Accurate evaluation of friction using Metal Forming Tribometer (MFT)

Automotive industry continues to develop cars that are lighter, stronger, and cost effective to manufacture using advanced high strength steels (ex. 22MnB5). Hot stamping is used to manufacture vehicle components by pressing steel blank (Al-Si, Zn-Ni coatings) above 900o C between closed dies (H13 steel) to get the final shape (Figure 1A). It is known that Volvo has approximately 40 % of its vehicle weight made of hot stamped steel. High temperatures cause excessive friction and wear between the workpiece and die tools driven by adhesive, abrasive and oxidative wear (Figure 1B). This results in several failures e.g., poor surface finish and component fracture as well as galling of the die due to excessive adhesion.
Understanding high temperature friction and wear between workpiece and die tool is important to mitigate the risks associated with hot forming operations.

Figure 1. Hot stamping operation during metal forming (A) and the mechanisms of wear related to metal forming (B).

Finite element methods are used for virtual forming simulations in order to reduce die tool developmental costs. Accurate friction values between blank and die depending on location (i.e., local pressure, temperature, lubricants, sliding velocity conditions) are important to predict formability of complex shapes. Too low a friction leads to wrinkle formation and too high results in section tearing resulting in part rejection in simulations. Lab tests which reproduce hot forming conditions (Table 1) and provide realistic friction and wear measurements add immense value to simulations in the product development cycle.

Table 1. General operating conditions during hot metal forming.

Different lab instruments have been used to evaluate hot forming tribology in line with the general operating conditions highlighted in Table 1. These can be grouped into conventional tribometers (pin on disc and linear reciprocating) and advanced tribometers (flat on slider or strip draw). Conventional tribometers do not capture two critical factors in hot stamping operation,
a) material transfer and adhesion leading to galling (see Figure 2)
b) mimic temperature difference between the die tool and workpiece

Figure 2. Illustration representing the material transfer depending on the contact conditions, affecting the friction coefficient determined by conventional tribometers (A, B) and advanced tribometer (C).

As shown in Figure 3, the friction curve for specific materials, tested in either rotary tribometer or linear reciprocating tribometer, showed that friction decreases over an increase in temperature. This is due to the structural arrangement of lubricious oxide layers during the repetitive contact between workpiece and tool. Whereas, the friction increased over an increase in temperature, due to fresh workpiece and tool in advanced tribometer. Further increase in temperature lead to significant material transfer due to adhesion and galling, as represented by a jump in friction in advanced tribometer. This has made strip tests (aka draw tests, flat on slider tests) the “de-facto standard” used by leading car and automotive steel manufacturers and companies offering hot stamping process simulation platforms.

Figure 3. Characteristic friction curves obtained with conventional and advanced tribometer.

Ducom Metal Forming Tribometer (MFT 1.0) leverages the strip configuration and offers an advanced automated system for high temperature friction and wear measurements during hot forming (Figure 4A). The workpiece in the form of a strip is pre-tensioned (FP) and can be heated up to 1000 °C using resistive heating. The die tool assembly in the form of blocks is press against the strip from both sides using automated loading. The die tools are supported on a moving assembly which slides on the hot strip workpiece under constant load. The friction force (FF) is measured in real time by taking into account the difference between pretension force and sliding force (FS). An in-line displacement sensor allows for evaluation of wear (Figure 4).

Figure 4. Ducom Metal Forming Tribometer: (A) real image and (B) schematic.

CUSTOMER FEEDBACK

Delivering high value experimental data for the stamping industry

"Ducom Metal Forming Tribometer is a unique facility capable of producing conditions close to hot stamping operations. Luleå University of Technology collaborates with leading hot forming industries and the availability of Ducom tribometer for this application is an important part of the knowledge and infrastructure platform for scientific studies and developing industrial technological solutions.”

Prof. Jens Hardell
Department of Engineering Sciences and Mathematics
Luleå University of Technology

• Measure friction, acoustic emission, linear wear, contact resistance in a single test.
• Completely automated test instrument, including the sample mounting.
• Automated pick and place upto 50 strips offers high throughput testing.
• Resistive heating eliminates requirement of separate furnace
• Loading upto 5 kN, speeds upto 250 mm/s.
• Active strip cooling with forced air.
• This instrument is used by leading research groups, i.e., Lulea University of Technology, Sweden offering high scientific value.