AISI Type S6 Shock Resisting Tool Steel Wire (UNS T41906)

AISI Type S6 Shock Resisting Tool Steel Wire (UNS T41906) Product Information -:- For detailed product information, please contact sales. -: AISI Type S6 Shock Resisting Tool Steel Wire (UNS T41906) Synonyms -:- For detailed product information, please contact sales. -:

AISI Type S6 Shock Resisting Tool Steel (UNS T41906) Product Information -:- For detailed product information, please contact sales. -: # **Product Introduction: AISI Type S6 Shock-Resisting Tool Steel (UNS T41906)** ## **Overview** **AISI S6 (UNS T41906)** is a **silicon-chromium-tungsten air-hardening shock-resisting tool steel**, distinguished by its **exceptionally high silicon content**. It is engineered to provide an **extraordinary combination of high hardness and extreme toughness**, making it uniquely capable of withstanding severe impact at higher hardness levels than other S-series grades. S6's air-hardening nature provides excellent dimensional stability during heat treatment, a significant advantage over water- or oil-hardening shock steels for complex tool geometries. ## **1. Chemical Composition (Nominal %)** S6's composition is optimized for maximum toughness at high hardness through very high silicon and a balanced alloy system. | Element | Content (%) | Primary Function | |---------|------------|------------------| | **Carbon (C)** | 0.40 - 0.50 | Provides fundamental hardenability and matrix strength. Balanced to support high hardness without excessive brittleness. | | **Silicon (Si)** | **2.00 - 2.50** | **Primary element.** Exceptionally high silicon content provides unparalleled solid solution strengthening, dramatically increasing toughness, yield strength, and elastic limit. This is the defining feature of S6. | | **Chromium (Cr)** | 1.20 - 1.50 | Enhances hardenability to achieve air-hardening capability, improves wear resistance, and provides oxidation resistance. | | **Tungsten (W)** | 1.50 - 2.50 | Forms hard, wear-resistant carbides and significantly improves hot hardness (red-hardness). | | **Molybdenum (Mo)** | 0.30 - 0.50 | Further increases hardenability, refines grain structure, and improves toughness and tempering resistance. | | **Manganese (Mn)** | 0.30 - 0.50 | Supports hardenability. | | **Vanadium (V)** | ≤ 0.25 | Grain refiner and strengthens carbides. | | **Iron (Fe)** | Balance | Base metal. | **Key Chemistry Note:** S6 is a **high-alloy shock steel** that combines the **extreme toughness of ultra-high silicon (like a super S5)** with the **wear resistance and hot hardness of tungsten (like S1)** and the **dimensional stability of air hardening (like S7)**. This makes it one of the most comprehensively alloyed and capable grades in the S-series, designed for the most demanding applications where impact, wear, and heat are all present. ## **2. Physical & Mechanical Properties** *Typical properties in the hardened and tempered condition (~56-58 HRC).* | Property | Typical Value / Condition | |----------|--------------------------| | **Density** | ~7.80 g/cm³ (0.282 lb/in³) | | **Melting Point** | ~1490°C (2715°F) | | **Thermal Conductivity** | ~35 W/m·K (Relatively low due to high alloy content) | | **Coefficient of Thermal Expansion** | ~11.8 × 10⁻⁶/K (20-100°C) | | **Modulus of Elasticity** | 210 GPa (30.5 × 10⁶ psi) | | **Annealed Hardness** | 207-241 HB | | **As-Quenched Hardness (Air)** | ~60-62 HRC | | **Hardened & Tempered Hardness** | **56-60 HRC** (Common working range, can maintain toughness at higher hardness than other S-grades). | | **Tensile Strength** | ~1950-2100 MPa (283-305 ksi) at 58 HRC | | **Yield Strength (0.2%)** | ~1700-1850 MPa (247-268 ksi) | | **Impact Toughness (Charpy V-Notch)** | **Excellent to Outstanding.** Typically **50-80 J (37-59 ft-lbf)** at 58 HRC. **This is its key achievement: maintaining very high toughness at a hardness level where most other steels would be brittle.** | | **Wear Resistance** | **Very Good.** Superior to S5 and S7 due to tungsten carbides. | | **Hot Hardness / Red Hardness** | **Very Good.** Tungsten provides stability at elevated temperatures. | | **Machinability (Annealed)** | **Poor.** The high silicon content makes it gummy and abrasive to cutting tools. | | **Grindability** | Fair to Difficult. | | **Dimensional Stability** | **Excellent (Air-Hardening).