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Acknowledgements
The author would like to express his sincere gratitude to his supervisor, Professor
Zhirui Wang, for his advice and encouragement throughout the course of this thesis.
Special thanks are due to Mohamrnad Hasnat (President) and George Kodama
(Technical Director) of A& M Heat Treat Ltd. for their assistance with the use of the
Vacuum Furnace and laboratory facilities, and for thought provoking discussions
pertaining to the data generated by this study. Material supplied by the Central
Welding Ltd is highly appreciated. Thanks are also due to Mr. F. Nueb and Sal
Boccia for their assistance in operating the SEM, and the author's research group
members, Dr. Bo Gong, Dr. Yang, Dr. Hamid S, Mr. Hai Ni, and Mr. John Yan, for
valuable discussions and collaborations.
ABSTRACT
The effects of austenitizing and tempering temperatures on the microstructure,
as-quenched and tempered hardness capability, and Charpy V-notch impact
resistance of D2 and H l 3 tool steels were investigated. Decarborization behavior
of D2 and H i 3 tool steels was observed by heat treating the samples in vacuum
Charpy impact values versus those treated with one or two temperings. The
failure mechanism of the impact tested 02 and H l 3 steels after heat treatment at
1OZS*C, 1038'~, and 4 0 6 5 ' ~ followed by the tempering up to three times at
temperatures 205'~, 5 3 8 ' ~ , 593%, and 6 2 0 ' ~ was studied through using
Scanning Electron Microscopy. The resultant microstructure of D2 and H i3
steels after the three tempering process gives better plasticity than after two
temperings.
iv
Table of Contents
Table of Contents
Table of Contents
List of Figures
vi
List of Tables
3 . Introduction
Background
Tool Steels
Category of Tool Steels
Cutting Performance of Tool Steel
2. Experimental
2.1 . Materiais
Table of Contents
Table of Contents
2.3.
23
2.4.
24
2.5.
25
2.6.
27
3.3.
4. Conclusions
References
vi
List of Figures
--
List of Figures
List of Figures
Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8
Fig. 9
Fig. 10
Fig. 11
Fig. 12
vii
--
List of Figures
Fig. 13
List of Figures
500 gram.
Fig. 15
Fig. 16 V-Notch Charpy impact test result for H l3 tool steel heat treated at
1025"C, 1038OC, 1065OC/30min. and tempered up to three times at
538C and 593OC12hrs.
Fig. 17 V-Notch Charpy impact test result for Hl3 tool steel heat treated at
Fig. 18 V-Notch Charpy impact test result for H13 tool steel heat treated at
1038*C, 1065C130min. and tempered up to three times at 538C and
62O0C12hrs.
Fig. 19
V-Notch Charpy impact test result for D2 tool steel heat treated at
1025OC, 1038OC, 1065OC/30min. and ternpered up to three times at
593OC12hrs.
Fig. 20
V-Notch Charpy impact test result for D2 tool steel heat treated at
1025OC, 1038OC, 1065C130min. and tempered two times at 20SC/2hrs.
Fig. 21
V-Notch Charpy impact test result for D2 tool steel heat treated at
1025*C, 1038OC, 1065C/30rnin. and tempered two times at 538OCMhrs.
viii
List of Figures
Fig. 22
--
List of Figures
Fig. 23
Fig. 24
Fig. 25
Fig. 26
Fig. 28
Fig. 29
Hardness data (HRC) for V-Notch Charpy impact 02 tool steel samples
heat treated at 1025OC, 1038OC, 1065OC130min. and tempered up to
three times at 593OCt2hrs.
ix
List of Figures
Fig. 30
List of Figures
Hardness data (HRC) for V-Notch Charpy impact 02 tool steel samples
heat treated at 1025OC, 1038OC, 1065C130min. and tempered up to
three times at 538C/2hrs.
Fig. 31
Hardness data (HRC) for V-Notch Charpy impact D2 tool steel samples
heat treated at 1025C1 1038OC, 1065C/30min. and tempered up to
three tirnes at 205Ci2hrs.
