Die Casting

print Hot work tools operate at elevated temperatures and form products in aluminium, magnesium, steel and other metals.

The most common application areas in hot work are high and low pressure die casting, hot forging and progressive forging. The severe working conditions put high demands on the tool steels used in these applications. In general, the steel used for hot work tools should provide excellent hot strength as well as good ductility and toughness.

Other important properties for hot work tools are high resistance against thermal cyclic stresses and good hot wear resistance. In order for the best tool performance, these properties should be uniform and even in all directions of the tool.

ASSAB offers a hot work tool steel program with grades having different combinations of:

• Good tempering resistance
• High hot yield strength
• High ductility and toughness
• Good thermal conductivity

High pressure die casting is the most demanding application for hot work steels and there are highest demands made on toughness and ductility, hot strength and temper resistance. As these dies are very expensive, the quality of the tool steel is essential to ensure a long die life.