What are the applications of hot work die steel?

According to the different thermal resistance, material of hot work die steel can be divided into hot forging die steel, hot extrusion die steel, die casting die steel, hot stamping die steel and so on.  They can be classified as per temperature of applications;  low heat resisting steel (350 ~ 370 C), medium heat resisting steel (550 ~ 600 C) and high heat resisting steel (580 ~ 650 C).  Classification also possible per alloying element as; tungsten hot die steel, chromium hot die steel, chromium molybdenum and chromium tungsten molybdenum hot die steel. Special thermal moulds are sometimes made of superalloys and refractory alloys.

Most hot die steels have a carbon content of 0.3% to 0.6%. They are placed in subeutectoid steel,  There is also very special steel type with more tungsten, aluminum and vanadium added, become eutectoid or hypereutectoid steel, isothermal die steel, for high temperature die casting die, hot extrusion die generally use austenitic hot steel.

The development of new technology and new process put forward higher requirements of hot work die steel with enhanced performance and service life.  Common improvement includes;

Application of cemented carbide and steel bonded cemented carbide

The hot die can be sintered and formed directly without machining or heat treatment. Steel-bonded cemented carbide is a new mould material between cemented carbide and tool steel. Suitable for making hot extrusion die, hot stamping die, hot flat die, etc. The die life is greatly improved.

The hardness of the alloy is enhanced by the separation of the carbide and the intermetallic compound in the application of this hot working mold. It is suitable for making messy hot die. Because of the high hardness and wear resistance, the mold core still adhere to the original placement and high toughness, thus increasing the service life of the mold.