Improved tool wear properties in sheet metal forming using Carbide Steel, a novel abrasion resistant cast material

This work presents a comparative study regarding wear behavior between a novel abrasion resistant cast iron, “Carbide Steel” and a number of conventional tool materials frequently used in the automotive industry. Carbide Steel is basically a high-Cr white cast iron heavily alloyed with cemented carbide. The high chromium content and additional alloying elements like WC, TiC or NbC results in a material containing a large portion of hard, wear-resistant carbides with a composition different from conventional white irons normally used in wear applications. Characteristic properties for the material are: superior as-cast properties, improved wear resistance and hardness. The as-cast hardness of Carbide Steel is comparative to hardened steel but depending on desirable properties of the wear part the alloying content can be varied within a wide range. An interesting aspect of the material is potential for sustainable manufacturing, due to the fact that the critical alloying elements are added in the form of recycled carbide inserts.