AMERICAN JOURNAL OF SCIENTIFIC AND INDUSTRIAL RESEARCH
© 2015,Science Huβ, http://www.scihub.org/AJSIR
ISSN: 2153-649X, doi:10.5251/ajsir.2015.6.2.33.40
Influence of Heat Treatment on Resistance of Wear and Mechanical
Properties of Die Steel Kind D3
(1) (2)
Sara Saad Ghazi and Dr. Kadhim Mijbel Mashloosh
E-mail: [email protected]
E-mail: [email protected]
(1) , (2)
Technical Engineering College/ Baghdad- Dies and Tools Eng. Dept.
ABSTRACT
The aim of this work is to study the effect of conventional heat treatment and cryogenic treatment
on wear resistance and mechanical properties of D3 tool steel. In this work conventional heat
treatment and cryogenic treatment was done on cold work die tool steel type D3. In conventional
treatment, the process involved heating the samples to the austenitic temperature (according to
quenching medium) and then quenching them in still air, forced air ,oil and polymer solution. In
cryogenic treatment, the samples were cooled to (-198°C) and holding for (36hr). Vacuum
atmosphere furnace was used to prevent oxidation and decarburization of the samples surface.
In still air forced air quenching, the specimens were heated to (1000°C) and holding for (30 min),
in polymer and oil quenching the specimen were heated to (950°C) and holding for (30 min). The
samples were then tempered at various temperatures (200, 300 and 400°C). It was found that
when the tempering temperature increases, the hardness decreases, strength decreases and
impact energy increases. However, the effect of tempering was only significant at temperature of
(400°C). The samples were cryogenically treated and tempered at (200°C) having higher
hardness (69 HRC), higher tensile strength (2900Mpa). The samples which were quenched in still
air and tempered at (400°C) having higher impact energy (46J) and higher elongation (15%).
Microstructure investigation revealed that more homogenous carbide distribution with increasing
tempering temperature. Cryogenic treatment make refinement and homogeneity of the
microstructure. Wear tests were carried out on a pin on disc wear testing machine at different
loads (5,10,15 and 20N) , sliding distance (150 m), rotational speed (200 r.p.m) and test duration
(10min). Another set of experiments was done to show the effect of test duration (5, 10, 15 and
20min) on wear at constant load (10N). The results show that wear rate increases as load and
test duration increases. It is indicated that the samples were cryogenically treated having lower
wear rate than that non cryogenically treated. SEM testing showed when using high load (20N) at
wear testing, plate similar debris formed. By using low load (5N) at wear testing, curved similar
debris formed.
Keywords: Conventional heat treatment, Cryogenic treatment, Wear test, Mechanical properties,
SEM, D3 tool steel.
INTRODUCTION applications where excellent wear resistance and low
(2)
cost are required . D3 Cold work tool steel is a 12%
Steel is a category of materials that is derived from
chrome steel, it has great wear resistance beside
ores that are rich in iron, in the Earth’s crust and
abrasive and adhesive wear due to the great volume
which are easily decreased by hot carbon to yield
of tough carbides in the steel matrix, moderate
iron. 80% of heat treatments are utilized for steel and
(1) toughness, dimensional stability, great compressive
its alloys . Tool steel is a category of steel generally (3)
strength . Most of the die materials are exposed to
classified into six types cold work , shock resisting,
great loads. Dies should be capable to resist these
hot work, high speed, water hardening, plastic mold
loads a number of times without exposes to
and special purpose tool steels. Among them, cold
breaking, extreme wear or distortion. Inhibition of
work tool steels are the main type, as they are used
directly die failure is frequently related with hardness
for numerous categories of tools, dies and other
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Am. J. Sci. Ind. Res., 2015, 5(2): 33-40
level that should not be enlarged for various uses. field was observed as the greatest important
For avoiding such failures, dies must be exposed to privileges of utilizing cryogenic heat treatment. The
various heat treatment to get different hardness for very low temperature of cryogenic atmosphere is the
(4)
different uses . Conventional heat treatment extra fast for the development in properties.