Fig. 32
Hardness data (HRC) for V-Notch Charpy impact H l 3 tool steel samples
heat treated at 1025OC, 1038OC, 1065OC/30min. and tempered up to
three tirnes at 538OC and 593OCI2hrs.
Fig. 33
Hardness data (HRC) for V-Notch Charpy impact H l 3 tool steel samples
heat treated at 1025OC, 10380C1 1065C/30min. and tempered up to
three times at 538OC/2hrs.
Fig. 34
Hardness data (HRC) for V-Notch Charpy impact Hl3 tool steel samples
heat treated at 1025OC, 1038OC, 1065OC/30min. and tempered up to
three times at 538C and 620C/2hrs.
List of Tables
List of Tables
List of Tables
Table 2.1. Showing austenitizing temperature, soaking time, and cooling pradice
used for 02 and H13 tool steel.
Table 3.1. HRC and V-Notch Charpy impact values for 02 steel at several
1 Introduction
1.1 Background:
Research work was carried out on 02 and Hl3 tool steels to increase the
service life of blades and knives manufactured by the Central Welding Ltd, which
is the only Canadian manufacturer of heavy-uty shear blades and machine
knives, used in the steel and scrap metal industries. This Company is specialized
in the manufacturing of rotary edge trimmers and slitter knives. At the present
time, premature replacement of D2 and H13 tool steel knives is often required as
the result of cutting edge chipping and dulling. Chipping is a phenornenon in
which srnall parts of the material break away from the cutting edge. Chipping
apparently will damage the integrity of the cutting edge counter leading to a poor
cutting process and unsatisfactory products. Dulling is the phenornenon in which
the sharp edge of the knives or blades becorne "rounded" after a certain period of
normal use, Le., application without overloading or over-pressure. In order to
increase the service life of the blades and knives, research on 02 and Hf3 tool
steels has therefore been conducted supported by OCMR and Central Welding
Ltd.
A tool steel is any steel used to make tools for cutting, foming or otheiwise
shaping a material into a part or component adapted to a definite use. The
addition of relatively large amounts of tungsten, molybdenum, manganese and
chromium can enable tool steels to meet stn'ngent service demands and can
provide greater dimensional control and freedom from cracking during heat
treatment.
The performance of a tool in senrice depends on the design of the tool, the
accuracy with which the tool is made, the choice of tool steel, and the choice of
heat treatment. High quality tool steel, appropriate design, and proper
manufacturing methods are the essential factors determining the procedure of
the heat treatment.
1.2.1
It is important to classify tool steels into a relatively small number of groups for
purposes of comparison and evaluation and to facilitate the selection of steel for
a particular application. Because tool steels are of such diverse compositions, it
has never been easy to fit them into one category of the alloy steel system. Tool
steels have narrow Iimits on the amounts of alloying elements, and entire series
of steels are based on the variation in carbon content. The methods used most
frequently for classification of tool steels are the "Society for Automotive
Engineers" (SAE) and "American lron and Steel Institute" (AISI) rnethods. The
AISI method is more popular because it makes tool steel classification more
-S
-P
-
Hot work tool steels, AISI type Hl fall into groups which have either chromium,
tungsten, or molybdenurn as the major alloying element. The H steels are used
the mechanical properties. For hot work tool steels and high-carbon highchromiurn tool steels, slow cooling during solidification results in large amounts of
segregate that is a carbide of different alloys and is deposited frorn the melt as a
eutectic mixture of austenite and carbide. After solidification, such a segregate
can be broken up only with difficulty and then, only by mechanical work. These
carides are brittle and their nonunifonn distribution causes the steel to possess
limited ductility and also variation in chemical composition. Therefore, it becomes
highly important in the "freezing" of the steel that the distribution of the carbide
segregate be as closely controlled as possible. Also mechanical working
operations should be strictly controlled to avoid change in chemical composition.
on cutting performance of tool steel (3). The general heat treatment schedules
applied to tool steels are shown in figure 1. Austenitizing is a very critical step in
the hardening of tool steel. It is in this step that the final alloy elements are
partitioned between the austenitic matrix (which will transfonn to martensite) and
the retained carbides. This partitioning fixes the chemistry, volume fraction, and
dispersion of the retained carbides. The retained alloy carbides not only
contribute to Wear resistance, but also wntrol austenitic grain size. The finer the
carbides and the larger the volume fraction of carbides, the more effectively
austenitic grain growth is controlled. If during heating the austenitizing
temperature is high, the carbide will dissolve to a large extent, and the
TIME
Figure: 1
Figure: 2
air hardening. Further division can also be made on the basis of carbon content.
