Study of Thermal Fatigue of H13 Die Steel with Various Surface Treatments

Abstract

Surfaces of die-casting dies are subjected to very severe conditions of cyclical thermal and mechanical load, and chemical and mechanical wear. Dies mostly fail due to a combination of heat checking, erosion, corrosion and soldering. It is conceivable that appropriate surface treatments and coatings have a favourable influence on the temperature dependant performance of the surface of the die. The objective of this study was to examine various surface treatments and coatings. including shot peening, nitriding, nitro-carburizing, laser hardening and remelting, electro-spark alloying (deposition) and plasma spraying, under thermal fatigue conditions. Thermal cycling tests were conducted by alternate dipping of treated samples in an LM24 melt and in water. Results and interpretation are presented in this paper. The best thermal fatigue resistance was shown for a double surface treatment of laser hardening plus electro-spark deposition.