Product Code: ICAL06_1602

Dual Function Laser Surface Treatment Improves Die Casting Die Life
Authors:
Zhiyue Xu, Argonne National Laboratory; Argonne IL USA
Claude B. Reed, Argonne National Laboratory; Argonne IL USA
Presented at ICALEO 2006

Aluminum die casting dies, used to cast the light automobile parts for better fuel economy, face two major failure mechanisms: hot check and soldering. Hot check is a failure phenomenon of surface thermal cracks caused by thermal cycling loads during die casting. And soldering is a failure in which the melted aluminum chemically reacts with die surface material and bonds to the surface after solidification. Die casting dies are extremely expensive and their costs account for up to 30% of total cost of the die castings. Different preventive surface treatments have been developed over the years to address the two problems. But usually each problem requires its own particular treatment. This paper will present a single laser surface treatment technique that is capable of addressing both hot check and soldering. Tests in production line showed that life time of die casting die inserts treated by this dual function treatment can be increased up to three time.