Factors affecting die wear

Simple upsetting tests were used to assess the wear of hot forging dies. The influence of forging variables such as die-billet contact time and lubrication is described. A “white” layer is formed at the surface of lubricated dies when die-billet contact times exceed 5 ms. This layer was identified as martensite of increased wear resistance. Lubrication affects the frictional condition at the die-billet interface thus facilitating the relative movement of the billet material over the die surface resulting in the increased wear of flat dies.