Title: Cryogenic processing to improve tribological performance of die steels

Authors: Debdulal Das; Kalyan Kumar Ray

Addresses: Department of Metallurgy and Materials Engineering, Indian Institute of Engineering Science and Technology, (formerly, Bengal Engineering and Science University, Shibpur, Howrah 711103, West Bengal), India ' Department of Metallurgical and Materials Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur 721302, West Bengal, India

Abstract: This study aims to examine the effect of cryogenic treatment on the enhancement of wear resistance of a cold work die steel. Specimens of the selected steel have been separately subjected to conventional heat treatment, shallow cryogenic treatment and deep cryogenic treatment. Wear resistance has been assessed by dry sliding wear tests under varying normal loads together with detailed characterisations of the generated wear debris, surface and subsurface of the worn specimens. The tribological experiments have been supplemented by examinations of microstructures and measurements of hardness and fracture toughness values of the differently heat treated specimens. The obtained results unambiguously establish that deep cryogenic treatment substantially improves wear resistance of the selected steel over conventional heat treatment and shallow cryogenic treatment. The dependence of wear characteristics on microstructural features and their correlation with mechanical properties are critically discussed.

Keywords: cryogenic treatment; sub-zero treatment; friction; tribology; white layer; severe wear; dry sliding wear; delamination; fracture toughness; microstructure; hardness; retained austenite; secondary carbide; tool steel; die steel; tribological performance; wear resistance; cold working.

DOI: 10.1504/IJSURFSE.2015.068238

International Journal of Surface Science and Engineering, 2015 Vol.9 No.2/3, pp.124 - 144

Received: 09 Dec 2013
Accepted: 15 Jun 2014

Published online: 26 Mar 2015 *

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