DIE-CASTING: S.D.C. STEEL, A CONTINUOUS METALLURGIC INNOVATION TO MEET WITH THE PROBLEMS

Abstract

The S.D.C. steel grade has been especially designed for large-size toolings used in die-casting applications with
the objective of increasing the fatigue resistance of the material and the tool life. A fundamental and integral
approach has been undertaken to understand and measure the temperature and stress conditions at the surface
during service, get a full multi-scale description of the steel microstructure and define the relationship between
microstructure and its evolution and thermal fatigue resistance. The new grade with the associated optimised
heat treatment offers superior mechanical properties and shows improved performance in its die-casting
industrial applications.