Effect of cryogenic treatment on microstructure and thermal fatigue properties of H13 steel

doi:10.13251/j.issn.0254-6051.2021.10.013

Abstract

Abstract: Effect of cryogenic treatment on microstructure and properties of the H13 hot-working die steel was studied by means of OM, SEM, TEM, XRD, microhardness tester and thermal fatigue testing machine, and compared with the conventional quenching and tempering process. The results show that, the addition of cryogenic treatment on the basis of conventional quenching and tempering process is beneficial to refine the grain microstructure of the tested steel and promote the transformation of retained austenite to martensite. In addition, under the condition of cryogenic treatment, the martensite lattice is easy to shrink at extremely low temperature, which promotes the carbon atom segregation at defects such as dislocations and the precipitation in form of carbides during the tempering process. These precipitated large number of fine and dispersed carbides can pin dislocations, play a certain role in alleviating the stress concentration caused by thermal cycling, and slow down the growth rate of thermal fatigue cracks. And the precipitation of fine and dispersed carbides after cryogenic treatment reduces the growth rate of carbides during thermal fatigue of the H13 steel, reduces the number of thermal fatigue cracks, and improves thermal fatigue properties.

Key words: cryogenic treatment, H13 steel, martensite, carbides, microhardness, thermal fatigue properties

CLC Number:

TG142.45

Zhang Xu, He Wenchao, Wei Xinhong, Li Jun, Guo Han, Li Shaohong. Effect of cryogenic treatment on microstructure and thermal fatigue properties of H13 steel[J]. Heat Treatment of Metals, 2021, 46(10): 81-85.

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