Quenched and Tempered Forged Round Bars

Uniform Core-to-Surface Hardness: Controlled quenching and tempering (Q&T) thermal cycles ensure consistent mechanical strength and hardness throughout the entire bar cross-section.
Extensive Tool & Die Grade Availability: Comprehensive stock and custom forging capabilities for cold work die steels (D2, Cr12MoV, DC53), hot work steels (H13, SKD61, 1.2344), plastic mold steels (P20, 718H, S136), and carbon bases (C45/S45C).
Versatile Dimensions & Shapes: Offered in custom forged round bar diameters, hot rolled rounds (10–60mm), and heavy flat bar sizes up to 350mm thick, with custom lengths from 500mm to 5,800mm.
High Annual Production Capacity: Supported by a 5,000-ton annual production capacity and export-standard seaworthy packaging (HS Code: 72254010) for reliable global delivery.

Product Detail

Comprehensive Description

Quenched & Tempered Tool Steel Bar Stock for Demanding Tooling

Quenched and tempered forged round bars represent pre-heat-treated, high-integrity steel bar stock specifically manufactured for mold makers, tool & die shops, and heavy component manufacturers. Raw tool steel in the as-cast or standard rolled state often exhibits coarse carbide segregation and uneven internal stress, which leads to dimensional distortion or premature cracking during post-machining heat treatment.

By subjecting forged tool steel bars to precise quenching and high-temperature tempering processes, FWD Forgings transforms the internal steel matrix into a tough, homogeneous tempered martensite structure. This pre-conditioned thermal state provides high yield strength, superior impact toughness, and predictable dimensional stability during subsequent CNC die-sinking, deep-hole drilling, and spark erosion (EDM) operations.

Key Features of Q&T Forged Round Bars

Feature	Description
Optimized Mechanical Strength	Quenching and tempering develop superior yield points and high fatigue limits under severe dynamic loads.
Superior Machinability & Stability	Stress-relieved thermal processing reduces residual internal stresses, preventing warping or distortion during heavy metal removal.
Refined Carbide Distribution	Hot forging breaks down coarse eutectic carbides, improving impact toughness and polishability for optical mold surfaces.
Flexible Delivery Conditions	Supplied as quenched & tempered, normalized, or spheroidal annealed (265–310 HBS) depending on tooling requirements.
Custom Cut & Surface Options	Available in custom cut-to-length blocks or full-length bars with peeled, ground, or black forged surfaces.

Applications

Our quenched and tempered forged tool steel bars serve as premium raw material stock across demanding tooling, die, and engineering sectors:

Plastic Injection & Compression Molds: High-polish mold bases, cores, and cavities forged from P20, 718H, S136, and NAK80 using high-density forged round bars.
Hot Forging & Die Casting Tools: Aluminum die-casting dies, hot extrusion tooling, and press dies forged from thermal-fatigue-resistant H13, SKD61, and 1.2344 grades.
Cold Stamping & Forming Dies: Heavy blanking punches, cold heading dies, shearing blades, and thread rolling dies using wear-resistant D2, Cr12MoV, and DC53 steels.
High-Strength Engineering Components: Custom shafts, wear plates, hydraulic rams, and high-load machinery parts utilizing pre-hardened C45, S45C, and alloy bar stock.

Material Grades & Technical Specifications

We supply an extensive selection of tool, die, and mold steel grades categorized by operational temperature and wear demands:

Steel Grade Category	Popular Material Grades	Primary Performance Characteristics
Cold Work Die Steel	Cr12MoV, D2 (1.2379), Cr12, DC53, SKD11, DF-2	High wear resistance, high compressive strength, exceptional cutting edge retention.
Hot Work Die Steel	H13 (1.2344), SKD61, 8407, 8418, 4Cr5MoSiV1	High thermal shock resistance, resistance to thermal fatigue (heat checking), high red hardness.
Plastic Mold Steel	P20 (1.2311), 718H, S136 (1.2083), NAK80, NAK101	Excellent mirror polishability, photo-etching capability, corrosion resistance, and uniform hardness.
Carbon & Engineering Steel	C45, S45C, SUS410, Custom Alloy Bases	Cost-effective structural and machine component stock offering good strength and weldability.