(8)
provides hardness in addition to toughness, wear D.N.COLLINS and J. DORMER (1997) discussed
resistance and ductility to steel. Even achieved the effect of transforming retained austenite to
correctly, conventional heat treating cannot eliminate martensite of D2 tool steel, with the subsequently rise
all of the retained austenite (big, unsteady atoms of in hardness. Deep cryogenic treatment had an
carbon carbide) from steel . The retained austenite as influence on martensite; it leads to crystallographic
a soft stage in steels might decrease the product and microstructure modifications which, on
lifecycle and in employed situations, it can be rewarming, result in the precipitation of a finer well
converted into marten site. This new martensite might distribution of carbides in the tempering
cause some complications for employed tools. This microstructure, with the subsequent rise in equally
new marten site is extremely brittle and differs from toughness and wear resistance. G.R.Bourne
(9)
the tempered one, which is utilized in tools. (2003) investigated the wear resistance
Moreover, this martensite reasons small cracks and improvements of D2 tool steel that varies between a
decreases the product lifecycle. Concerning the few and a few hundred percent and conflicting results
complications cited above, the precise transformation are presented for the change in impact resistance of
(10)
of retained austenite into martensite is necessary to treated steel. Liu-Ho Chiu et al (2012) Studied
numerous kinds of piece. So as to get this conversion The effects of retained austenite and carbide
(2)
the cold treatment is utilized . cold treatment is distribution of (D2 and DC53) tool steels on their
usually categorized as either so called “frozen wear behavior using different quenching, tempering
treatment” at temperatures down to approximately (- and cryogenic processes. The weight loss from non-
80℃) or “deep cryogenic treatment” by liquefied cryogenically treated specimens was higher than that
nitrogen temperature (-196℃). More new indication of cryogenically treated one. A. Bhateja et
(11)
displays that the wear resistance is additional al.(2012) Studied the Effect of heat treatment on
improved via cryogenic treatment at liquefied nitrogen the Hardness of three Model Grades of Tool Steel
temperature. Greatest assistants supposed that there namely EN-31, EN-8, and D3. Quenching and
are double mechanisms to develop the mechanical Tempering. It was saw that heat treatment develops
properties of the piece that has been treated hardness of tool steel.
cryogenically. The first mechanism is attributed to the
Experimental work
conversion of retained austenite to martensite. The
second is to start the nucleation locations for Materials Utilized
precipitating a great amount of good carbides in the
(5,6) (7) Base Metal: AISI D3 tool steel was used as a testing
matrix of marten site . R. F. Baron (1984)
material in quenching and tempering processes. A
studied the effect of cryogenic heat treatment on
piece of this metal was analyzed to find its chemical
hardness and the amount of retained austenite of
composition as shown in table (4-1) by Spectrometer
H13 tool steel. He concluded that the improving
device.
resistance to wear, decrease of internal stresses,
regularity of sizes and deposition of micro carbides in
Table (2-1 ) Standard and actual chemical composition of AISI D3 tool steel (wt %)
Elements
Smax
C% Mn% Pmax% Si% Cr% V% W% Fe%
%
Material
Standard
[12]
2 – 2.35 0.1 – 0.6 0.03 0.03 0.1 – 0.6 11 – 13.5 ≤1 ≤1 Rem.
Value
Actual
2.25 0.400 0.025 0.024 0.330 13.2 0.204 0.033 Rem.
Value
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Am. J. Sci. Ind. Res., 2015, 5(2): 33-40
Polyvinyl Alcohol (PVA): Polyvinyl alcohol is a
water-soluble synthetic polymer. It is creamed color
powder.
Oil Quenching : Iraqi oil quenching (7901) was
Treatment Processes: AISI D3 tool steel was
used.
exposed to various treatments as shown in table (2-
2).
