New Developments in the Design and Production of Container Assemblies

-The biggest change in containers during recent years has been the improved temperature control of billet and container. Such containers are equipped with modern resistance heating and helical cooling systems. Practical experience has shown that the advantage of the more uniform temperature distribution has a negative effect on the life of the mantles of such containers. To improve the life of these state-of-the-art containers, the extrusion process in a container for a medium sized press was simulated using the Finite Element Method. The results show the development of temperatures and stresses over a number of extrusions until the process reached an equilibrium. Combining these results with the hot properties of the hot work steels used for the containers allows the prediction of the lifetime of these components. In this paper, the results of the simulation and possible improvements in the design of containers and the most suitable container materials are discussed.