Forging tool

Abstract

A forging tool for precision forging of components of intermetallic or high-temperature stable phases with high yield stresses and shapeable at temperatures up to 1400° C. is made of graphite with a low-melting metal or a low-melting metal alloy infiltrated into its open-pored cavities, where metal carbides are created by heat treatment and form with the graphite a two-phase material hardened by subsequent quenching. The tool features high strength thanks to the yield stress increasing as the temperature increases at forging temperatures up to 1400° C., and is oxidation-resistant. It is electrically conductive, and has a low heat capacity, so that rapid inductive heating of the tool involving only low energy expenditure, short forging cycles and an inexpensive isothermic shaping process are possible. It has good lubrication properties, low wear and low manufacturing costs.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A forging tool, comprising:
 a body of open-pored graphite and low-melting metals or metal alloys infiltrated into the open-pored graphite to form a two-phase material;   the two-phase material having been heat treated to create metal carbides and hardened by quenching, the material being electrically conductive at low heat capacity, having high strength at forging temperatures up to 1400° C. and being oxidation-resistant.   
     
     
         2 . The forging tool of  claim 1 , wherein the low-melting metals or metal alloys infiltrated into the graphite are selected from a group consisting of aluminum and aluminum alloys, and the tool has been heat treated for formation of the aluminum carbides at temperatures above 400° C., with a type of aluminum carbide being present depending on the heat treatment. 
     
     
         3 . The forging tool of  claim 2 , wherein the tool is inductively heatable. 
     
     
         4 . The forging tool of  claim 3 , wherein the tool is useable for isothermic forging at forging temperatures up to 1400° C. 
     
     
         5 . The forging tool of  claim 1 , wherein the low-melting metals or metal alloys are selected from a group consisting of magnesium and magnesium alloys. 
     
     
         6 . The forging tool of  claim 5 , wherein the tool is inductively heatable. 
     
     
         7 . The forging tool of  claim 6 , wherein the tool is useable for isothermic forging at forging temperatures up to 1400° C. 
     
     
         8 . The forging tool of  claim 1 , wherein the tool is inductively heatable. 
     
     
         9 . The forging tool of  claim 8 , wherein the tool is useable for isothermic forging at forging temperatures up to 1400° C. 
     
     
         10 . The forging tool of  claim 1 , wherein the tool is useable for isothermic forging at forging temperatures up to 1400° C. 
     
     
         11 . A method of making a forging tool, comprising:
 forming a body of open-pored graphite;   infiltrating low-melting metals or metal alloys into the open-pored graphite to form a two-phase material;   heat treating the two-phase material to create metal carbides;   hardening the material by quenching;   thereby forming a material that is electrically conductive at low heat capacity, has high strength at forging temperatures up to 1400° C. and is oxidation-resistant.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , and further comprising:
 selecting the low-melting metals or metal alloys infiltrated into the graphite from a group consisting of aluminum or aluminum alloys;   heat treating the tool at temperatures above 400° C. to form the aluminum carbides, with a type of aluminum carbide being present depending on the heat treatment.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the tool is inductively heatable. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , and further comprising using the tool for isothermic forging at forging temperatures up to 1400° C. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 11 , and further comprising selecting the low-melting metals or metal alloys from a group consisting of magnesium or magnesium alloys. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the tool is inductively heatable. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , and further comprising using the tool for isothermic forging at forging temperatures up to 1400° C. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the tool is inductively heatable. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , and further comprising using the tool for isothermic forging at forging temperatures up to 1400° C. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 11 , and further comprising using the tool for isothermic forging at forging temperatures up to 1400° C.