Analysis of Die Casting Tool Material

This paper deals with defects produced in aluminium alloy die casting dies during die operation. The most frequent defect is thermal fatigue cracking. Hardness and toughness is measured on specimens cut from different parts of used die casting die. The results show a significant difference in material microstructure and hardness between the surface and the core. The intense martensite tempering is observed on the die surface, while the core material microstructure remains unchanged. A considerable hardness drop is measured on the material surface and no change is observed in the depth of six millimetres from surface.