The original high-carbon high-chromiurn steels contained frorn 2.00 to 2.50%
carbon. Later modifications to obtain better machinability and less brittleness
lowered the carbon content to the range of 1.00 to 1.50% (2). Cold-work steels
should show the following physical characteristics:
1. Low rnovement in hardening.
steels is: C: 1.5 to 2.00%, Mn: .30 Oh, Si: 0.25 to 0.85%, Cr: 12%. V: 0.25 to
0.6%, and Mo: 0.5 to 1%. The outstanding characteristics of cold work cutting
steels are high hardenability, Wear resistance, and high strength.
lsothermal sections of the ternary iron-chromium-carbon system provide insight
into the structure and properties of chromium cold work steels. Figure 3 shows
or (CrFe)7Ca or
Figure: 3
carbides found in this system is variable and depends on the overall composition
of the alloy. Molybdenum or tungsten present in some of these steels stabilizes
the (CrFe)23C6 carbide. For example, D2 with molybdenum higher than usual
(1.41% Cl13.1 3% Cr, 1.2% Mo) is reported to contain only (CrFe)&
carbide in
the annealed condition (12). Most of the vanadium, some of the cobalt, but
relatively little of the nickel that may be present are also found in the carbide
phase (13). Each carbide present in steel has a different nature, and Wear
resistance of the steel is detenined by the amount and nature of that carbide:
the harder the excess carbide, the greater the Wear resistance. Microhardness
measurements made using the Knoop scale found the (CrFe)7C3 carbide to be
considerably harder (1820 Knoop) than the cementite in a plain carbon tool steel
(1150 Knoop) (14, 15).
Figure: 4
include vanadium, cobalt, silicon, and tungsten. Yamanaka (17) has studied the
effect of variations of molybdenum (O to 1.5%) and vanadium (O to 1.2%) on the
properties of D2 tool steel and found that molybdenum increases hardenability
and toughness but has little effect on austenite grain size or the quantity of
retained austenite. Vanadium (in proportions greater than 0.8%) produces fine
grain size but decreases hardenability (the austentizing temperature required to
produce full hardness increases w l h increasing vanadium). Vanadium decreases
retained austenite and, with proportions up to 1%, improves toughness.
Typical applications of high-carbon high-chromium cold work tool steels include
shear blades, slitting cutters, cold extrusion dies, punches, broaches, mandrels,
forming and bending rolls, and hot trimming of forgings.
In general, hot work steels are of the medium and high-alloy type, and most of
them have relatively low carbon content (0.25 to 0.6%). Hot work steels should
2. Resistance to shock.
W: 1.25 to 1.50%, and Mo: 1.50 to 2.5%. The outstanding characteristics of hot
work cutting steels are toughness, shock resistance, and hot hardness.
Typical applications of chromium-molybdenum hot work steels include diecasting dies. forging dies, shear blades for hot work, punches, piercers and
mandrels for hot work. hot extrusion tooling, and al1 types of dies for hot work that
involves shock. Certain of these steels are used for ultra high-strength structural
parts (18).
Chromium-molybdenum steels have extremely high hardenability. Molybdenum,
which is present in an amount of 1% or greater, is responsible in large rneasure
for this property. Tungsten, which may be present, contributes little to
hardenability, and vanadium actually decreases it by tying up carbon in the form
of stable vanadium carbides. The high silicon content in these steels improves
oxidation resistance while changing the type of scale formed on air cooling to
enable its easy removal. Either carborization or decarborization of these steels
increases the tendency to heat checking. The vertical section (Fig. 5) (shows
temperature ranges over which the various carbides coexist with austenite and
ferrite) for Fe-Cr-C alloys containing 5 wt.% chrornium. This information is useful
in designing hot work schedules and heat treatments for annealing and
hardening (4,9,16).