Table (2-2) treatment processes for D3 tool steel
Nomenclature Heat Treatment
A As received
◦
SA Quenching in still air (1000 C for 30 min)
◦ ◦
SA1 Quenching in still air (1000 C for 30 min) and tempering (200 C for 30 min)
◦ ◦
SA2 Quenching in still air (1000 C for 30 min) and tempering (300 C for 30 min)
◦ ◦
SA3 Quenching in still air (1000 C for 30 min) and tempering (400 C for 30 min)
◦
FA Quenching in forced air (1000 C for 30 min)
◦ ◦
FA1 Quenching in forced air (1000 C for 30 min) and tempering (200 C for 30 min)
◦ ◦
FA2 Quenching in forced air (1000 C for 30 min) and tempering (300 C for 30 min)
◦ ◦
FA3 Quenching in forced air (1000 C for 30 min) and tempering (400 C for 30 min)
◦
O Quenching in oil (950 C for 30 min)
◦ ◦
O1 Quenching in oil (950 C for 30 min) and tempering (200 C for 30 min)
◦ ◦
O2 Quenching in oil (950 C for 30 min) and tempering (300 C for 30 min)
◦ ◦
O3 Quenching in oil (950 C for 30 min) and tempering (400 C for 30 min)
◦
P Quenching in polymer (950 C for 30 min)
◦ ◦
P1 Quenching in polymer (950 C for 30 min) and tempering (200 C for 30 min)
◦ ◦
P2 Quenching in polymer (950 C for 30 min) and tempering (300 C for 30 min)
◦ ◦
P3 Quenching in polymer (950 C for 30 min) and tempering (400 C for 30 min)
◦ ◦
C1 Cryogenic treatment (-198 C for 36 hr) and tempering (200 C for 30 min)
◦ ◦
C2 Cryogenic treatment (-198 C for 36 hr) and tempering (300 C for 30 min)
◦ ◦
C3 Cryogenic treatment (-198 C for 36 hr) and tempering (400 C for 30 min)
Fig (2-1) shows cryogenic treatment system of D3 tool steel.
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Am. J. Sci. Ind. Res., 2015, 5(2): 33-40
Figure
Fig.(2-1) shows cryogenic treatment system of D3 tool steel.
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION samples which were cryogenically treated having
higher strength and lower elongation than that
Hardness Testing Results: Table (3-1) lists the
conventionally treated and as received base metal.
Rockwell hardness of D3 tool steel at the all
conditions. Rockwell hardness number of tool steel Table (3-1) Hardness test results of D3 tool steel
type D3for various heat treatments presented in for different heat treatment
Table (3-1) indicate that the increase in hardness of
samples due to heat treatment and cryogenic Nomenclature Hardness ( HRC)
treatment. The values of hardness for cryogenically A 30
treated samples was higher than conventional treated
samples. The samples were cryogenically treated at SA 55
◦ ◦
(-198 C) for (36 hr) and tempering at (200 C) for SA1 52
(30min) having maximum hardness (69HRC).
SA2 49
Tensile Testing Results: Table (3-2) lists the tensile
strength, yield strength and elongation of D3 tool SA3 43
steel at the all conditions. Figure (3-1) shows stress-
FA 60
strain curve of D3 tool steel at all condition. Table (3-
2) and figure (3-1) Show tensile properties of D3 tool FA1 57
steel at various treatment. The results show that
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Am. J. Sci. Ind. Res., 2015, 5(2): 33-40
FA2 53
FA3 48
O 64
O1 61
O2 56
O3 51
P 65
P1 63
P2 59
P3 55
C1 69
C2 67 Figure (3-1) Tensile curve of all groups; Stress-
C3 62 Strain curve
Table (3-2) Tensile test of D3 die steel at different heat treatment
Sample Tensile stress(Mpa) Yield stress(Mpa) Elongation(%)
A 990 705 20%
SA 1900 1560 11%
SA1 1810 1300 12%
SA2 1613 1150 13%
SA3 1368 1090 15%
FA 2650 2050 9%
FA1 2125 1510 10.1%
FA2 1845 1405 11%
FA3 1640 1380 13.6%
O 2700 2100 7.6%
O1 2430 2000 8%
O2 2300 1900 9.5%
O3 1720 1517 11.4%
P 2750 2100 7%
P1 2575 2400 8.2%
P2 2200 1970 9.8%
P3 1955 1773 12%
C1 2900 2309 5%
C2 2701 2200 6.3%
C3 2400 2041 9.9%
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Am. J. Sci. Ind. Res., 2015, 5(2): 33-40
Impact Testing Results: Table (3-3) lists the Charpy O 34
impact energy of the all conditions in this work. The
results show that impact energy of D3 tool steel O1 35
varies with type of adopted heat treatment. The O2 37.3
samples which were cryogenically treated having low
impact energy than that conventionally treated O3 40
because cryogenic treatment convert all retained P 33
austenite to martensite.
