DEVELOPMENT OF 2400 F FORGING DIE SYSTEM. Interim Technical Progress Report, September 28, 1962-December 27, 1962

Activities in a program to evalunte new materials for use as a 2400 deg F forging die are reported. Experiments were performed to determine the feasibility of using a viscous protection coating rather than the conventional solid coatings for the refractory metals. A hightemperature BaCl--NaCl heat- treating salt product rectified with C successfully inhibits oxidation loss at 2400 deg F. The need for immersion does, however, dictate several restrictions on the die design in order to maintain a pool of liquid sait over the susceptible parts of the high-temperature die system. The problem of die component creep at high temperature imposes additional requirements on the compatibility of the various materials used in the die system. Refractory materials such as TiB/sub 2/ , Refrax, and KT SiC remain most promising, with the lntter two excelling. Die design again is somewhat restricted in that the stresses imposed must produce die loads largely dominated by compressive stresses. A prototype die system to be used for high-temperature heating studies has been constructed and is described in detail. Heating to 2400 deg F will be accomplished through electrical resistance heating elements supplemented by gas flame radiation on the die surface. (auth)