DIE STEEL 4Х4Н5М4Ф2 (WITHOUT FORGING TREATMENT) FOR HOT DEFORMATION OF ALUMINUM ALLOY

Purpose. Production of steel with controlled austenitic transformation during operation of the 4Х4Н5М4Ф2 grade (without forging treatment) using the technology of electroslag remelting and establishing optimal modes of heat treatment (annealing, quenching and tempering). Production of tools (matrices) from 4Х4Н5М4Ф2 steel (without forging treatment) for hot deformation of aluminum alloy at operating temperatures below the critical point A1. Research methods. Metallographic analysis of experimental die steels 4Х4Н5М4Ф2 (without forging treatment) and forged 4Х5МФ1С: study of metal structure; determination of specific resistance; determination of tensile strength; determination of hardness and impact strength. Results. The results of research on the optimization of heat treatment modes (quenching and tempering) of 4Х4Н5М4Ф2 steel (without forging treatment) are given. Adjusted chemical composition (4Х4Н5М4Ф2) and optimized mode of heat treatment of steel, which allowed to increase heat resistance up to a temperature of 650 °С. The tempering temperature of steel (475±25 °С) at which irreversible temper brittleness occurs is established. Experimental and industrial tests of steel 4Х4Н5М4Ф2 (without forging treatment) for hot deformation of AK7ч aluminum alloy are presented. It is shown that compared to forged steel H13 (an analogue of 4Х5МФ1С), which is used at one of the Chinese enterprises, the experimental steel has practically the same resistance . Scientific novelty. In the process of partial recrystallization (incomplete annealing at a temperature of 750±20 °C) of 4Х4Н5М4Ф2 steel (without forging treatment), a spheroidized carbide component is formed, which leads to an improvement in the mechanical processing of the workpiece for the manufacture of matrices. Practical value. The possibility of using steel with an adjustable austenitic transformation during operation of the 4Х4Н5М4Ф2 grade (without forging treatment) is shown for a wide range of operating temperatures of hot deformation: copper-nickel (at an operating temperature above the critical point A3) and aluminum alloy (at an operating temperature below the critical point A1) with increased service life compared to forged steel 4Х5МФ1С.