P1 34
Microstructure Examination Results: Figure (3-2)
shows that the microstructure of D3 tool steel when P2 36
quenched in still air composed of small chromium
carbide (white region), big chromium carbide (white P3 39
region) and martensite (black region). Sample reveal C1 30
non-uniform delivery of big, extended, white regions
of small chromium carbides and uniform delivery of C2 31
approximately spherical big chromium carbides. C3 35.7
Figure (3-3) shows that the microstructure of D3 tool
steel when quenched in oil composed of small
chromium carbide (white region), big chromium
carbide (white region) and tempered martensite
(black region). sample reveal uniform delivery of
white regions of small chromium carbides and
approximately spherical big chromium carbides.
Figure (3-4) shows that the microstructure of D3 tool
steel when cryogenically treated and tempered at
(200◦C) composed of small chromium carbide (white
region), big chromium carbide (white region) and
tempered martensite (black region). sample exhibit
uniform delivery of white regions of small chromium Figure (3-2) Microstructure of still air quenched D3
carbides and approximately spherical big chromium tool steel
carbides.
Table (3-3) Impact energy of D3 die steel for
various heat treatment
Sample Impact energy (J)
A 50
SA 40
SA1 41
Figure (3-3) Microstructure of oil quenched D3 tool
SA2 43
steel
SA3 46
FA 37
FA1 38.5
FA2 40
FA3 43.7
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Am. J. Sci. Ind. Res., 2015, 5(2): 33-40
Figure (3-4) Microstructure of cryogenically
◦
treated and tempered (200 C) D3 tool steel
Pin-on-Disc Wear Testing Results: Figure (3-5)
shows relationship between wear rate of D3 tool steel
and load applied during pin on disc wear testing.
Figure (3-6) shows relationship between wear rate of
D3 tool steel and test duration during pin on disc
wear testing. The samples were quenched in still air
having higher wear rate because of lower hardness
value (55HRC).
40
Wear rate (×10-
30 SA
20 FA
6 g/m)
10 O
0
5 10 15 20 P
Load (N) C1
Figure (3-5) Variation of wear rate with load of D3
tool steel at different quenching medii
The samples were cryogenically treated having less
wear rate than that non cryogenically treated
because of high hardness value (69HRC).
Figure (5-39) SEM photograph debris collected
from the wear tests
25
Wear rate (×10-5
a- Cutting wear debris, low load (5N),
20 SA as received
15
FA b- Rubbing wear debris, high load
g/m)
10 (20N), as received
5 O
SEM testing showed when using high load (20N) at
0 P wear testing, plate similar debris formed. By using
5 10 15 20 low load (5N) at wear testing, curved similar debris
C1 formed.
Time (min) CONCLUSIONS
From the results of the present investigation, the
Figure (3-6) Variation of wear rate with time of D3 following conclusions can be drawn:
tool steel at different quenching medii 1- The ultimate tensile stress (2900 MPa), yield
Scanning Electron Microscope Testing Results: stress (2709 MPa), Hardness (69 HRC) of
Figure (5-39 a & b) shows cutting wear debris and the cryogenically treated samples (C1) are
rubbing wear debris of the as received at condition of higher than that conventionally treated
(5N) and (20N) loads, (200 r.p.m) rotational speed, samples.
(150 m) sliding distance, (20 min) test duration. 2- The hardness of D3 tool steel decreases as
the tempering temperature increases. This is
only significant at high tempering
temperature (400ºC).
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Am. J. Sci. Ind. Res., 2015, 5(2): 33-40
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