Figure: 5
Heat treatment of tool steels for cutting purposes are conducted to produce an
optimal combination of high hardness, good Wear resistance, and sufficient
fracture resistance or toughness for a given application. High hardness is
frequently produced by the transformation of austenite into martensite, and
The hardenability of cold and hot work cutting tool steels is quite high, and
therefore the steels can generally be hardened by air cooling. When diffusion
1.7
0 2 tool steel
D2 tool steel used for cutting purposes operates under conditions of impact,
where resistance to mechanical damage is desired. Due to high carbon and high
chromium content, the Wear resistance of D2 tool steel is approxirnately eight
times that of plain carbon steels (25). The chernical composition of 02 steel is
usually: C-1.5%, Mn-0.30%, Si-0.25%, Cr4 2%, V-0.60%, Mo-0.80%.
Kligler (26) has shown that the mechanical properties of D2 steel are
anisotropic and depend on orientation with respect to the rolling direction. 60th
strength and ductility, as measured by tension, compression and bend tests were
found to be maximum in the direction parallel to the rolling direction and minimum
in the direction transverse to the rolling direction. This directionality of mechanical
properties can be attributed to the production of eiongated carbide stringers in
the direction of rolling.
The dimensional changes resulting from hardening of high-carbon highchromiurn steels are exceptionally small. Previous research (27-29) showed that
an 11.00% chromium steel of this type expanded only 0.1% of the annealed
volume after hardening in air.
Although the majority of applications of D2 tool steel involve cold work, it is also
widely used for hot trimming of forgings. Typical applications include blanking
dies, slitting cutters, shear blades, forming dies, knurls, gages (plug and thread),
punches, trimming dies, etc.
H i 3 tool steel that belongs to the hot working tool steel group is the most
frequently used steel in this group. This steel possesses a combination of hot
strength, Wear resistance and toughness, and is predominantly based on the
0.4%C, 5%Cr compositions containing up to l.S%Mo, 1%V and sometimes with
increased silicon.
To maintain the required properties at high temperatures in Hl3 tool steel, the
most convenient method is to use a secondary hardening reaction involving the
The most stable carbide in H l 3 steel is VC, which mostly remains undissolved
at recommended austenitizing temperatures. These undissolved, uniformly
distributed carbide particles are pinned to the austenite grain boundaries and
help to maintain the fine austenite grain size. H l3 is an air hardening steel, but at
the slower cooling rates in larger sections there are increased amounts of both
lower and upper bainite (30),and also an increased tendency for carbides to be
precipitated during cooling on the austenitite grain boundaries. It is well known
(30-32) that upper bainite impairs both the high ductility and impact toughness,
and a similar detrimental effect is also produced by grain boundary carbides
which are mainly of the VC type (32).
During tempering of H l 3 tool steel, secondary hardening occurs due to
precipitating carbide being VC in which some molybdenum is dissolved (23).
Because secondary hardening is due to precipitation, its intensity increases with
increasing volume fraction and decreasing particle size of the alloy carbide.
Austenitizing at higher temperature provides a greater number of nuclei during
tempering, and consequently a smaller particle size, smaller interparticle spacing
and greater intensity of secondary hardening. It has been suggested (34.35) that
give even less secondary hardening. On the other hand, austenitizing at higher
temperatures causes the VC clusten to be thermally dispersed so that the VC
precipitated during tempering has no precipitation nuclei and forms a greater
number of smaller particles with a consequent greater intensity of secondary
hardening and a higher overaged hardness. Thus, increasing the austenitizing
temperature not only dissolves more VC and gives a larger volume fraction of
precipitate during tempering, but also refines the precipitate particle size. Both
effects lead to greater secondary hardening and higher overaged hardness. Of
course, the austenitizing temperature must not be increased so much that grain
coarsening takes place. During overaging at high tempering temperatures, the
VC coarsens slowly and MZ3C6 is precipitated, possibly at the expense of some
1.9
Objectives
3. f o study the fracture surface of the Charpy impact tested specimens using
Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) in order to understand the failure
mechanism.
