Thermal fatigue failure of brass die-casting dies

Dhouha Mellouli (1) , Nader Haddar (1) , Alain Köster (2) , Hassine Ferid Ayedi (1)

1 ENIS - École Nationale d'Ingénieurs de Sfax | National School of Engineers of Sfax
2 CDM - Centre des Matériaux

This research has been conducted to elucidate the mechanisms of brass die casting failure. A die was examined and we have evaluated the causes of crack failure mechanisms after use in brass die casting. The dominating failure mechanism in the investigated die was thermal fatigue cracking. Crack initiation is associated to accumulation of the local plastic strain that occurs during each casting cycle. The crack growth is facilitated by a number of elements: oxidation of the cracks' surfaces, filling of brass and softening of the die material.

Mots clés: Hot-working tool steel; Thermal fatigue; Failure mechanisms; Die casting die; Brass

Domaines: Matériaux

Dhouha Mellouli, Nader Haddar, Alain Köster, Hassine Ferid Ayedi. Thermal fatigue failure of brass die-casting dies. Engineering Failure Analysis, 2012, 20, pp.137-146. ⟨10.1016/j.engfailanal.2011.11.006⟩. ⟨hal-00675703⟩