In the die making practice a large variety of materials are available for use. These include many different kinds of steels, castings of both ferrous and non-ferrous metals, and even non metallic materials.
Carbon Die Steel-This steel may contain 0.90-1.15 Carbon, 0.20-0.45 Manganese, 0.16 Silicon, 0.025 Phosphorus, and 0.025Tungsten Oil Hardening Steel- This steel contains about 1.20 carbon, 1.75 tungsten, and 0.25 manganese.
High –Alloy Oil-Hardening Steel- This class of non deforming steel contains about 2.15 carbons, 12.00 chromium, and manganese content of about 0.35.Vanadium, tungsten, and nickel are other elements which may be added to this class of steel.
In the manufacture of air craft and various other products their have been important developments in making die other than steel or cast steel, which meet practice requirements and yet make it possible to greatly reduce the die cost. This is particularly true where sheets, such as aluminium and magnesium, must be formed or drawn but in quantities that are not large enough to require as durable and expensive a material as steel, for example. These low cost die may be made of non-ferrous alloys such as Kirksite and Cerrobend and non-metallic material may also be used such as Masonite, plastics, Bakelite, dancified wood, and rubber. These die are utilized for drawing or forming in the usual manner and also in conjunction with stretch-forming process. The low cost dies referred to are extensively used for medium
