Manufacturing Technology 2021, 21(2):241-246 | DOI: 10.21062/mft.2021.028

Resistance of tool steel processed by unconventional forming technology against abrasive wear

Kateřina Rubešová¹, Michal Peković¹, Hana Jirková¹, David Hradil²

¹ Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, University of West Bohemia in Pilsen. Univerzitní 2732/8, 301 00 Pilsen, Czech Republic

² COMTES FHT a.s., Průmyslová 995, Dobřany, 334 41, Czech Republic

Materials for parts which are subjected to abrasive wear in service are typically selected on the basis of the microstructure type and hardness. Additional characteristics, such as grain size and the size and morphology of carbides are considered less frequently, although they may prove very important. This article deals with treatment cycles which combine an unconventional forming technique and subsequent heat treatment and explores its impact on abrasive wear resistance in X210Cr12 tool steel. Effects of microstructure refinement prior to and during forming and during heat treatment are described. The forming cycle involved semi-solid processing and was followed by quenching. This sequence refined the initial microstructure and altered the morphology of chromium carbides. The semi-finished products were then cryogenically treated at 160°C for 24 hours and in some cases, subsequently tempered at 300°C for 2 hours. Their wear resistance was tested by blasting and the relationship between the treatment and the weight loss in the test was assessed.

Keywords: abrasion wear; wear resistance; carbides; tool steel

Grants and funding:

Funded by the Technology Agency of the Czech Republic under the project TJ02000182 „Improvement of wear resistance of tool steels by a combination of semi-solid treatment with subsequent hot forming and deep cryogenic treatment“.

Received: September 30, 2020; Revised: February 12, 2021; Accepted: February 16, 2021; Prepublished online: March 22, 2021; Published: April 6, 2021  Show citation