August 2024 Volume 6

MATERIALS

4. Resistance to Thermal Fatigue: Forging involves cyclic heating and cooling of the die surface due to contact with hot metal and subsequent cooling cycles. This thermal cycling can lead to thermal fatigue, causing cracks and failure in untreated or improperly treated dies. Heat treating optimizes the die mate rial's resistance to thermal fatigue, improving reliability and reducing the risk of unexpected downtime or costly repairs. 5. Quality of Forged Parts: The quality of the die directly impacts the quality of the forged parts produced. Properly heat treated dies maintain the specified dimensions, surface finish, and mechanical properties of the forged components. Consistency in forging operations is achieved when dies are capable of main taining their original specifications over extended use, ensuring uniformity in the finished products. Summary Heat treating dies in the forging process is essential for enhancing their durability, maintaining dimensional accuracy, and ensuring the quality and consistency of forged parts. It is a critical aspect of forging operations that directly impacts production efficiency, product quality, and overall cost-effectiveness in manufacturing processes involving hot metal forming.

References: 1. ASM Handbook 14A, “Dies and Die Materials for Hot Forging”, revised by R. Shivpuri, 1985. 2. M. Deshpande, A. Groseclose, T. Altan, “Selection of die materials and surface treatments for increasing die life in hot and warm forging”, available on forging.org 3. F. Wever, A. Rose, “Atlas Zur Warmebehandlung der Stahle”, Band 2, Verlag Stahleisen MBH, Dusseldorf, 1954. 4. Figure graphics created by Kester Clarke for “Theory & Applica tions of Forging & Die Design” course provided by The Forging Industry Association (2019)

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