Surface mechanical properties of stone, resin, and metal dies

Two improved stone die materials (Duroc and Silky Rock) used with water and with a hardener, one resin die material with dispersed metal powder (Die-Met), and copper and silver electroplated metal die materials were evaluated for surface mechanical properties. The improved stone dies had the highest surface roughness, intermediate surface hardness and the highest loss of material in two-body abrasion. The use of a hardener decreased the surface roughness, but did not improve abrasion resistance. The improved stone dies, with or without hardener, showed brittle failure in single-pass sliding at low normal loads. The resin dies had the lowest hardness. The unfilled resin die had low surface roughness and was similar to metal dies. The resin-metal die had a surface roughness similar to the improved stone dies. The presence of dispersed metal powder in the resin did not increase the hardness. Both resin die materials had intermediate values of material loss in two-body abrasion and showing tensile cracking and loss had intermediate values of material loss in two-body abrasion and showed tensile cracking and loss of material on single-pass sliding at medium normal loads. The metal dies had the highest hardness and the least surface roughness. They also had the lowest material loss in two-body abrasion. The metal dies showed ductile behavior in single-pass sliding.