4. To determine the optimum conditions for heat treatments of these materials
for which the properties and life of the tools can be improved. Parameters
considered include austenitizing temperature, tempering temperature. and
number of temperings.
2.
Experimental
2.1.
Materials
The materials used in this investigation were supplied by Central Welding Ltd. in
annealed conditions. Chernical analyses were performed on the 0 2 and Hl3
steel samples used in this study. The samples were: commercial grade tool steel
D2 with a nominal composition of 1.49 wt. % carbon, 11.59 wt. % chromium, .80
wt. % molybdenum. .80 wt. % vanadium, .43 wt. % manganese. .39 wt. % silicon.
and .14 wt % nickel; and commercial grade tool steel H l 3 with a nominal
composition of .38 wt % carbon, 4.89 wt. % chromium, 1.32 wt. % molybdenum,
1.11 wt. % vanadium, .99 wt. % silicon, .35 wt. % rnanganese, and .36wt %
nickel. The results from these analyses indicated that both D2 and H l 3 steels
were within the limits set forth by AlSI (51). Samples from prematurely failed D2
and H l 3 tool steel cutting blades were also used in this study.
2.2
ground on abrasive paper to 600 grit. Then hardness tests were carried out on a
Rockwell tester and a micro hardness tester using the C-scale (HRC) and
Knoop-scale (KHN), respectively. The standard penetration was obtained with a
120' sphero-conical diamond indentor on the Rockwell s a l e and with a rhombic-
based pyramidal diamond on the Knoop scale, and the applied major loads were
150 kgf and 500 grams, respectively. The hardness tests provided a measure of
2.3
furnaces
D2 and Hl3 tool steel annealed samples were heated slowly and uniformly to
the austenitizing temperatures 102SC, 1038'C, and 1065C in a horizontal boxtype vacuum furnace with heating on two sides and gas cooling from bottom to
top. The maximum nitrogen cooling gas pressure at quenching was 2 Bar. An
electrically heated furnace with argon protective atmosphere was also used to
austenitize the D2 and Hl3 tool steel samples at the same above mentioned
temperatures and followed by air cooling. After cooling, the D2 and H l3 tool steel
samples were tempered in order to release stresses that developd during
quenching and also to obtain optimum toughness. 60th furnaces were calibrated
2.4
massive carbide particles, it was very difFicult to cut the samples, even when in
annealed condition, so extreme care had been taken during the cutting process.
A soft grade of cutting wheel, a copious supply of coolant, and a slow cutting
speed were used to avoid over heating and breaking the carbide particles. Each
of these effects can lead to misinterpretation of the observed microstructure. A
Buehler mounting machine was used to mount the sarnples, which were attached
with Transoptic mounting powder; a pressure of up to 3000-psi and a
temperature of up to 6 6 ' ~were used during mounting.
After rnounting, grinding and polishing of the specimen was carried out in
several steps. Motor-driven disk grinders were used with 240, 320,400: 600, and
1200 grit grinding papers. After fine grinding, polishing produced a surface that
25
low. A long polishing time or high pressure can result in the formation of relief,
because of the carbide particles, or may pull out or drag inclusions. A
microscopie examination of the surface should not reveal any polishing scratches
or any residual abrasive. All the samples were observed under an MeF3 optical
microscope.
saw cut from square bars of 02 and H l3 tool steels, respectively. The specimen
blanks were machined to diameter of 10 mm by a finish length of 55 mm
(tolerance t .O5 mm) with a notch of radius 22 X0 @or to heat treating. Twenty
five machined V-Notch samples of each of 02 and H l 3 were austenitized in a
controlled atmosphere furnace by using one of the three heat treatment cycles
outlined in Table 2.1. Following austenitizing, specimens from each 02 and H l 3
tool steel were single, double and triple tempered at either 205, 538. 593, or
620% for 2 hours + 2 hours and + 2 hours (For accurate results three specimens
Machine, which has 48 ft-lb maximum capacity and is accurate to t .lft-lb. The
working procedure of the V-Notch Charpy impact testing machine is shown in
Figure 6 (52).
