Introduction:
DC53 steel is a new general purpose cold work die and mold steel whose strength and toughness approach those of high-speed steels.
DC53 steel, is an improvement over alloy tool steel D2 specified in Standard (JIS) G4404. It eliminates the disadvantages of insufficient hardness and toughness, resulting from high-temperature tempering found with D2, and is intended to replace D2 in use for general purpose and precision dies.
DC53 steel also has excellent machining characteristics and is well suited as a substrate for PVD surface treatments. DC53 steel can also be hot process CVD and TD (Thermal Diffusion) coated, however post heat treat is generally recommended.
Unique Characteristics:
· Higher hardness (62-64 HRc) than D2 after heat treatment.
· Twice the toughness of D2 with superior wear resistance.
· Substantially higher fatigue strength compared to D2.
· Smaller primary carbides than D2 protect the die from chipping and cracking.
· Secondary refining process (DLF) reduces impurities.
· Machines and grinds up to 40% faster than D2.
· Less residual stress after wire EDMing.
Applications:
· Stepped punch and press-punching dies
· Concrete sprayer parts, rotor plates
· Swaging dies and backers
· Dies for cold forging
· Thread-rolling circular dies
· Piercing punch
· Thread-rolling dies for heat-treated bolts
· Forming dies
· Stripper plates for lead frame blanking
· Gauges
· Screws for injection molding machines
· Plastic Molds
Quality Standard:
ASTM A681 - 08 Standard Specification for Tool Steels Alloy.
Typical Chemical Composition(%)
C |
Si |
Mn |
Cr |
Mo |
Mo |
| 0.95 |
1.0 |
0.40 |
8.0 |
2.0 |
0.30 |
HEAT TREATMENT:
· Welding: Lower minimum pre-and post - heating temperature than D2 reduces the incidence of weld cracking and simplifies welding. Low hardness decline in heat affected zone minimises any deterioration in performance.
· Hardening Vacuum Furnace: Pre-heat to 300-400°C and then to 800-850°C
allowing sufficient time to equalise. Raise to 1,020-1,040°C and allow soaking time
· Quenching Vacuum Furnace:The high hardenability of this steel enables it to
be satisfactorally quenched in a vacuum furnace.
· Surface Treatments:Surface treatments such as CVD, PVD, TD and Nitriding require the use of relatively high processing temperatures. While this can be a problem with standard D2, the higher through hardness of DC53 steel at elevated temperatures will allow these surface treatments to be used
successfully.
· Tempering:Double temper according to the hardness and toughness charts below. As with D2, a third temper at 400°C should be carried out to avoid any chance of any delayed grain growth and distortion. This is the preferred heat treatment for most applications as high hardness will be the primary consideration.Where maximum toughness is required, double temper between 200 and 300oC (depending on application). Note the material tempered at the lower temperature should not be subjected to subsequent high temperature processes such as PVD.
Mill′s test certificate:
EN 10204/3.1 with all relevant data reg. chem. composition, mech. properties and results of testing.
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