Burnishability
Burnishability in steels is a property required for plastic injection moulds, and closely related to the product appearance we wish to obtain.
| Burnishing results are determined by: | |
| 1. Steel quality | Beyond chemical composition, the steel manufacturing process has a decisive impact on burnishability. The amount, shape and distribution of non-metallic inclusions (purity) or hard components such as primary carbides are sprinkled throughout the surface, affecting the burnished surface. To improve steel purity, and therefore burnishability, steels are treated with secondary metallurgical processes in ladle furnaces, and to guarantee spectacular burnishing, these steels are electroslag remelted (ESR or SUPRA) or vacuum arc remelted (VAR). |
| 2. Heat treatment conditions | Excellent results are obtained, in hardness levels superior to 50HRc. In a soft condition, there is the risk of wavy surfaces. |
| 3. Burnishing method | The burnishing result depends on the experience, skill and burnishing sequences. |