Figure:
6
-
1 Soaking Time
1 Cooling Practice
1024C
30min
Air Cool
1038'C
30min
Air Cool
1065C
30min
Air Cool
2.6
After heat treatment, the samples of D2 and Hl3 steeis were observed under
optical microscope. The results revealed that the heat treatment in the vacuum
furnace and the controlted atmosphere furnace, at appropriate austenitizing
temperatures, gave uniforrn microstructure, and no decarborization and scaling
was observed. An increase in austenitizing temperatures will affect the
microstructure, austenite grain size, carbide solutioning behavior, and other
properties such as Charpy V-notch impact toughness, hardness capability and
temper resistance of D2 and H l 3 tool steels (4).
Figure 7 shows the optical micrograph for 02 tool steel that was heat treated in
the vacuum furnace at 1 0 2 5 ' ~ and tempered at 5 3 8 ' ~ . The microstructure
reveals tempered martensite in which coane carbides (The carbides those do not
dissolve during austenitizing) dispersion coexists with fine carbides (The carbides
those precepitate during tempering) dispersion. The coarse carbide particles are
austenite grain growth and are responsible to a large degree for the high Wear
resistance. The shape and distribution of these carbide particles are believed ta
be responsible for the anisotropic mechanical properes. The micrograph also
shows the fine carbide particles that are precipitated after tempering.
Fig: 7
02 Tool Steel heat treated in vacuum furnace at 1025C/30minand
Fig 8 shows the optical micrograph for D2 steel hardened and tempered at
1 0 3 8 ' ~and 5 3 8 ' ~ ,respectively. The microstructure reveals a fine grain size, not
Fig: 8
D2 Tool Steel heat treated in vacuum furnace at 1038OCJ30minand
tempe-
Fig: 9
02 Tool Steel heat treated in vacuum furnace at 16SCE30min and
tempered twlce at 538'CMHRS. (Loft) 320X and (Right) 800X.
Fig: 10
Hl3 Toal steel austenitized in vacuum furnace at 102S0C/30min and
temperd twico at 538% and 593'CnHRS. (Left) 320X and (Right) 8X.
without causing grain growth is important to improve the red hardness and the
high dynamic impact value.
Fig: 11
Hl3 Tool Steel Heat treated in vacuum furnace at 1065C/30min and
3.2
The steels were heat treated in an electhlly heated, open atmosphere fumace
using an austenitizing temperature of 1 0 2 5 followed
~~
by tempering. The samples
H l3 steel heat treated at 1025C followed by tempering is shown in Fig 15. The
micrograph reveals large prior austenite grain boundaries with clear evidence of
carbide precipitation on these grain boundaries. High magnification reveals the
carbide precipitation on martensite lath boundaries (Figure 15). If during heating
the austenitizing temperature is high, the carbides will dissolve to a large extent
into solution, and grain growth will occur and the precipitation of proeutectoid
carbides on cooling will have a greater tendency to take place at coarse austenite
grain boundaries. The martensite start temperature is lower than usual in this
case and a high amount of austenite will be retained. This austenite during
working under stresses and temperature will change to upper bainite or fresh
Fig: 14
Hl3 Tool steel Heat treated In open atmosptmre furnace at 12SC and
martensite, which has a brittle structure and can deteriorate the toughness of
steel.
tool steels samples were rnachined to precise tolerances and heat treated in an
electrically heated argon gas protective atmosphere fumace at 1025"C, 1038*C,
and 1065C for 30 minutes. Seventy-five samples from each 02 and H l 3 tool
steels were used for al1 three austenitizing temperatures. Asquenched samples of
D2 tool steel were tempered up to three times at each of 205'C, 538"C, and
593'C for two hours, and approximately twenty-five samples were used at each
The results of the room temperature Charpy V-notch impact testing are plotted as
a function of austenitizing temperature, tempering temperature, and number of
temperings (Figures 16-21).
tempering at 205C and 593C. It is speculated that the retained austenite present
in D2 steel may help to provide high impact toughness at 205'~.
