Improvement of the Mechanical Properties of 30MnB5 Wear-Resistant Steel by Subcritical Annealing and Water Quenching, Improving Its Life Cycle Analysis

摘要

Life Cycle Analysis (carbon footprint) is currently a criterion that should accompany the selection of materials and processes. This research proposes a heat treatment for carbon steels with boron and manganese that reduces processing time and saves energy. It is a question of replacing the conventional hardening and tempering treatment with a single stage of subcritical annealing and hardening. This can be achieved thanks to the presence of boron in the steel, which significantly increases its hardening capacity. Thus, 30MnB5 carbon steel, with a very short subcritical annealing time and water hardening, competes in advantages with other wear-resistant steels such as RAEX450. The Life Cycle Analysis (carbon footprint) is very favorable and, its mechanical properties very advantageous, within the field of application of these steels. The obtaining of a dual-phase ferrite-martensite structure, with this heat treatment, allows very positive mechanical characteristics and adaptable to a variety of possibilities.