L3 Tool Steel - 1.2067 - 102Cr6 - SAE ~52100 - JIS ~SUJ 2

L3 tool steel is an oil hardening cold work steel with good hardenability, wear resistance, toughness, and good cutting-edge retention as well as good impact resistance. As a medium alloyed cold work steel, L3 offers a high hardenability, however, its hardening depth is low. 

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L3 Tool Steel: Standard values

Working hardness: 60 HRC - 64 HRC
Delivery condition: max. 223HB

Chemical composition in %

C

0.950000

0.95

1.100000

1.1
Si

0.150000

0.15

0.350000

0.35
Mn

0.200000

0.2

0.400000

0.4
P

0.000000

0

0.025000

0.025
S

0.000000

0

0.025000

0.025
Cr

1.350000

1.35

1.600000

1.6
Mo

0.000000

0

0.100000

0.1
Ni

0.000000

0

0.400000

0.4

L3 Tool Steel: Technical Data

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L3 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).

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L3 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)

Chemical designation: Working hardness: 60 HRC - 64 HRC
Delivery condition: max. 223HB

C

0.950000

0.95

1.100000

1.1
Si

0.150000

0.15

0.350000

0.35
Mn

0.200000

0.2

0.400000

0.4
P

0.000000

0

0.025000

0.025
S

0.000000

0

0.025000

0.025
Cr

1.350000

1.35

1.600000

1.6
Mo

0.000000

0

0.100000

0.1
Ni

0.000000

0

0.400000

0.4

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).

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)

L3 General Information

Where can tool steel L3 be used?

L3 finds its uses in a wide range of industries and applications, like in the wood and paper industry for paper cutters and circular saw blades. As it reliably retains its dimensions it is also well suited for measuring tools, e.g., a caliper. Apart from roller- and ball bearings this steel grade can also be used for drills, thread taps and threading dies. 

Is tool steel L3 a stainless steel?

L3 tool steel is not a stainless steel. Stainless steel has a mass fraction of a minimum 10.5% of chromium. L3 has a mass fraction of 1.35 - 1.6% which means it is not a stainless steel.

Is tool steel L3 corrosion resistant? 

To be classed a corrosion resistant steel it needs a chrome content of a minimum of 10.5%. With a mass fraction of 1.35 - 1.6% can not be classed as corrosion resistant.

Is tool steel L3 magnetizable?

L3 tool steel is ferromagnetic and can be magnetized and is suitable for magnetic clamping.

Heat treatment for tool steel L3

Annealing tool steel L3

To anneal L3 tool steel, heat the parts uniformly to a temperature of 1382 - 1472°F (750 - 800°C), following this with a slow cooling of the material in the furnace.

Normalizing L3 tool steel

Heat the material uniformly to a temperature of 1598 - 1652°F (870 - 900°C) and then cool in air.

Stress relieving tool steel L3

The work piece is heated uniformly to a temperature of 1112 - 1202°F (600 - 650°C) and hold for 1 - 2 hours at the temperature. Then cool, to start off with, in the furnace and follow it up with cooling in air.

Hardening L3 tool steel

Heat the L3 tool steel parts slowly to a temperature range of 1472 - 1598°F (800 - 870°C). The holding time for this material is 65 minutes per inch (25.4 mm) of thickness. To avoid loss of hardness, the material has to be transferred quickly from the furnace to the oil.

Quenching tool steel L3

The choice of quenching medium and quenching rate can be critical and uneven quenching might lead to warping or cracking. Below are the quenching mediums listed for tool steel L3.

• Water for a temperature of up to 1526°F (830°C) and above that temperature with the following
• Oil, 356 - 428°F (180 - 220°C)
• Hot bath, 356 - 428°F (180 - 220°C)

Tempering tool steel L3

After quenching the L3 is very hard but with high hardness the material can be very brittle. The balance of hardness and toughness can be restored by tempering tool steel L3. Slowly and uniformly heat the L3 to the chosen tempering temperature and hold for 2 hours.

L3 tool steel tempering chart diagramL3 tool steel tempering chart diagram

Dimensional changes for tool steel L3

As for all materials, the L3 expands and contracts with heating and cooling. Uneven heating or cooling can lead to warping or distortion. 

