A Multivariate Experimental Design to Investigate the Effect of Different Heat Treatment Procedures and Parameters’ Interactions on the Hardness and Retained Austenite of K340 Cold-work Tool Steel
Source abstract
Abstract
High-carbon, high-chromium cold work tool steels are a group of steels that are used in various industrial applications due to their exceptional properties such as high hardness and wear resistance. Heat treatment plays a critical role in tailoring these characteristics for each application to meet the required needs. This study investigates the effect of austenitizing and tempering temperatures and tempering steps on the hardness and retained austenite (RA) content and aims at providing a model which can estimate the resulting hardness of each heat treatment recipe. Fifteen heat treatment procedures were defined using a face-centered central composite design. The microstructure of the material was studied by scanning electron microscopy and energy-dispersive spectroscopy, and the RA was measured by x-ray diffraction. Vickers microhardness measurement was also used to characterize the mechanical properties of the material. The results showed that austenitizing at 1040 °C and 3-step tempering at 550 °C resulted in the minimum hardness value (732 HV). However, the maximum hardness (801HV) was achieved when the material was austenitized at 1055 °C and tempered at 525 °C for 3 steps. The data were analyzed by Chemometric Agile Tool software and the results showed that the interaction of austenitizing and tempering temperatures had the most significant effect on hardness. On the other side, the amount of RA was mainly affected by the tempering temperature. By increasing the austenitizing temperature from 1040 to 1070 °C, an increase in the peak hardness value was observed. Additionally, by increasing the tempering temperature the hardness increased followed by a decline after reaching a peak value. Given the generated model, this research contributes to a deeper understanding of intricate relationships between heat treatment parameters and material properties, facilitating the design of heat treatment procedures based on requirements of each specific application.
Source: openaire · Quality: candidate unverified · Source record ↗
Research context
OpenAlex topics: Metal Alloys Wear and Properties · Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of Steels · Metallurgy and Material Forming
SciVX discovery tags are terminology-based. OpenAlex topics are source-provided classifications.
References (46)
Show source-provided references
1. voestalpine BÖHLER Edelstahl GmbH & Co., Cold Work Tool Steel BÖHLER K340, 2020. www.voestalpine.com/bohler-edelstahl
2. M.A. Rehan, A. Medvedeva, B. Högman, L.-E. Svensson, and L. Karlsson, Effect of Austenitization and Tempering on the Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of a 5 wt% Cr Cold Work Tool Steel, Steel Res. Int., 2016, 87, p 1609–1618. https://doi.org/10.1002/srin.20160001210.1002/srin.201600012 ↗
3. H. Kim, J.Y. Kang, D. Son, T.H. Lee, and K.M. Cho, Evolution of Carbides in Cold-Work Tool Steels, Mater Charact, 2015, 107, p 376–385. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.MATCHAR.2015.08.00110.1016/J.MATCHAR.2015.08.001 ↗
4. K. Fukaura, Y. Yokoyama, D. Yokoi, N. Tsujii, and K. Ono, Fatigue of Cold-Work Tool Steels: Effect of Heat Treatment and Carbide Morphology on Fatigue Crack Formation, Life, and Fracture Surface Observations, Metall. Mater. Trans. A, 2004, 35, p 1289–1300. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11661-004-0303-510.1007/s11661-004-0303-5 ↗
