WCA March 2018

Technology news

Focus on hot work tool steel

strictest requirements in regard to cycling temperature loads, and is capable of withstanding thermal stresses. Tool life is considerably increased due to the delay in the formation of heat cracking. It is this feature that makes the special steel optimal for the production of demanding die cast components. Thermodur 2343 EFS Superclean is also part of the Deutsche Edelstahlwerke portfolio and has an established place as a universal solution for die casting applications due to its well-balanced property profile. The hot work tool steel is refined in an electro-slag remelting process and has both structural homogeneity and excellent cleanliness, leading to longer tool life. Classic areas of application include die casting moulds for processing light metals, extrusion tools and die inserts for the forging industry. Deutsche Edelstahlwerke – Germany Website : www.dew-stahl.com

HOT work tool steel for specific applications was the focus of Deutsche Edelstahlwerke at the Euroguss trade fair in January. The spotlight was on the material development Thermodur E 40 K Superclean. This special alloy was developed specifically for the die casting industry to extend the life of dies: by combining high toughness and temperature stability, Thermodur E 40 K Superclean is optimally able to withstand heat cracking. Deutsche Edelstahlwerke, a company of the Schmolz + Bickenbach Group, is competent in the development of materials for specific applications, as well as technical reources, for the development of durable and efficient special steel solutions. Thermodur E 40 K Superclean is a material engineered for high temperature stability and at the same time high toughness, making it optimal for the manufacture of die casting moulds. The hot work tool steel meets the Generation of unavoidable fines (abrasive particles), the most destructive lubricant contaminants in wire drawing, is no longer an alarming phenomenon since the introduction of the Decalub green and dry rod preparation and wire lubrication, including PDH coating system. In the most demanding wire applications, PDH die wear is reduced to an unmeasurable level (about 0.2 micron per tonne), meaning the three-body abrasive wear is virtually eliminated. Generated abrasive particles (fines), continuously liberated from the wire surface during drawing, are PDH captured, encapsulated and transported with drawn wire out of the machine. The lubricant film created is of such a configuration as to induce a hydrodynamic lubricant activity causing migration of all lubricant contaminants without interference with the die, meaning the removal of abrasive particles prevents die wear, enabling frictionless wire drawing at unlimited extreme speed and low temperature.

Rod PDH coating – the new world of wire drawing

❍ Wire rod coating by PDH system

The PDH high-performance specific coat is hard, has a high density, and is adjustable in thickness, largely sufficient to retain all liberated abrasive particles from the wire surface. Applications include all plain carbon wires up to 0.98 per cent carbon, coated or uncoated, and stainless steel alloy wires up to 26 per cent chromium. Decalub – France Website : www.decalub.com

39

www.read-wca.com

Wire & Cable ASIA – March/April 2018