Aluminium Injection Mould Behaviour Using Additive Manufacturing and Surface Engineering

Abstract

This study evaluates the application of metal additive manufacturing—specifically the laser powder bed fusion (LPBF) process—for producing aluminium die-casting mould components, comparing 300-grade maraging steel inserts with conventional H13 tool steel. Efficient thermal management and mould durability are critical in aluminium injection moulding. Still, traditional machining limits the design of cooling channels, resulting in hot spots, accelerated wear, and a reduced service life. LPBF allows the fabrication of complex geometries, enabling conformal cooling channels to enhance thermal control. Component samples were manufactured using maraging steel via LPBF, machined to final dimensions, and subjected to duplex surface treatment (plasma nitriding + CrAlN PVD coating). Thermal performance, dimensional stability, mechanical properties, and wear resistance were experimentally assessed under conditions simulating industrial production. The results demonstrate that LPBF components with optimised cooling channels and surface engineering achieve higher thermal efficiency, an extended service life (up to 2.6×), improved hardness profiles (545 HV0.05 core, 1230 HV0.05 on nitrided surface and 2850 HV0.05 after PVD film deposition), and reduced maintenance frequencies compared to H13 inserts. The study confirms that additive manufacturing, combined with tailored surface treatments and optimised cooling design, overcomes the geometric and thermal limitations of conventional manufacturing, offering a reliable and productive solution for aluminium die-casting moulds.