5. K. Miao, Y. He, N. Zhu, J. Wang, X. Lu, and L. Li, Coarsening of Carbides during Different Heat Treatment Conditions, J. Alloys Compd., 2015, 622, p 513–523. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.JALLCOM.2014.10.11510.1016/J.JALLCOM.2014.10.115 ↗
6. G.R. Speich and W.C. Leslie, Tempering of Steel, Metall. Trans., 1972, 3, p 1043–1054. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF0264243610.1007/BF02642436 ↗
7. K. Khatibi, M.B.A. Asmael, B. Safaei, and Q. Zeeshan, Solidification and Microstructure Characterizations of Eutectic Aluminum-Silicon Casting Alloy with the Addition of Tin, Mater. Werksttech, 2021, 52, p 871–878. https://doi.org/10.1002/mawe.20210004010.1002/mawe.202100040 ↗
8. Y.E. Jeong, J.Y. Lee, E.K. Lee, and D.S. Shim, Microstructures and Mechanical Properties of Deposited Fe-8Cr-3V-2Mo-2W on SCM420 Substrate Using Directed Energy Deposition and Effect of Post-Heat Treatment, Materials, 2021, 14, p 1231. https://doi.org/10.3390/ma1405123110.3390/ma14051231 ↗
9. E. Bassini, A. Sivo, and D. Ugues, Assessment of the Hardening Behavior and Tensile Properties of a Cold-Rolled Bainitic-Ferritic Steel, Materials, 2021, 14, p 6662. https://doi.org/10.3390/ma1421666210.3390/ma14216662 ↗
10. J.L. Dossett, Heat Treatment of Tool Steels, Practical Heat Treating: Basic Principles. ASM International, Detroit, 202010.31399/asm.tb.phtbp.9781627083263 ↗
11. H. Jesperson, Influence of the heat treatment on the toughness of some hot-work tool steel grades, in 2nd International Conference Heat Treatment and Surface Engineering in Automotive Applications, vol. 98, 2006, p 29–37
12. R. Pierer, R. Schneider, and H. Hiebler, The behaviour of two new tool steels regarding dimension change, in 6th International Tooling Conference, 2002, p 611–624
13. V. Jagota and R.K. Sharma, Interpreting H13 Steel Wear Behavior for Austenitizing Temperature, Tempering Time and Temperature, J. Braz. Soc. Mech. Sci. Eng., 2018, 40, p 219. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40430-018-1140-610.1007/s40430-018-1140-6 ↗
14. V. Leskovšek, B. Šuštaršič, and G. Jutriša, The influence of austenitizing and tempering temperature on the hardness and fracture toughness of hot-worked H11 tool steel, J. Mater. Process. Technol., 2006, 178, p 328–334. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.JMATPROTEC.2006.04.01610.1016/J.JMATPROTEC.2006.04.016 ↗
15. B. Bandriyana, B. Sugeng, R. Salam, D. Hairani, A. Sujatno, and N. Shabrina, Effects of heat treatment on the microstructure of the ODS (oxide dispersion strengthened) steel Fe-9Cr-0.5Y2O3, in J Phys Conf Ser, vol. 2193, 2022, p 12046. https://doi.org/10.1088/1742-6596/2193/1/01204610.1088/1742-6596/2193/1/012046 ↗
16. H.K.D.H. Bhadeshia, Bainite in Steels: Theory and Practice, 3rd ed. CRC Press, London, 2015.
17. P. Jovičević-Klug, L. Tóth, and B. Podgornik, Comparison of K340 Steel Microstructure and Mechanical Properties Using Shallow and Deep Cryogenic Treatment, Coatings, 2022, 12, p 1296. https://doi.org/10.3390/coatings1209129610.3390/coatings12091296 ↗
18. A. Molinari, M. Pellizzari, S. Gialanella, G. Straffelini, and K.H. Stiasny, Effect of Deep Cryogenic Treatment on the Mechanical Properties of Tool Steels, J. Mater. Process. Technol., 2001, 118, p 350–355. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0924-0136(01)00973-610.1016/S0924-0136(01)00973-6 ↗
19. A. Oppenkowski, S. Weber, and W. Theisen, Evaluation of Factors Influencing Deep Cryogenic Treatment that Affect the Properties of Tool Steels, J. Mater. Process. Technol., 2010, 210, p 1949–1955. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.JMATPROTEC.2010.07.00710.1016/J.JMATPROTEC.2010.07.007 ↗
