Crack Failure Analysis of Hot-Stamping Die Insert for Manufacturing an Automobile A-Pillar

In order to determine the failure reason for the non-working area of a cracked A-pillar hot-stamping die insert, various instruments were used to detect the properties and microstructures of the cracks and matrix. The results show that the cracks are located in the area where the oxidative corrosion is more serious, and the cracks do not appear in the pitting area, verifying that crack initiation is related to the stress concentration on the upper half of the inner wall of the cooling channel. Meanwhile, pores and cracks exist in the grain boundary and crystal, making the impact energy of the die steel poor. Therefore, crack initiation and propagation easily occur along the brittle oxide layer. In summary, the die insert is damaged by stress-induced corrosion. In engineering applications of hot-stamping dies, we should pay more attention to the cracking of the cooling channel caused by stress and corrosion.