Cost and performance evaluation of different surface treated dies for hot forging process

In this work, the effect of various surface treatment methods used to improve the hot forging die life were investigated in the forging department of a plant located in Turkey. For this aim, the surface treatments such as one layer of aluminum titanium nitride (AlTiN) surface coating, a special multilayer coating called TOKTEK (trademarks of the Teknoplasma, Industry and Trade Corporation), nitriding, and the weld overlay coating of the contact surface of the hot forging dies were studied under the same conditions. Then, the results were compared with the as received (uncoated) die. Performance tests, made on a real production line under continuous standard working parameters, showed that all of these methods improved die life in various amounts but the best results were obtained by weld overlay of the die contact surfaces with cobalt base welding electrodes.