Die Materials Development Task Force Oak Ridge National Laboratory June 13, 2007

Areas of Interest New die materials to increase die life New die materials to increase die life – Ferrous materials – Non-ferrous materials New die materials to decrease cycle time – (i.e. increase productivity) New die materials to decrease cycle time – (i.e. increase productivity) –High thermal conductivity materials

Goal To obtain field information to validate laboratory testing information To obtain field information to validate laboratory testing information To assist in providing information for the Specification Task Force To assist in providing information for the Specification Task Force

Trials at Die Caster Need multi-cavity die or single die with documented history. Need multi-cavity die or single die with documented history. Need to log information for appropriate record keeping on form that was developed Need to log information for appropriate record keeping on form that was developed

Trials at St. Clair Die Casting Tank Tread Heat Sink Four Cavity Die Four Cavity Die One Dievar & One QRO-90 Insert One Dievar & One QRO-90 Insert 181,000 Shots, Removed in May 181,000 Shots, Removed in May –Dievar looks best, slight heat checks (5x life of H13)  41HRC lowest  Placed back in AM703, run to 220,000 shots –QRO-90 welded 5 times, break-out, but better than H13  37 HRC lowest New Dievar Die In Operation (AM596) – 171,000 Shots Minimal heat checks at ejectors New Dievar Die In Operation (AM596) – 171,000 Shots Minimal heat checks at ejectors

Trials at St. Clair Die Casting High speed machined Dievar High speed machined Dievar – HRC –66,000 shots before breakout –95,000 shots, breakout no worse –122,000 shots, some breakout, some light heat checking. –161,000 shots, some breakout, soon will violate flatness callout. –168,000 shots, no changes.

Tank Tread Heat Sink

Allvac Nickel Alloys

Tested numerous alloys Tested numerous alloys Found that nickel alloys were cracking by corrosion fatigue, not thermal fatigue. Found that nickel alloys were cracking by corrosion fatigue, not thermal fatigue. VacDie 34 VacDie 34 –Heat treatment makes difference –TMP is important

VacDie 34 Trial at Premier Tool & Diecasting Trial at Premier Tool & Diecasting –Two cavity die –25,000 crack initiation –100,000 shots for replacement Premier has material Premier has material –Machining problems –Allvac has parameters –Two to three month delay

VacDie 34 Field Trial Allvac willing to put money in. Allvac willing to put money in. Allvac to be involved in die design. Allvac to be involved in die design. Run die to failure. Run die to failure. Erosion/washout unknown. Erosion/washout unknown.