The Influence of Method of Carburizing and Nitrocarburizing on the Microstructure and Properties of Tool Steels

摘要

The paper presents the results of wear and metallography tests of tool steel grades: ASTM A681, Ch12M and Ch12FS per GOST, AMS 6437E i BS X46Cr13, all surface hardened by the Carbo process (carburizing) and by the NiCar process (nitrocarburizing). The thermo-chemical treatment was conducted in powder pack for a duration of 6 h (carburizing) and for 4 h in the case of nitrocarburizing. Factors investigated were: morphology, depth and microhardness of the cases obtained, their microstructure, as well as phase composition. Wear tests were conducted by the three cylinder-cone method. Wear velocity was 0.58 m/s, unit load was 50 MPa and 400Mpa, wear path was 3470 m. Oil SAE30 was applied at the rate of 30 drops per minute.