Relationship Between Forced Vibration Method and Residual Stress in Die Materials

During aluminum die-casting, tensile residual stress accumulates on the cavity surface of the die by repeated heating and cooling processes. Recently, to improve productivity, dies with high cycle and longer life have become necessary, and reduction or removal of tensile residual stress can be used to prevent heat cracks that cause mold fracture. Heat treatment is often used for residual stress reduction but a more efficient residual stress reduction method that can be carried out with simpler equipment is required. In this study, the relationship between the residual stress after forced vibration and the amplitude at the time of excitation is investigated by mechanical vibration of the SKD61 die materials and the die-casting mold through the application of forced vibration by an eccentric motor. Residual stress on the surface of each test plate treated by the heat treatment and the surface of mold cavity after excitation is evaluated by the X-ray residual stress measurement. It was found that the residual strain after excitation accumulated in compression as the amplitude of oscillation of the specimen became negative. Residual stress in the excitation direction of the specimens increased in the compression direction due to the excitation, demonstrating the effective stress reduction by the excitation method.