Abstract
This paper had as special-purpose rendering the enhancing of WNR. 1.2083 steel’s properties by vacuum heat treatment, in protective atmosphere, in order to find adequate solutions for the improvement of the tools destined for the injection molding of PBT reinforced with up to 45% fiberglass, for the total cost of a mold production project divided per the total number of the resulted pieces from that project to reach its minimum value. For that purpose to be achieved, the use of high performance steels with special alloying concept and distinct production technique is mandatory. Although the electroslag remelting process ensures a smaller number of non-metallic inclusions and a homogenous structure characterized by isotropic properties, this has to be extended after heat treatment also. By identifying the problems involved in the injection process PBT reinforced with up to 45% fiberglass, the right characteristics of the WNR. 1.2083 steel were established. In order for those characteristics to be reached, the execution of the proper heat treatment in vacuum furnaces, with protected atmosphere, will be presented in this paper. Keywords: reinforced PBT, fiberglass, heat treatment, vacuum, low tempering, distortion