Selection of Die Materials and Surface Treatments for Increasing Die Life in Hot and Warm Forging

In warm and hot forging, the dies are subjected to high contact pressures and temperatures. The selection of the die material, hardness and coating is critical for increasing die life. Recent studies indicate that ceramic dies and various surface treatment techniques represent, in certain applications, cost effective techniques for improving die life. This paper reviews the state of technology on die materials and surface treatments used in hot and warm forging of steel. Finite Element Analysis (FEA) based methods have also been used to estimate abrasive wear and plastic deformation on forging dies. These estimations can help to determine how process conditions, e.g. ram velocity, contact time, lubrication and strokes/min, can affect die life.