IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,371,767
Granted Patent B2
US 12,371,767 · App. 17/435,067 · Granted Jul 29, 2025

Hot-working die steel, heat treatment method thereof and hot-working die

Inventors: Hongliang Yi (Liaoning, CN); Lianqian Liu (Liaoning, CN); Guodong Wang (Liaoning, CN); Xiaochuan Xiong (Jiangsu, CN)
Assignee: Ironovation Materials Technology Co., Ltd.
C22C38/48C21D8/005C21D9/0068C22C38/04C22C38/06C22C38/42C22C38/44
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,371,767
App. No.
17/435,067
Granted
Jul 29, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

The present invention relates to a hot-working die steel, a heat treatment method thereof and a hot-working die. Specifically, the present invention discloses a hot-working die steel, its alloying composition comprises, by weight percentage, Cu: 2˜8%, Ni: 0.8˜6%, and Ni:Cu≥0.4, C: 0˜0.2%, Mo: 0˜3%, W: 0˜3%, Nb: 0˜0.2%, Mn: 0˜0.8%, Cr: 0˜1%, the balance of Fe and other alloying elements and impurities. The present invention also discloses a heat treatment method for performing on the hot-working die steel. The present invention further discloses a hot-working die formed of the hot-working die steel underwent through heat treatment according to the heat treatment method.

Claims (35)

1. A hot-working die steel, wherein an alloying composition by weight percentage comprises Cu: 5.03˜8%, Ni: 0.8˜6%, and Ni:Cu≥0.4, C: 0˜0.198%, Mo: 0˜3%, W: 0˜3%, Nb: 0˜0.2%, Mn: 0˜0.8%, Cr: 0˜1%, Al: 0˜3%, the balance of Fe and impurities, and

wherein a hardness of the hot-working die steel is ≥HRC 50.1.

2. The hot-working die steel according to claim 1 , wherein the alloying composition satisfies Ni:Al≥2.

3. The hot-working die steel according to claim 1 , wherein Ni:Al is in the range of 2˜2.5.

4. The hot-working die steel according to claim 1 , wherein, by weight percentage, the alloying composition further comprises:

(Mo+W):⅔C is in the range of 8˜35; and

Mo:½W≥0.5.

5. A heat treatment method to obtain the hot-working die steel according to claim 1 , wherein the heat treatment method is performed on a hot rolled steel having a composition comprising, in weight percentage Cu: 5.03˜8%, Ni: 0.8˜6%, and Ni:Cu≥0.4, C: 0˜0.198%, Mo: 0˜3%, W: 0˜3%, Nb: 0˜0.2%, Mn: 0˜0.8%, Cr: 0˜1%, Al: 0˜3%, the balance of Fe and impurities, the method comprising:

a) hardening heat treatment: holding at 400˜550° C. for 0.1 to 96 hours, and then cooling to room temperature in any manner.

6. The heat treatment method according to claim 5 , wherein the hardening heat treatment comprises holding at 450˜550° C. for 2 to 24 hours.

7. The heat treatment method according to claim 5 , wherein the manner of cooling to room temperature is air cooling.

8. The heat treatment method according to claim 5 ,

wherein after the hardening heat treatment, the properties of the steel are: hardness≥HRC 50.1, thermal conductivity≥35 W/mK, and impact energy at room temperature of an unnotched sample of 7×10 mm≥250 J.

9. The heat treatment method according to claim 5 , wherein after the hardening heat treatment, the microstructure thereof includes Cu precipitates of 10,000 to 20,000 pieces/μm 3 , with an average size of less than 10 nm.

10. The heat treatment method according to claim 9 , wherein after the hardening heat treatment, the microstructure thereof further comprises: NiAl intermetallic compound precipitates of 10,000 to 20,000 pieces/μm 3 , with an average size of less than 10 nm.

11. The heat treatment method according to claim 9 , wherein after the hardening heat treatment, the microstructure thereof further comprises less than 2% by area alloy carbides of Mo and W, wherein the average size of primary carbides are less than 100 nm, and the average size of secondary carbides are less than 10 nm.

12. The heat treatment method according to claim 5 , further comprising: before the step of a) the hardening heat treatment, also performing:

b) solution treatment: holding at 800˜1200° C. for 0.1 to 72 hours, and then cooling to room temperature in any manner.

13. The heat treatment method according to claim 12 , wherein the solution treatment comprises holding at 900˜950° C. for 0.1 to 72 hours.

14. The heat treatment method according to claim 12 , wherein after holding at a temperature during the solution treatment, the manner of cooling to room temperature is air cooling.

15. The heat treatment method according to claim 12 , wherein after the solution treatment, the hardness of the steel≤38 HRC.

16. A hot-working die, comprising:

a hot-working die steel,

wherein the hot-working die steel has been heat treated according to the heat treatment method according to claim 5 ,

wherein the hot-working die steel has an alloying composition by weight percentage comprises Cu: 5.03˜8%, Ni: 0.8˜6%, and Ni:Cu≥0.4, C: 0˜0.198%, Mo: 0-3%, W: 0˜3%, Nb: 0˜0.2%, Mn: 0˜0.8%, Cr: 0˜1%, Al: 0˜3%, the balance of Fe and impurities, and

wherein a hardness of the hot-working die steel is ≥HRC 50.1.

17. The hot-working die according to claim 16 , wherein an unnotched sample of 7×10 mm of the hot-working die has an impact energy at room temperature of ≥250 J.

18. The hot-working die according to claim 16 , comprising: a hot stamping die for a steel plate, an aluminium alloy die casting, a plastic hot-working die, a hot forging die, a hot extrusion die, a die-casting die, or a hot upset forging die.

