Carbides precipitation and kinetics of H13 steel subjected to deep cryogenic treatment. Issue 16 (2nd November 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Li, Shaohong; Guo, Han; Li, Junwan; Li, Zhimin; Li, Jun
• Is Part Of: Materials science and technology. Volume 38:Issue 16(2022)
• Page Start: 1376
• Page End: 1389
• Publication Date: 2022-11-02
• Subjects: Tool steel -- deep cryogenic treatment -- microstructure -- carbides; Materials science -- Periodicals; Microstructure -- Periodicals; Metallurgy -- Periodicals; 620.1105
• DOI: 10.1080/02670836.2022.2079862
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0267-0836

Abstract

Abstract : The influence of deep cryogenic treatment (DCT) on carbides precipitation and isothermal softening behaviour as a function of both temperature and time during tempering of H13 steel was investigated. The results show that the retained austenite transformed into martensite leading to an increase in hardness. The carbon content of martensite decreased after DCT and tempering according to the calculation of the X-ray diffraction spectrum. This indicates that more fine carbides precipitated from the martensitic matrix after DCT. The morphology of microstructure and distribution of carbides have verified the properties improvement mainly depending on the retained austenite transformation and more fine carbides precipitated after tempering. In addition, the carbides precipitating and coarsening are the main causes of thermal softening.