How to cut > How to avoid softening with thermal cutting
Critical cutting temperatures
The resistance of the steel to softening depends on its chemistry, microstructure and how it was processed. If the temperature of the steel becomes too high, the hardness of the steel will be reduced.
Surface hardness vs. tempering temperature.
Therefore, the maximum preheating temperatures are crucial to consider during cutting operations to ensure the integrity and performance of the materials. Maximum allowable temperatures for SSAB steels can be found in this table.
Grade
Maximum Preheating Temperature as °C (°F)
Hardox® HiAce
225 (437)
Hardox® HiTemp
500 (932)
Hardox® HiTuf
300 (572)
Hardox® 400
225 (437)
Hardox® 450
225 (437)
Hardox® 500 Tuf
225 (437)
Hardox® 500
225 (437)
Hardox® 550
200 (392)
Hardox® 600
180 (3556)
Hardox® Extreme
100 (212)
Strenx® 700
300 (572)
Strenx® 900
300 (572)
Strenx® 960
300 (572)
Strenx® 1100
150 (302)
Strenx® 1300
150 (302)
Armox® 370 T
400 (752)
Armox® 440 T
200 (392)
Armox® 500 T
200 (392)
Armox® 600 T
180 (356)
Armox® Advance
150 (302)
Toolox® 33
580
Toolox® 44
580
Grade
Grade
Hardox® HiAce
Maximum Preheating Temperature as °C (°F)
225 (437)
Grade
Grade
Hardox® HiTemp
Maximum Preheating Temperature as °C (°F)
500 (932)
Grade
Grade
Hardox® HiTuf
Maximum Preheating Temperature as °C (°F)
300 (572)
Grade
Grade
Hardox® 400
Maximum Preheating Temperature as °C (°F)
225 (437)
Grade
Grade
Hardox® 450
Maximum Preheating Temperature as °C (°F)
225 (437)
Grade
Grade
Hardox® 500 Tuf
Maximum Preheating Temperature as °C (°F)
225 (437)
Grade
Grade
Hardox® 500
Maximum Preheating Temperature as °C (°F)
225 (437)
Grade
Grade
Hardox® 550
Maximum Preheating Temperature as °C (°F)
200 (392)
Grade
Grade
Hardox® 600
Maximum Preheating Temperature as °C (°F)
180 (3556)
Grade
Grade
Hardox® Extreme
Maximum Preheating Temperature as °C (°F)
100 (212)
Grade
Grade
Strenx® 700
Maximum Preheating Temperature as °C (°F)
300 (572)
Grade
Grade
Strenx® 900
Maximum Preheating Temperature as °C (°F)
300 (572)
Grade
Grade
Strenx® 960
Maximum Preheating Temperature as °C (°F)
300 (572)
Grade
Grade
Strenx® 1100
Maximum Preheating Temperature as °C (°F)
150 (302)
Grade
Grade
Strenx® 1300
Maximum Preheating Temperature as °C (°F)
150 (302)
Grade
Grade
Armox® 370 T
Maximum Preheating Temperature as °C (°F)
400 (752)
Grade
Grade
Armox® 440 T
Maximum Preheating Temperature as °C (°F)
200 (392)
Grade
Grade
Armox® 500 T
Maximum Preheating Temperature as °C (°F)
200 (392)
Grade
Grade
Armox® 600 T
Maximum Preheating Temperature as °C (°F)
180 (356)
Grade
Grade
Armox® Advance
Maximum Preheating Temperature as °C (°F)
150 (302)
Grade
Grade
Toolox® 33
Maximum Preheating Temperature as °C (°F)
580
Grade
Grade
Toolox® 44
Maximum Preheating Temperature as °C (°F)
580
Maximum Allowable Preheating Temperatures for Hardox®, Strenx®, Toolox®, and Armox®
The information in this report is only applicable to SSAB’s products and should not be applied to any other products than original SSAB products.
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