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Investigation of the Microstructural Changes and Hardness Variations of Sub-Zero Treated Cr-V Ledeburitic Tool Steel Due to the Tempering Treatment

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Abstract

The microstructure and tempering response of Cr-V ledeburitic steel Vanadis 6 subjected to sub-zero treatment at − 196 °C for 4 h have been examined with reference to the same steel after conventional heat treatment. The obtained experimental results infer that sub-zero treatment significantly reduces the retained austenite amount, makes an overall refinement of microstructure, and induces a significant increase in the number and population density of small globular carbides with a size 100-500 nm. At low tempering temperatures, the transient M3C-carbides precipitated, whereas their number was enhanced by sub-zero treatment. The presence of chromium-based M7C3 precipitates was evidenced after tempering at the temperature of normal secondary hardening; this phase was detected along with the M3C. Tempering above 470 °C converts almost all the retained austenite in conventionally quenched specimens while the transformation of retained austenite is rather accelerated in sub-zero treated material. As a result of tempering, a decrease in the population density of small globular carbides was recorded; however, the number of these particles retained much higher in sub-zero treated steel. Elevated hardness of sub-zero treated steel can be referred to more completed martensitic transformation and enhanced number of small globular carbides; this state is retained up to a tempering temperature of around 500 °C in certain extent. Correspondingly, lower as-tempered hardness of sub-zero treated steel tempered above 500 °C is referred to much lower contribution of the transformation of retained austenite, and to an expectedly lower amount of precipitated alloy carbides.

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Acknowledgments

The authors acknowledge that the paper is a result of experiments realized within the Project VEGA 1/0735/14. In addition, this publication is the result of the Project implementation “Centre for Development and Application of Advanced Diagnostic Methods in Processing of Metallic and Non-Metallic Materials—APRODIMET”, ITMS: 26220120014, supported by the Research & Development Operational Programme funded by the ERDF.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Materials Science and Technology in Trnava, Jána Bottu 25, 917 24, Trnava, Slovakia

    Peter Jurči, Mária Dománková, Jana Ptačinová, Matej Pašák & Martin Kusý

  2. Prikner - tepelné zpracování kovů, Martínkovice 279, 550 01, Martínkovice, Czech Republic

    Petra Priknerová

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  1. Peter Jurči
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Correspondence to Peter Jurči.

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Jurči, P., Dománková, M., Ptačinová, J. et al. Investigation of the Microstructural Changes and Hardness Variations of Sub-Zero Treated Cr-V Ledeburitic Tool Steel Due to the Tempering Treatment. J. of Materi Eng and Perform 27, 1514–1529 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11665-018-3261-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11665-018-3261-6

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