Dimensional changes can occur during phase changes, stress relief, grain growth or decarburization. To control dimensional changes it is important to use precise temperatures and cooling methods as well as a precise process to release stresses without affecting properties and without causing dimensional changes. Equipment should be monitored and maintained so that they are able to work to the highest standards possible.

Electrical Discharge Machining (EDM) of tool steel L3

EDM can be advantageous when machining complex shapes, intricate details or to achieve tight tolerances. The right parameters and right electrode should be considered when using EDM for material removal. EDM generates heat which can affect the microstructure of the L3. Post heat treatment can be done to relieve added stresses and restore the materials properties. EDM may leave a rougher surface with a recast layer which can be removed by stoning and polishing. 

Machinability of tool steel L3

Welding tool steel L3

L3 tool steel grade is not suitable for welding.

Wear resistance for tool steel L3

The wear resistance for tool steel L3 is 4 on a scale where 1 is low and 6 is high. 

Tensile strength for tool steel L3

The tensile strength for tool steel L3 is approx. 108.7 KSI (0.145KSI = 1MPa). This value is the result from a tensile test to show how much force is needed before the material starts to stretch or elongate before it breaks.

Working hardness for tool steel L3

The working hardness for tool steel L3 is at 627 - 695 BHN (60 - 64 HRC).

Specific heat capacity for L3 tool steel

The specific heat capacity of the L3 steel at room temperature is 0.439 J/g-°C (0.105 BTU/lb-°F). This value shows how much heat is needed to heat 1lb of material by 1 Fahrenheit.

aisi l3 steel specific heat thermal capacity chartaisi l3 steel specific heat thermal capacity chart

Continuous TTT-diagram for tool steel L3

This diagram shows micro changes over time at different temperatures. Those are important during heat treatment as they show information about the optimum conditions for processes such as hardening, annealing and normalizing.

l3 tool steel continuous ztu-diagram ttt-chart structural changesl3 tool steel continuous ztu-diagram ttt-chart structural changes

Isothermal TTT-diagram for tool steel L3

This diagram shows the structural changes at micro level over time at a constant temperature. It shows at what temperature and after what time different phases, e.g., perlite, martensite or bainite start to build.

aisi l3 steel isothermal time temperature transformation (TTT) diagramaisi l3 steel isothermal time temperature transformation (TTT) diagram

Steel Properties of tool steel L3

Density for tool steel L3

Typically the density of tool steel L3 is 0.284 lb/in3 (7.85g/cm3) at room temperature.

Thermal conductivity of tool steel L3

The heat conductivity for tool steel L3 is at 33.0 W/(m*K) (229 BTU/(h-ft*°F)) at room temperature.

Heat conductivity table
Value At a temperature of
33.0 68°F
32.2 662°F
31.4 1292°C
L3 tool steel thermal conductivity diagram chartL3 tool steel thermal conductivity diagram chart

Thermal expansion coefficient for tool steel L3

The following table shows expansion or contraction at various temperatures, which may be very important for high temperature works or when working with high temperature changes.

Medium thermal expansion coefficiente
10-6m/(m • K) At a temperature of
12.3 68 - 212°F
13.4 68 - 392°F
13.7 68 - 572°F
14.1 68 - 752°F
L3 tool steel thermal expansion coefficient diagram chartL3 tool steel thermal expansion coefficient diagram chart

Is tool steel L3 a knife steel?

Tool steel L3 can be used for knife making as it has a good balance of wear resistance, hardness and toughness. Knives made from L3 have good edge retention and they are resistant to chipping and breaking with normal use. As the L3 corrosion resistance is not high enough it is important to prevent rusting and limiting use in humid and corrosive environments. Regular maintenance should be applied to prevent corrosion and dulling of the blade. 

Conclusion

Tool steel L3 can be used in a variety of applications from bearings to knives, it offers a good balance of hardness, wear resistance and toughness lending it durability and longevity. Care when heat treating this steel grade should be taken to achieve desired mechanical properties and its hardness should be considered when machining or sharpening knives.

Datasheet for tool steel L3

As a steel supplier we provide you with the datasheet for tool steel L3 in PDF format.

Tool Steel alternatives or equivalent

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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.