19. The hot-working die steel according to claim 1 , wherein C is 0.05˜0.102%.

20. The hot-working die steel according to claim 1 , wherein an unnotched sample of 7×10 mm of the hot-working die has an impact energy at room temperature of ≥250 J.

21. The hot-working die steel according to claim 1 , wherein a microstructure of the hot-working die steel includes Cu precipitates of 10,000 to 20,000 pieces/μm 3 , with an average size of less than 10 nm.

22. The hot-working die steel according to claim 21 , wherein the microstructure further includes NiAl intermetallic compound precipitates of 10,000 to 20,000 pieces/μm 3 , with an average size of less than 10 nm.

23. The hot-working die steel according to claim 21 , wherein the microstructure further includes less than 2% by area alloy carbides of Mo and W, wherein an average size of primary carbides are less than 100 nm, and an average size of secondary carbides are less than 10 nm.

24. The hot-working die steel according to claim 1 , wherein a thermal conductivity of the hot-working die steel≥35 W/mK.

25. The hot-working die according to claim 16 , wherein a thermal conductivity of the hot-working die steel≥35 W/mK.

Assignments (3)
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE ASSIGNEE ADDRESS PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL: 71992 FRAME: 41. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE ASSIGNMENT. Recorded Aug 18, 2025
From: IRONOVATION MATERIALS TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
To: EASYFORMING TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 072480/0220 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 12, 2025
From: IRONOVATION MATERIALS TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
To: EASYFORMING TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 071992/0041 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 31, 2021
From: YI, HONGLIANG; LIU, LIANQIAN; WANG, GUODONG; XIONG, XIAOCHUAN
To: IRONOVATION MATERIALS TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 057336/0414 →
Priority Claims (1)
CN 201910156108.2 · Mar 1, 2019 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20220162731A1 · May 26, 2022
References Cited (44)
US 6413329B1 · Nakatsu et al. · 2002 [cited by applicant]
US 9689061B2 · Angles · 2017 [cited by applicant]
US 20120063946A1 · Valls · 2012 [cited by examiner]
US 20140178243A1 · Valls Anglés · 2014 [cited by applicant]
US 20180142317A1 · Kim et al. · 2018 [cited by applicant]
US 20210214818A1 · Yi et al. · 2021 [cited by applicant]
CN 1263170A · 2000 [cited by applicant]
CN 102676923A · 2012 [cited by applicant]
CN 103334052A · 2013 [cited by applicant]
CN 103484686A · 2014 [cited by applicant]
CN 103993223A · 2014 [cited by applicant]
CN 103333997B · 2014 [cited by applicant]
CN 106978564A · 2017 [cited by applicant]
CN 108085587A · 2018 [cited by applicant]
CN 108374127A · 2018 [cited by applicant]
CN 108441613A · 2018 [cited by applicant]
JP S63183153A · 1988 [cited by applicant]
JP H04263014A · 1992 [cited by applicant]
JP H07278737A · 1995 [cited by applicant]
JP H07278737 · 1995 [cited by examiner]
JP H11335775A · 1999 [cited by applicant]
JP 2001152246A · 2001 [cited by applicant]
JP 2003013174A · 2003 [cited by applicant]
JP 2004277818A · 2004 [cited by applicant]
JP 2004277818 · 2004 [cited by examiner]
JP 2007262569A · 2007 [cited by applicant]
JP 2015007278A · 2015 [cited by applicant]
JP 2016514211A · 2016 [cited by applicant]
JP 2018035381A · 2018 [cited by applicant]
WO WO2014139451 · 2014 [cited by examiner]
WO 2017168874A1 · 2017 [cited by applicant]
International Search Report (with partial translation) and Written Opinion issued in corresponding International Patent Application No. PCT/CN2019/111849, dated Jan. 15, 2020. [cited by applicant]
Extended European Search Report dated Apr. 12, 2022, issued in corresponding European Patent Application No. 19917811.2. [cited by applicant]
Office Action dated Oct. 24, 2023, issued in corresponding Japanese Patent Application No. 2021-551797. [cited by applicant]
JIS G 4404 from JIS Handbook 1, Japan Standards Association, Japan Standards Association, Jan. 19, 2007, pp. 1276 to 1280. [cited by applicant]
Office Action issued in counterpart Japanese Patent Application No. 2021-551797 dated Nov. 22, 2022. [cited by applicant]
Office Action dated Oct. 10, 2022, issued in corresponding Chinese Patent Application No. 202210317961.X. [cited by applicant]
Translation of Office Action dated Feb. 1, 2023, issued in corresponding Brazilian Patent Application No. 112021017349-8. [cited by applicant]
Japanese Classic Skills Series: Mold Material Properties and Applications, China Machine Press (2006), p. 113. [cited by applicant]
JIS G 4404, “Alloy tool steels”, Japanese Standards Association (2006), p. 1-18. [cited by applicant]
Zhou Qingchun, “Study on the role of silicon in H13 hot working die steel”, Dissertation, Shanghai University, (2012), p. 10. [cited by applicant]
Wang Xuesheng and Hui Hu eds., Pressure Vessels, (2018), p. 23 of Chapter 3. [cited by applicant]
Selin et al., (2009) Influence of alloying additions on microstructure and thermal properties in compact graphite irons, International Journal of Cast Metals Research, 22:1-4, 283-285, DOI: 10.1179/136404609X367984. [cited by applicant]
Selin et al., Regression Analysis of Thermal Conductivity Based on Measurements of Compacted Graphite Irons, Metallurgical and Materials Transactions A, vol. 40A, Dec. 2009, pp. 3235-3244. [cited by applicant]