How to Heat Treat Stainless (Magnacut) Damascus

Begin with your XHP core Damascus product wrapped as tightly as possible in .002 SST foil. Use double folds on all sides to ensure a tight seal.

Austenitize: 1950-2200°F (1065-1205°C), hold time at
temperature as shown in chart. Thick cross-sections and larger pieces
may need longer austenitizing time.

Quench: Plate quench, air or positive pressure
quench (2 bar minimum) to below 125°F (50°C), or salt or interrupted oil
quench to about 1000°F (540°C), then air cool to below 125°F (50°C).

Cold Treatment: A cold treatment may be used after
the quench to decrease retained austenite and increase hardness.
Tempering before the cold treatment decreases the effectiveness of the
cold treatment but also decreases the chance of warping or cracking. A
freezer treatment at -10°F (-23°C) has no effect unless performed
directly after the quench with no delay.

Temper: Double temper at 300-450°F (150-230°C). Hold for 2 hours minimum each time.

NOTE: Tempering above 750°F (400°C) results in a decrease in corrosion resistance.

Size Change: +0.05 to +0.10% when fully martensitic.
The presence of retained austenite may reduce the net growth. When
tempering at 300-750°F (150-400°C), freezing treatments may be necessary
to minimize retained austenite.