuring predictable performance and often extending tool life compared to generic A2. For tool designers and makers seeking a **proven, well-rounded material** that minimizes risk in heat treatment and delivers robust performance in production—from blanking and forming dies to precision gauges and plastic molds—**ASSAB XW-5 remains one of the most trusted and widely specified cold work steels in the world.** -:- For detailed product information, please contact sales. -: Assab Steels ASSAB XW-5 Cold Work Steel Specification Dimensions Size： Diameter 20-1000 mm Length <5221 mm Size:We can customized as required Standard： Per your request or drawing We can customized as required Properties（Theoretical） Chemical Composition -:- For detailed product information, please contact sales. -: Assab Steels ASSAB XW-5 Cold Work Steel Properties -:- For detailed product information, please contact sales. -:

Applications of Assab Steel Wires ASSAB XW-5 Cold Work Steel Wire -:- For detailed product information, please contact sales. -: Chemical Identifiers Assab Steel Wires ASSAB XW-5 Cold Work Steel Wire -:- For detailed product information, please contact sales. -:

Packing of Assab Steel Wires ASSAB XW-5 Cold Work Steel Wire -:- For detailed product information, please contact sales. -: Standard Packing: -:- For detailed product information, please contact sales. -: Typical bulk packaging includes palletized plastic 5 gallon/25 kg. pails, fiber and Steel Wire drums to 1 ton super sacks in full container (FCL) or truck load (T/L) quantities. Research and sample quantities and hygroscopic, oxidizing or other air sensitive materials may be packaged under argon or vacuum. Solutions are packaged in polypropylene, plastic or glass jars up to palletized 1692 gallon liquid totes Special package is available on request. E FORUs’ is carefully handled to minimize damage during storage and transportation and to preserve the quality of our products in their original condition