52100 / L1 Tool Steel - 1.3505 - 100Cr6 - JIS ~SUJ 2
52100 a classic ball bearing steel, often used for needle roller bearings, ball bearings as well as for components that are exposed to wear, like pump shafts.
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Imperial and Metric Steel Sizes for Sale
52100 / L1 Tool Steel Standard values
Working hardness:
60 HRC - 64 HRC
Delivery condition:
max. 223HB
Chemical composition in %
0.950000
0.951.100000
1.10.150000
0.150.350000
0.350.200000
0.20.400000
0.40.000000
00.025000
0.0250.000000
00.025000
0.0251.400000
1.41.600000
1.60.000000
00.100000
0.10.000000
00.400000
0.452100 / L1 Tool Steel Technical Data
52100 / L1 Tool Steel Technical Properties
An all-purpose medium alloyed cold work tool steel with high hardenability, but low depth of hardening, good wear resistance and toughness. This steel grade belongs to the group of AISI L1 (roller bearing and ball bearing steel).
52100 / L1 Tool Steel Applications
drills, threading tools, centre lathes, milling cutters, reamers, small die plates, pressure rollers, cold rollings, measuring tools, cold pilger rollings, cold pilger jaws, gauges, mandrels, woodworking tools, cold extrusion tools, flanging rollers, shear knives, roller bearings, ball bearings (medium to large size)
52100 / L1 General Information
52100 tool steel, also known as L1, is a cold work, high carbon chromium steel that is used for rolling bearings as well as tools. Due to its wear properties this steel grade is often also used for pump shafts and injection systems in engines, for this it is often surface hardened.
Ball bearing manufacturers use this steel for its high hardness capability, excellent wear- and deformation resistance. To fulfill the requirements of the bearing industry to ASTM A295, the sulphur content is reduced to 0.015% and it is vacuum-induction-melted, followed with a vacuum-arc-remelt for a cleaner steel with a more uniform microstructure. At a temperature of less than 400°F (200°C), 52100 retains its good rolling fatigue strength.
Heat treatment
Annealing
Heat the work piece uniformly to a temperature of 1440°F (782°C) and soak for two hours. Slowly cool to a temperature of 1200°F (649°C) at 25°F (10°C) per hour and further cool to an83-17 ambient temperature in the furnace or air.
Normalize
Heat the parts uniformly to 1700°F (927°C) and cool in air after.
Stress relieving
Stress reliving 52100 is done at a temperature of 1200°F (649°C) with a slow cooling to room temperature.
Hardening
Heat the material to a temperature of 1500-1550°F (816-843°C) and soak about 10-30 minutes. To vacuum or oil harden this material use the higher temperatures mentioned here as well as the longer soaking time. Work pieces with a thickness up to 1 inch (25.4 mm) should be quenched in oil, parts under 1 inch should be quenched in water. After the work pieces are quenched, they are cooled down to an ambient temperature and tempered immediately.
Quenching media
- Water
- Oil
Tempering
Heat the parts to a temperature range of 300-500°F (149-260°C) and hold for at least 2 hours, then air cool to an ambient temperature.
For our tempering diagram, please click here.
Hot working
This material can be hot worked at a temperature range of 400-1000°F (205-538°C).
Cold working
52100 steel can be cold worked in its annealed or normalized condition using conventional techniques.
Machinability
Spheroidized structures are preferred for most machining operations. To achieve improved machining performance, heat to a temperature of 1200°F (649°C) for a spheroidizing annealing process before the material is machined.
Forging
This material is forged at a temperature range of 1700-2200°F (927-1205°C). Do not let the temperature drop below 1700°F (925°C) and equalize, after forging is finished, at a temperature of 1375°F (745°C) for 4 to 6 hours. Finish this process of by cooling the parts down in air.
Welding
52100 bearing steel is generally not weldable.
Disclaimer
The data shown here has been compiled with the greatest diligence and is regularly updated with regard to the correctness and completeness of its content. The content is indicative only and should not be taken as a warranty of specific properties of the product described or a warranty of suitability for a particular purpose. All information presented is given in good faith and no liability will be accepted for actions taken by third parties in reliance on this information. ABRAMS Industries reserves the right to change or amend the information given here in full or parts without prior notice.