Microstructure and Properties of Cr8 Cold Work Die Steel by Spray Forming, Traditional Casting, and Forging

Abstract

In this paper, DC53 cold work dies steel bars with the same specification (φ150 mm) was prepared by spray forming and traditional casting and forging technology. Through the characterization of microstructures using various methods such as OM, SEM, EBSD, and XRD, the mechanical performance testing of hardness, impact resistance, bending strength, and wear resistance, the microstructure characteristics, and mechanical properties differences between the DC53 cold work die steel produced by the two methods were systematically compared. The experimental results show that in terms of microstructure, the carbides in the DC53 cold work die steel produced by the traditional casting and forging process are distributed in a reticular pattern. While the carbide in the DC53 cold work dies steel produced by the spray forming process is finer and uniformly distributed, with higher uniformity across the entire cross-section. In terms of mechanical properties, the DC53 cold work die steel produced by spray forming exhibits superior hardness, impact toughness, bending strength, and isotropy, while the traditional casting and forging DC53 cold work die steel has better wear resistance.