Accelerated method for testing soldering tendency of core pins

Abstract

An accelerated method for testing die soldering has been proposed and tested. High intensity ultrasonic vibration has been applied through a core pin to molten aluminium in order to simulate service conditions under die casting. Such conditions include high pressure and high impingement speed of molten metal on the pin. Soldering tendency of H-13 steel pins with or without commercial coatings was tested using this accelerated method. The experimental results indicate that soldering occurs within a few minutes of testing using this new method, much faster than that using the conventional methods. The coating failure mechanism identified in this new method is identical to that observed in the conventional methods, suggesting that the new method is suitable for testing soldering tendency of core pins under die casting conditions.