Metals Processing

Pyroid® Pyrolytic Graphite for Closed Die Forging

Sophisticated forging operations are constantly striving for nearer-net-shape forgings that reduce the amount of material necessary to produce a part as well as to reduce any subsequent machining required to get the part to the final form.  A reduction in machining requirements reduces materials waste and improves throughput.

Most forge operations perform optimally when both die and piece are the same temperature throughout the forging process. Best operations occur when the part is forged at low speeds to reduce flow stress and forging pressure, without much danger of die chilling.

In forging titanium alloys for example, insert dies made of TZM alloy (Mo-0.5%Ti-0.1%Zr) are often used since they provide much higher stress-rupture and creep properties at elevated temperatures. These dies have low coefficient of thermal expansion and resist erosion by molten metals.

Pyroid® pyrolytic graphite offers superior heat conduction and insulating capability in one material.  And it resists erosion under vacuum. 

Pyroid® Pyrolytic Graphite Plate is:

• Stable at high temperature and vacuum

And Provides:

• Uniform heat distribution throughout the tool and piece 

These characteristics of our pyrolytic graphite plate contribute to a field due to the absence of significant temperature gradients at the interface.  Thus the final bulk forging material will see of irregularities throughout its structure. 

In addition, many isothermal forgings use expensive zirconium pieces in the packing.  Since Pyroid® Pyrolytic Graphite is anisotropic, the thickness direction of the plate actually insulates against heat migration.  This attribute isolates the zirconium from the high heat and enhances the life of this material

Using Pyroid® Pyrolytic Graphite plate ensures uniform heat distribution in the tool die resulting in superior quality and increased productivity for closed die production

PG  Mold/Tooling Material Solutions
Pyroid® PG material offers mold and tool designers thermally conductive solution that can increase cycle times and shorten deliveries for continuous operations in high running mass production.  Available in coatings of invar, cobalt copper that offer superior performance at reduced weight vs conventional material solutions.

Plastic and other injection mold applications are able to process melt temperatures as high as 650°C (1200°F) with air or water cooling.  Using our material as a mold or fixture provides extremely uniform temperatures across part surfaces allowing for near net shape production. Enhancing production run times saves money and is extremely important in high production runs in all plastic or metal mold applications including high-temperature and cleanroom molding.