Crucible PDCQ
Premium Quality High Toughness H13
Crucible PDCQ™ is a premium version of H13, manufactured to exceed die casting industry specifications. PDCQ has at least 10 ft. lbs room temerature transverse toughness. Its enhanced toughness promotes die life and minimizes failures due to cracking. Remelted and specially refined, PDCQ is an extremely clean steel which can be polished to a critical finish for injection molds. PDCQ is tested by an independent metallurgical laboratory for certification of the microstructural quality rating and toughness measurements.
Typical Chemistry
Carbon 0.40%
Manganese 0.35%
Silicon 1.00%
Chromium 5.20%
Molybdenum 1.30%
Vanadium 0.95%
Sulfur <0.003%
Typical Applications
Die Casting Dies Bolsters
Die Inserts Dummy Blocks
Plastic Molds Mandrels
Extrusion Tooling Forging Dies

Hardening

Critical Temperature: 1560°F

Preheat: 1100/1250°F, equalize, 1450/1550°F equalize.

High heat: 1825/1875°F (1875°F recommended), hold 30/45 minutes at temperature.
Note: Hardening from the high end of the range provides improved resistance to softening, at a slight decrease in toughness.

Quench: Air, positive pressure vacuum, salt, or interrupted oil to 125/150°F.
Note: A minimum quench rate of about 50°F per minute from 1875°F down to under 1200°F is recommended to maximize impact toughness.

Temper: Double temper 1000/1200°F, hold one hour per inch of thickness (2 hr. minimum). Air cool to room temperature. Repeat.
Note: For maximum toughness temper at 1075°F or above. preferred.

Typical Properties
Air cooled from 1875°F, double tempered as shown:
Annealing
Either of the following two procedures is acceptable:

A. Heat to 1600°F, hold 2 hrs. at temperature. Cool slowly (25°F/hr. maximum cooling rate) to 1200°F, then air cool to room temperature.

B. Heat to 1600°F, hold 2 hrs. at temperature. Cool to 1400°F, hold 6 hrs. at temperature, then air cool to room temperature.

Typical Annealed Hardness: BHN 192/235

Stress Relieving
Annealed Material: Heat uniformly to 1200/1250°F, hold 2 hrs. at temperature. Cool in still air to room temperature.

Hardened Material: Heat uniformly to 25/50°F below tempering temperature, hold 2 hrs. Cool in still air to room temperature.

Dimensional Changes on Heat Treating
The average dimensional change for normally heat treated PDQC is the same as for Nu-Die XL.

Surface Treatments
PDCQ is suitable for the same surface treatments as Nu-Die XL.

Welding
PDCQ can be successfully welded using the same techniques and filler metals that are used for Nu-Die XL.

Physical Properties
Modulus of Elasticity ...........................................................30 psi x 106
Density ..................................................................................0.280 lbs/in3
Thermal Conductivity
       .........................................200°.......................................15 BTU/hr/ft/°F
       .........................................600°F ...................................16 BTU/hr/ft/°F
Thermal Expansion
       RT – 200°F .............................................................6.1 x 10-6 in/in/°F
       200° – 400°F ...........................................................6.4 x 10-6 in/in/°F
       400° – 800°F ...........................................................6.8 x 10-6 in/in/°F
       800° – 1000°F ........................................................7.0 x 10-6 in/in/°F
       1000° – 1200°F ......................................................7.3 x 10-6 in/in/°F
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