** Minimal distortion and low risk of quench cracking. | ## **3. International Standards & Cross-References** S6 is a less common but specialized grade with international recognition. | Standard | Designation | Notes | |----------|------------|-------| | **UNS** | T41906 | | | **AISI/ASTM (USA)** | S6 (ASTM A681) | | | **ISO (International)** | **~45WCrSiV8-2** (ISO 4957: Tool steels) - Reflects the high Si, W, Cr content. | | | **DIN (Germany)** | **1.2714** | A close equivalent (55NiCrMoV7) is different; S6's true DIN equivalent is not a perfect 1:1 match but shares the high-Si concept. | | **BS (UK)** | No direct common equivalent. | | | **JIS (Japan)** | No direct common equivalent. | | | **GB (China)** | **6CrW2MoSiV** (Approximate conceptual equivalent) | | | **Common Name** | **High-Silicon Air-Hardening Shock Steel** | | ## **4. Product Applications** S6 is reserved for the most demanding applications where tools must withstand **brutal impact while maintaining a hard, wear-resistant edge**, often in challenging thermal environments. **Primary Applications:** * **Extreme-Duty Cold Work Tools:** * **Heavy-duty shear blades** for cutting tough alloys, wire rope, and thick sections. * **Cold chisels and punches** for the most severe service. * **Driver bits for high-torque impact wrenches** in heavy industry. * **Hot Work Tools:** * **Hot chisels, hot cuts, and hot punches** for forging and blacksmithing. Its hot hardness is a key advantage here. * **Hot shear blades** for cutting at elevated temperatures. * **High-Stress Die Components:** * **Punch and die inserts** for cold forging and extrusion where impact fatigue is a failure mode. * **Wear plates and guides** in high-impact machinery. * **Mining and Drilling:** * **Picks and bits** for hard rock mining where both abrasion and impact shock are present. * **Specialty Knives:** * **Chopper blades and survival knives** requiring a hard edge that can withstand impact without chipping. ## **5. Heat Treatment Guidelines** S6's high silicon content requires careful heat treatment to avoid decarburization, but its air-hardening nature simplifies quenching. * **Annealing:** Heat to 790-815°C (1450-1500°F), slow furnace cool. Annealed hardness: 207-241 HB. * **Hardening:** 1. **Preheating:** Preheat to **650-700°C (1200-1290°F)**. Essential for dimensional stability. 2. **Austenitizing:** Heat to **900-925°C (1650-1695°F)**. The high silicon and chromium allow a higher austenitizing temperature for better carbide solutioning. Soak for 20-30 min per inch. 3. **Quenching:** **Cool in still or forced air.** For very large sections or maximum hardness, oil quenching can be used but increases distortion risk. * **Tempering:** * **Temper immediately** after reaching near room temperature. * Temper at **205-425°C (400-800°F)**. For the optimal balance of hardness and toughness at ~58 HRC, temper at **370-425°C (700-800°F)**. * **Double or triple tempering is strongly recommended** to ensure stress relief and transformation of retained austenite. * **Note:** Due to high silicon, avoid prolonged exposure in the **250-350°C (480-660°F)** tempering range to minimize the risk of tempered martensite embrittlement. ## **6. Comparative Advantages & Niche** S6 occupies a unique, high-performance niche: * **vs. S5:** S6 achieves **similar or better toughness at a higher hardness** and has **far better wear resistance and hot hardness** due to tungsten. It is also **air-hardening** vs. oil-hardening. * **vs. S7:** S6 can achieve **higher working hardness** (58-60 HRC vs. S7's optimal 54-57 HRC) with **comparable toughness**, and has **better wear resistance**. * **vs. S1:** S6 has **better toughness at equivalent hardness** and the **major advantage of air hardening**. **Conclusion:** AISI S6 is a **premium, high-alloy shock steel** for solving the most severe tooling problems. Its combination of ultra-high silicon for toughness, tungsten for wear/hot hardness, and air-hardening for stability makes it a top-tier choice when cost is secondary to ultimate performance under extreme conditions of impact, abrasion, and moderate heat. --- **Disclaimer:** The **very high silicon content** of S6 makes it **highly susceptible to decarburization**. Austenitizing must be done in a protective atmosphere (vacuum, controlled atmosphere) or with adequate stock allowance for grinding. Its poor machinability in the annealed state increases fabrication costs. S6 is a specialized material requiring expertise in heat treatment and application engineering. It should only be specified when the performance requirements cannot be met by more common grades like S5 or S7. Always consult the material producer's exact heat treatment specifications. -:- For detailed product information, please contact sales. -: AISI Type S6 Shock Resisting Tool Steel (UNS T41906) Specification Dimensions Size： Diameter 20-1000 mm Length <6763 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. -: AISI Type S6 Shock Resisting Tool Steel (UNS T41906) Properties -:- For detailed product information, please contact sales. -:

Applications of AISI Type S6 Shock Resisting Tool Steel Wire (UNS T41906) -:- For detailed product information, please contact sales. -: Chemical Identifiers AISI Type S6 Shock Resisting Tool Steel Wire (UNS T41906) -:- For detailed product information, please contact sales. -:

Packing of AISI Type S6 Shock Resisting Tool Steel Wire (UNS T41906) -:- 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 3234 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