The Hardness Value (HRC) of Different Hardening Temperature of M2, W18Cr4V, and H6W6Mo5Cr4V
The hardness of metals is an important mechanical property for a variety of applications. Its resistance to wear, abrasion, and impact, along with its tensile strength, stiffness, and ductility make it an important factor in the selection of materials for engineering components. Hardness is generally presented as the Rockwell C (HRC) scale, which is a unit measuring the resistance to indentation when a metal is loaded with a diamond indenter.
M2 is a high-speed steel, a steel alloy containing a large amount of tungsten, which results in a hardness of up to 68 HRC. When subjected to heat treatment, in which it is heated and quenched, M2 can achieve a hardness of up to 68 HRC with a hardening temperature of 1100°C (2012°F).
W18Cr4V is a martensitic stainless steel, containing 18% chromium, 4% vanadium, and 0.5% carbon. This material has superior corrosion resistance and excellent abrasion resistance at high temperatures. After hardening, the material has a hardness of up to 48-50 HRC and a hardening temperature of 900-1200°C (1700-2100°F).
H6W6Mo5Cr4V is an ultra-high-temperature alloy steel, containing 6% tungsten, 6% molybdenum, 5% chromium, and 4% vanadium. This material can achieve the highest hardness of more than 70 HRC after a two-stage heat treatment process at temperatures above 1200°C (2192°F), resulting in high wear resistance and corrosion resistance.
In summary, the hardness of M2, W18Cr4V, and H6W6Mo5Cr4V can be increased significantly after heat treatment. The hardening temperature of M2 is 1100°C (2012°F), the hardness of W18Cr4V is up to 48-50 HRC after hardening at 900-1200°C (1700-2100°F), and the hardness of H6W6Mo5Cr4V can reach the highest of more than 70 HRC after heat treatment at higher temperatures above 1200°C (2192°F). These materials show exceptional performance in various applications due to their different hardening capabilities.
