HEAT TREATMENT OF DIE STEEL Prof. R.C.

Prasad, Chetan Mantri, Abhigyan Datta Department of Metallurgical Engineering and Materials Science, IIT Bombay

INTRODUCTION
Die Steel Tool steels used in making dies for various applications High Carbon, high Alloy steels Contain hard and stable carbide forming elements like Cr, V, Mo,W Have very high strength, hardness and wear resistance Here, heat treatment cycle and microstructureproperties of DC 53, DIN 1.2714 and DIN 1.2738 is discussed OBJECTIVE OF HEAT TREATMENT To achieve best combination of propertiestoughness, ductility, hardness, to resist wear and thermal fatigue on dies To withstand extreme conditions of pressure and temperature prevalent in precision metal working processes. Heat treatment will reduce the chance of catastrophic failure of dies. Heat treatment Cycle

EXPERIMENTAL WORK

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

Steps: Austenitization and Soaking: Taken to austenite region and held to homogenize. Carbides of alloying elements go to solution. Quenching: Cooling rate higher than critical cooling rate to get harder phases like martensite, bainite instead of ferrite and pearlite. Lower bainitic structure with fine carbide precipitation is most desirable for hot-forging dies. Tempering: Improvement in toughness without sacrificing hardness. Retained austenite Martensite + Bainite Diffusion of Carbon atoms to create stronger and tougher martensite. Secondary hardening by precipitation and dispersal of alloy carbides in matrix. COMPOSITION OF THREE TYPES OF DIE STEEL

Fig1: HT cycle for tool steel showing various phases and quenching rates employed with water, salt and air

CCT diagram of alloy steel showing cooling rate effect on microstructure