Tool Steel
A2
The air-hardening all-rounder: excellent balance of wear resistance and toughness with very low heat-treat distortion. The go-to for production dies.
Last verified: 2026-07-10
| AISI classTool-steel group (hardening method / application). | A — air-hardening |
|---|---|
| Carbon(%C)Nominal carbon content. | 1 |
| Key alloyingPrincipal alloying elements (nominal). | 5% Cr, Mo, V |
| Working hardness(HRC)Typical hardened + tempered working range. | 57–62 |
| Wear resistance | Good |
| Toughness | Good |
| Typical uses | Blanking/forming dies, punches, trim dies, gauges |
- Typical uses: blanking and forming dies, punches, trim and coining dies, gauges.
- Air-hardening means minimal distortion — favoured for precision tooling.
- Best all-round balance of wear and toughness among the cold-work grades.
Other tool steels
Sources
- AISI tool-steel classification (type letters and nominal compositions)
- ASM International — Tool Steels / Heat Treater's Guide (typical properties and working hardness)