Title: Microstructural, thermal stability and wear resistance properties of X153CrMoV12 tool steel subjected to deep cryogenic treatment

Authors: Aleksander Ciski; Jerzy Jeleńkowski; Tomasz Babul

Addresses: Institute of Precision Mechanics, Duchnicka 3 St., 01-796 Warsaw, Poland ' Institute of Precision Mechanics, Duchnicka 3 St., 01-796 Warsaw, Poland ' Institute of Precision Mechanics, Duchnicka 3 St., 01-796 Warsaw, Poland

Abstract: This paper analyses the cause of the exothermic effect occurring in the heating cycle of X153CrMoV12 tool steel samples subjected to deep cryogenic treatment (DCT) process. The differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) studies showed the presence of energetic effect with a maximum at a temperature of about 218 K, that is, the temperature at which the occurring phenomena are associated with the presence of the carbon atoms. The energetic effect occurring at this temperature was more intense in case of samples subjected to the DCT. Observations of the structure of martensite showed that the DCT promotes refinement of martensite sub-grains, which is connected with the state of stresses in martensite crystals produced by sub-zero treatment. Above-mentioned changes in the structure of the material matrix and the way of precipitation of the strengthening phases in deep cryogenically treated X153CrMoV12 tool steel found their reflection in the improved resistance to wear.

Keywords: DCT; deep cryogenic treatment; tool steel; microstructure; martensitic transformation; calorimetry; thermal stability; wear resistance.

DOI: 10.1504/IJMMP.2015.068717

International Journal of Microstructure and Materials Properties, 2015 Vol.10 No.2, pp.140 - 148

Published online: 10 Apr 2015 *

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