High-temperature sliding wear behavior of bound metal deposited AISI H13 tool steel with different infill patterns

Abstract This research investigates the tribological performance of AISI H13 hot-work tool steel fabricated via an additive manufacturing (AM) process, with a particular emphasis on the effects of different infill patterns. Motivated by the growing demand for advanced manufacturing methods capable of producing high-performance tooling with complex geometries, this study addresses a critical gap in understanding the high-temperature tribological behaviour of tool steels fabricated using the bound metal deposition (BMD) process. Wear tests were performed at elevated temperatures of up to 250 °C, and the results were benchmarked against conventionally manufactured specimens. The findings reveal that specific infill patterns can achieve wear resistance comparable to traditional manufacturing methods, with the concentric infill pattern exhibiting a lower wear volume than the line pattern. These outcomes demonstrate the potential of additive manufacturing, particularly BMD, as a viable technique for producing functional tool steels capable of operating under high-temperature contact conditions. The study highlights the need for further research to refine process parameters, improve microstructural control, and fully realize the advantages of AM for tooling applications.