Technical Specifications Summary

Parameter Item	Technical Specification
Product Name	Quenched and Tempered Forged Round Bars / Tool & Mold Steel Bar Stock
Technique / Process	Open Die Forging + Hot Rolling + Cold Drawing
Round Bar Sizes	Hot Rolled: Diameter 10–60 mm \| Hot Forged: Custom Diameters
Flat Bar Sizes	Hot Rolled: 12–60 × 100–610 mm \| Hot Forged: 30–350 × Custom Widths
Length Options	500 mm to 5,800 mm or Fixed Custom Lengths
Surface Conditions	Black Surface, Sandblasted, Grinded, Machined, Coated
Annealed Hardness	265 ~ 310 HBS (Available in Annealed, Q&T, or Normalized condition)
Annual Capacity & Packing	5,000 Tons/Year \| Export Standard Seaworthy Packaging (HS Code: 72254010)

Manufacturing Process

To guarantee defect-free internal structure and uniform hardness throughout heavy bar sections, FWD Forgings follows a controlled 4-step manufacturing route:

1. Billet Heating & Forging Deformation:Ingot Pre-heating & Open Die Forging.

EF+LF+VD vacuum-degassed steel ingots are heated and multi-directionally hot forged under hydraulic presses to break up cast dendrites and compress micro-porosity.

2. Hot Rolling or Precision Turning:Hot Rolling & Dimensional Shaping.

Forged billets are hot rolled or rough turned to achieve accurate round or flat bar cross-sections and required straightness tolerances.

3. Thermal Heat Treatment:Quenching & Tempering (Q&T).

Bars undergo computer-controlled liquid quenching followed by multi-stage tempering cycles to achieve target hardness, strain relief, and core toughness.

4. Surface Processing & Quality Inspection:Surface Finishing & NDT Audit.

Bars receive chosen surface treatments (grinding, sandblasting, peeling) followed by 100% Ultrasonic Testing (UT) and hardness profiling prior to packing.

Quality Assurance

When purchasing pre-heat-treated tool steel bars for expensive mold and die manufacturing, internal soundness is paramount to prevent costly mold failure during production runs. FWD Forgings enforces strict testing protocols:

100% Ultrasonic Testing (UT): Every quenched and tempered bar is ultrasonically tested to SEP 1921 or ASTM A388 standards (Class C/c or D/d) to eliminate internal voids, segregation, and thermal cracks.
Cross-Section Hardness Profiling: Multi-point Rockwell (HRC) and Brinell (HB) testing from surface to center verifies depth of hardening and thermal uniformity.
Microstructure & Grain Size Inspection: Metallographic examinations confirm fine martensitic/tempered structure with minimal retained austenite and fine grain size (ASTM 8+).
Chemical Spectrographic Analysis: Confirms exact elemental compliance for alloy additions (Cr, Mo, V, Ni, Mn) matching DIN, AISI, and JIS tool steel standards.
Full Documentation: Inspection certs accompany all precision forged components and raw bar stock shipments.

Why Choose FWD Forgings

Integrated Thermal Processing Infrastructure

Operating as a specialized custom forging manufacturer, FWD Forgings manages in-house open die forging presses, continuous heat-treating furnaces, and deep-quench tanks capable of processing heavy-section round and flat bars up to 5,800mm in length.

Comprehensive Steel Grade Inventory & Capacity

With an annual production capacity of 5,000 tons, we support both quick-turn prototype tool steel orders and continuous volume supply contracts across cold work, hot work, and plastic mold steel grades.

Customized Dimensions & Machining Readiness

We eliminate unnecessary downstream material waste by supplying forged round and flat bars cut strictly to your pre-machined dimensions, complete with black, sandblasted, or ground surface finishes.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1: What does "quenched and tempered" mean for forged round bars?

Quenched and tempered (Q&T) refers to a two-step thermal heat treatment process where the forged steel bar is heated above its transformation temperature, rapidly quenched in oil or water to form hard martensite, and then tempered at high temperatures to relieve stress and achieve the desired combination of core hardness and impact toughness.

Q2: What is the benefit of buying Q&T pre-hardened tool steel bars instead of annealed bars?

Pre-hardened Q&T tool steel bars allow toolmakers to machine the mold or die component directly to final dimensions without requiring post-machining heat treatment. This eliminates the risk of heat-treat distortion, scaling, cracking, or dimensional shrinking in finished molds.

Q3: What tool and mold steel grades are available for Q&T forged bars?

We offer extensive grades including Hot Work Steels (H13, SKD61, 1.2344), Cold Work Steels (D2, Cr12MoV, DC53, SKD11), Plastic Mold Steels (P20, 718H, S136, NAK80), and Carbon Steels (C45, S45C).

Q4: What size ranges and shapes are available?

We produce both round bars and flat bars. Round bars are available in hot rolled diameters from 10mm to 60mm and custom open die forged diameters. Flat bars range from 12–60 × 100–610mm (hot rolled) and 30–350mm thickness (hot forged), with cut lengths up to 5,800mm.

Q5: How are the bars packaged for export logistics?

All bars are packed using export-standard seaworthy wooden bundles or cases with anti-rust protective coatings under HS Code 72254010.

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