Galling resistance and wear mechanisms for cold-work tool steels in lubricated sliding against high strength stainless steel sheets

Tool damage in sheet metal forming of stainless steel is of high concern for the forming industry. In the present work, ingot cast AISI D2 and advanced powder metallurgy tool steel (PM) cold-work tool steels were evaluated and ranked regarding wear mechanisms and galling resistance. Wear tests were performed using a slider-on-flat-surface (SOFS) tribometer in sliding against austenitic–ferritic (duplex) stainless steel sheets at different contact pressures in lubricated conditions. The best galling resistance was observed for the nitrogen alloyed PM tool steels. Abrasive scratching of the tool surfaces and transfer of sheet material due to adhesive wear were the main metal forming tool surface damage mechanisms. By increasing the hardness of one PM sheet metal forming tool grade, the galling resistance was enhanced.