WIREDRAWING DIES: INDUSTRY IMPROVEMENTS.

The approach of surface diffused alloy coatings is to make the surface characteristics of the carbide such that other metals do not want to alloy or weld to it. It was determined that dies were not actually failing because the carbide was wearing out, but rather because the cobalt binder was welding to the material being drawn through it, allowing a buildup of material at some point in the approach or bearing of the die and subsequently heating up because of that buildup. The process has been applied to copper, steel and alloy materials.