20. F. Feuerhahn, A. Schulz, T. Seefeld, and F. Vollertsen, Microstructure and Properties of Selective Laser Melted High Hardness Tool Steel, Phys. Procedia, 2013, 41, p 843–848. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.PHPRO.2013.03.15710.1016/J.PHPRO.2013.03.157 ↗
21. M. Momeni, S. Kheirandish, H. Saghafian, J. Hedjazi, and M. Momeni, Effects of Heat Treatment on Mechanical Properties of Modified Cast AISI D3 Tool Steel, Mater. Des. 1980–2015, 2014, 54, p 742–747. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.MATDES.2013.09.00210.1016/J.MATDES.2013.09.002 ↗
22. M. Muro, G. Artola, A. Gorriño, and C. Angulo, Wear and Friction Evaluation of Different Tool Steels for Hot Stamping, Adv. Mater. Sci. Eng., 2018, 2018, p 3296398. https://doi.org/10.1155/2018/329639810.1155/2018/3296398 ↗
23. Y.C. Lin, S.W. Wang, and T.M. Chen, A Study on the Wear Behavior of Hardened Medium Carbon Steel, J. Mater. Process. Technol., 2002, 120, p 126–132. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0924-0136(01)01195-510.1016/S0924-0136(01)01195-5 ↗
24. S. Kumar, S.R. Maity, and L. Patnaik, Friction and Tribological Behavior of Bare Nitrided, TiAlN and AlCrN Coated MDC-K Hot Work Tool Steel, Ceram. Int., 2020, 46, p 17280–17294. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.CERAMINT.2020.04.01510.1016/J.CERAMINT.2020.04.015 ↗
25. P. Yan, X. Wang, and L. Jiao, Effect of Element Contents on Friction and Wear Behaviors of Ternary Nitride Coatings, Ind. Lubr. Tribol., 2016, 68, p 696–701. https://doi.org/10.1108/ILT-07-2015-009910.1108/ILT-07-2015-0099 ↗
26. E. Wen, R. Song, and W. Xiong, Effect of Tempering Temperature on Microstructures and Wear Behavior of a 500 HB Grade Wear-Resistant Steel, Metals, 2019, 9, p 45. https://doi.org/10.3390/met901004510.3390/met9010045 ↗
27. M. Kenevisi, P. Martelli, F. Gobber, D. Ugues, and S. Biamino, Processability of K340 cold work tool steel by directed energy deposition technique, in IOP Conf Ser Mater Sci Eng vol. 1310, 2024, p 012021. https://doi.org/10.1088/1757-899X/1310/1/01202110.1088/1757-899X/1310/1/012021 ↗
28. S. Saha, L. Prasad, and V. Kumar, Experimental Investigations on Heat Treatment of Cold Work Tool Steels: Part 1, Air-Hardening Grade (D2), Int. J. Eng. Res. Appl., 2012, 2, p 510–519.
29. M. Nurbanasari, P. Tsakiropoulos, and E.J. Palmiere, A Study of Carbide Precipitation in a H21 Tool Steel, ISIJ Int., 2014, 54, p 1667–1676. https://doi.org/10.2355/isijinternational.54.166710.2355/isijinternational.54.1667 ↗
30. M.A. Rehan, A. Medvedeva, L.-E. Svensson, and L. Karlsson, Retained Austenite Transformation during Heat Treatment of a 5 Wt Pct Cr Cold Work Tool Steel, Metall. Mater. Trans. A, 2017, 48, p 5233–5243. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11661-017-4232-510.1007/s11661-017-4232-5 ↗
31. H. Jirková, D. Aišman, K. Rubešová, K. Opatová, and B. Mašek, Semi-solid processing of high-chromium tool steel to obtain microstructures without carbide network, in IOP Conf Ser Mater Sci Eng (Institute of Physics Publishing, 2017). https://doi.org/10.1088/1757-899X/179/1/01203610.1088/1757-899X/179/1/012036 ↗
32. S. Farahany, M. Ziaie, and N.A. Nordin, Effect of Triple Tempering Temperature on Microstructure, Mechanical, and Wear Properties of K340 Cold Work Tool Steel, J. Mater. Eng. Perform., 2023, 32, p 9000–9010. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11665-022-07791-410.1007/s11665-022-07791-4 ↗
