Metallife and Thermallife extend die casting die life, stopping soldering and improving performance of die casting dies and other molds.

Decreases Die Casting Soldering and Galling

A MetaLLife surface has a natural ability to retain lubricant so that a barrier exists between the two elements that can cause soldering to occur. This in itself, can help to retard soldering. In more severe cases, we recommend ThermaLLife in combination with MetaLLife which is trademarked as TooLLife process.

Soldering of molten metal, especially aluminum, is caused by the natural affinity of the metal to the iron (Fe) in the die steel. There are two basic types of soldering...mechanical and inter-metallic.

The first type, mechanical, is simply the due to the loss of lubricant which allows the aluminum to interact or wet the steel surface. This is the first stage and easily controlled if caught early. When the loss of lubricant or a protection barrier is prolonged, inter-metallic soldering is the next stage. This type of soldering is no longer only aluminum sticking the die surface. Compounds of aluminum and iron are formed...FeAl₃, Al₄FeSi, Al₁₅Fe₅Si_5,Al₁₂Fe₆Si₅. This type of soldering when removed also deteriorates and erodes some of the die steel's iron when removed.

Stage	Description	Cause
I	Erosion of grain boundaries	Weak regions - cavitation
II	Pitting of die surface	Loose grain - cavitation
III	Formation of iron-aluminum compounds	Chemical - electron imbalance
IV	Formation of pyramid shapes	Rapid diffusion of iron
V	Adherence of Aluminum	Cracks in surface at pyramids
VI	Erosion pits	Cavitation loss of yield strength