PRESSURE DIECASTING FOR COPPER AND STEEL.

The pressure diecasting process has been used for many years for the mass-production of components from alloys of lead, zinc, aluminum and, more recently, brass. Many attempts have been made over the last 30 years to extend the advantages of diecasting to steels and to other high-melting-range alloys. Since 1967, a high-temperature pressure-diecasting process, known as Ferro-Di, has been developed. Extensive pilot plant trials were undertaken until 1976, and since then production experience in a factory at Redditch, U. K. , has confirmed the technical and commercial viability of the process. More recently the steel diecasting process has been adapted to the diecasting of high-conductivity copper and dilute copper alloys, mainly for applications in the electrical-engineering industry. The article describes the process which enables high-melting-point materials to be diecast economically.