33. Y.T. Tang, C. Panwisawas, J.N. Ghoussoub, Y. Gong, J.W.G. Clark, A.A.N. Németh, D.G. McCartney, and R.C. Reed, Alloys-by-Design: Application to New Superalloys for Additive Manufacturing, Acta Mater., 2021, 202, p 417–436. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.ACTAMAT.2020.09.02310.1016/J.ACTAMAT.2020.09.023 ↗
34. D.A. Porter, K.E. Easterling, and M.Y. Sherif, Phase Transformations in Metals and Alloys, CRC Press, Boca Raton, 2021.10.1201/9781003011804 ↗
35. Y. Lin, C.-C. Lin, T.-H. Tsai, and H.-J. Lai, Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of 0.63C-12.7Cr Martensitic Stainless Steel during Various Tempering Treatments, Mater. Manuf. Processes, 2010, 25, p 246–248. https://doi.org/10.1080/1042691090342630710.1080/10426910903426307 ↗
36. S. Yamasaki, Modelling Precipitation of Carbides in Martensitic Steels, University of Cambridge, 2004
37. J. Akré, F. Danoix, H. Leitner, and P. Auger, The Morphology of Secondary-Hardening Carbides in a Martensitic Steel at the Peak Hardness by 3DFIM, Ultramicroscopy, 2009, 109, p 518–523. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.ULTRAMIC.2008.11.01010.1016/J.ULTRAMIC.2008.11.010 ↗
38. A. Kwiatkowski da Silva, G. Inden, A. Kumar, D. Ponge, B. Gault, and D. Raabe, Competition Between Formation of Carbides and Reversed Austenite During Tempering of a Medium-Manganese Steel Studied by Thermodynamic-Kinetic Simulations and Atom Probe Tomography, Acta Mater., 2018, 147, p 165–175. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.ACTAMAT.2018.01.02210.1016/J.ACTAMAT.2018.01.022 ↗
39. C. Sun, P.-X. Fu, H.-W. Liu, H.-H. Liu, and N.-Y. Du, Effect of Tempering Temperature on the Low Temperature Impact Toughness of 42CrMo4-V Steel, Metals, 2018, 8, p 232. https://doi.org/10.3390/met804023210.3390/met8040232 ↗
40. M.H. Shaeri, H. Saghafian, and S.G. Shabestari, Effects of Austempering and Martempering Processes on Amount of Retained Austenite in Cr-Mo Steels (FMU-226) Used in Mill Liner, J. Iron. Steel Res. Int., 2010, 17, p 53–58. https://doi.org/10.1016/S1006-706X(10)60059-310.1016/S1006-706X(10)60059-3 ↗
41. J. Pechoušek, E. Kuzmann, R. Vondrášek, A. Olina, V. Vrba, L. Kouřil, T. Ingr, P. Král, and M. Mashlan, Successive Grinding and Polishing Effect on the Retained Austenite in the Surface of 42CrMo4 Steel, Metals, 2022, 12, p 119. https://doi.org/10.3390/met1201011910.3390/met12010119 ↗
42. G. Frederic and V. Voort, Metallographic Characterization of the Microstructure of Tool Steels (n.d.). https://www.researchgate.net/publication/229048653
43. H. Bhadeshia and R. Honeycombe, Steels: Microstructure and Properties, 4th edn (Butterworth-Heinemann, 2017)10.1016/B978-0-08-100270-4.00013-5 ↗
44. A.S. Podder, I. Lonardelli, A. Molinari, and H.K.D.H. Bhadeshia, Thermal Stability of Retained Austenite in Bainitic Steel: An In Situ Study, Proc. R. Soc. A Math. Phys. Eng. Sci., 2011, 467, p 3141–3156. https://doi.org/10.1098/rspa.2011.021210.1098/rspa.2011.0212 ↗
45. O. Barrau, C. Boher, R. Gras, and F. Rezai-Aria, Analysis of the Friction and Wear Behaviour of Hot Work Tool Steel for Forging, Wear, 2003, 255, p 1444–1454. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0043-1648(03)00280-110.1016/S0043-1648(03)00280-1 ↗
46. M.H. Staia, Y. Pérez-Delgado, C. Sanchez, A. Castro, E. Le Bourhis, and E.S. Puchi-Cabrera, Hardness Properties and High-Temperature Wear Behavior of Nitrided AISI D2 Tool Steel, Prior and After PAPVD Coating, Wear, 2009, 267, p 1452–1461. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.WEAR.2009.03.04510.1016/J.WEAR.2009.03.045 ↗