Damage mechanism in duplex treated hot work tool steel under thermal cycling

Duplex treatments are becoming increasingly interesting in several technological applications through which complex forms of stresses act during service. In pressure die casting, for example, corrosion and erosion by molten metal and oxidation contribute, together with thermal fatigue, to excessive degradation of the dies and inserts. While the benefits introduced by combining nitriding and PVD coating have been assessed in counteracting soldering and wear problems, the resistance of such duplex systems with respect to thermal fatigue has not yet been established. In this work, the role of plasma nitriding, PVD coating (CrN, ZrN), and duplex treatment in counter-acting thermal cracking, i.e. heat checking, of hot work tool steel is considered. Thermal fatigue tests carried out on a laboratory scale, highlight the negative role of coatings, although this result has to be partially ascribed to an unsuitable prenitriding treatment and heavy oxidation. © 2002 IoM Communications Ltd.