Gravity and low‑pressure die casting gently fill molten aluminum into steel dies using natural flow or low applied pressure. Controlled filling, durable tooling, and slow solidification produce strong, low‑porosity parts for wheels, housings, and structural components.
Gravity and low‑pressure die casting are robust processes for producing high‑quality aluminum components with good mechanical properties. In gravity die casting, molten alloy is poured into a preheated steel mould, relying on natural flow for gentle filling with minimal turbulence. Low‑pressure die casting uses a sealed furnace and regulated pressure—typically around 0.5–1 bar—to push molten metal upward through a riser tube into the die, ensuring highly controlled filling and reduced oxide inclusion. Tooling consists of durable steel dies, usually made of Hot work Tool Steels, with engineered gating, venting, and cooling systems to manage heat flow and solidification, often supported by die coatings to improve release and extend tool life. Commonly processed materials include Al‑Si and Al‑Mg alloys selected for castability, strength, and corrosion resistance. These processes are widely used for structural and safety‑critical parts such as wheels, suspension components, housings, and engine or drivetrain casings, where low porosity and dimensional stability are essential.
BÖHLER W303 ISODISC is a 5% chromium steel and corresponds to material number 1.2367 (X38CrMoV5-3). This tool steel has good hot toughness as well as a very high hot hardness and resistance against heat-checkings. Compared to an X37CrMoV5-1 (material number 1.2343), the steel has an increased molybdenum content, which significantly increases its thermal resistance and thus makes it the ideal material in die closed-die forging, open-die forging and extrusion.
Read MoreBÖHLER W350 ISOBLOC is a material produced by the electroslag remelting process (ESR) which is particularly suitable for use in large casting and forging molds. Although the steel can be classified as a 5% chromium steel, the chemical composition has been chosen to provide the best possible through-hardenability without any loss of toughness or resistance against heat-checkings. These properties make the steel the perfect choice to produce very large die casting molds, for example for mega- or giga-casting.
Read MoreThe BÖHLER W360 AMPO is the powder equivalent of the W360 ISOBLOC. Due to its chemical composition, the material belongs to the product group of hot-work tool steels. After hardening and tempering, it can achieve a hardness of up to 57 HRC with very good toughness properties. Its high temperature wear resistance, heat resistance and toughness characterizes the material. Applications: Printed components with conformal cooling for die casting applications, wear protection layers and repair work in mold making using laser cladding.
Read MoreUddeholm Orvar 2 Microdized is a premium hot work tool steel engineered for demanding applications where high-temperature strength, wear resistance, and dimensional stability are critical. With its exceptional through-hardening properties and uniform microstructure, this steel delivers consistent performance across a wide range of tooling environments. Benefits Designed to meet the rigorous standards of aluminum extrusion tooling and die casting, Uddeholm Orvar 2 Microdized offers outstanding resistance to thermal fatigue, plastic deformation, and premature cracking. Thanks to its high level of machinability and polishability, manufacturers benefit from reduced production time and enhanced surface finishes. The material’s availability in large round dimensions further supports versatility in design and tooling applications. In east/south east asian countries served by Assab, Uddeholm Orvar 2 Microdized is sold as AS 8407 2M. Standard specification W.nr 1.2344 / AISI H13 / AFNOR Z40 CDV 5.1
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