Austenitizing of D2 steel at 1025'C, 1O38"C, and 1065C followed by tempering
up to three times at 593'C (Figure 19) shows a trend that an increase in the
number of temperings at each austenitizing temperature significantly increases
the toughness of the material. The increase in toughness between one and three
ternpers after using an austenitizing temperature of 1038C followed by tempering
at 593'C, is 83% and between two and three tempers is 17%.
H13 tool steel heat treated at the above-mentioned austenitizing temperatures
the increase in toughness after the third temper is the optimum distribution of
Fig: 16
1038C
Austenitizing temperature(%)
1065C
Fig: 17
1038C
1065C
Austenitizing temperature('C)
Ml One tenper at 538'CRhrs O Tw o terrpers at 538'Ct593"C12hrs B ~ h r e tempers
e
538'C,593'C,593'C/2hrs
Fig: 19
NO of tempers at 593C12hrs
O Austenitized at 1065"c/30min
Fig: 20
No of tempers at 20SC12hrs
O Austenitized at 1025"C/30min O
Fig: 21
No of tempers at 538OCIZhrs
I
alloying elements between carbides and the matrix, finer dispersion and
agglorneration of carbide particles that precipitate dunng first and second
tempering, and spherodizing of carbide particles that are present on interfacial
martensite boundaries. The increase in toughness value is also evident from the
observation made by SEM of greater ductility on the fractured surfaces after the
third tempering.
Analyses of the fracture surfaces of 02 and Hl3 steel from martensitic impact
specimens using Scanning Electron Microscopy follow.
samples tempered once, twice, and thrice at the same tempering temperature. It
is clear in the fractrograph taken at low magnification (Figure 22) that 02 tool steel
tempered once has brittle features as compared to three times tempering which
shows more plasticity, and the drop in hardness is less than PHRC which is not
significant. Due to its high carbon and high chromium content, D2 steel has
coarse chromium carbides throughout the matrix, and the fracture morphology on
the fractrograph in Figure 23 shows that fracture occun due to the breaking of
these carbide particles, and therefore D2 steel absorbs very little fracture energy.
The fractrograph in Figure 24 shows the matching part on high magnification and
reveals that the carbide particle is separated into two pieces without experiencing
Fig: 22
D2 Tool steel austenitized at 103BC/3min (Left) Tempered once at 593'C
Fig: 23
Fig: 24
Fig: 25
1025C. The average increase in dynamic impact toughness between two and
(33).
Analysis of the fracture swfaces frorn fully martensitic impact specimens
tempered at 593C and tested at roorn temperature revealed that a distinct
change in fracture morphology occurs as the austenitizing temperature is
increased. For exarnple, the fracture surface associated with material austenitized
at 1025% indicates that considerable plastic deformation occurred during the
fracture process as is evidenced by the presence of the raised lips shown in the
scanning electron rnicrograph (Figure 26). This type of structure on a fracture
surface indicates that the material has relatively good ductility and toughness.
This statement is supported by the average Charpy V-notch impact toughness
(4.3 ft-lb) measured by the material austenitized at 1025'~ and air cooled
followed by tempering thrice ai 5 9 3 ' ~(Figure 17). The predominant fracture mode
displayed by these particular specimens was transgranular quasi-cleavage.
and three tirnes, respectively. The micrograph of the twice tempered specimen
shows a net-like microconstituent wRh cleavage facets, whereas tempering three
times resulted in considerable plastic deformation during the fracture process as
is evidenced by the presence of the raised lips and coarse features of the fracture
surface and by the 15% increase in impact toughness. This type of structure on a
fracture surface indicates that the material has relatively good ductifity and
toughness. The cornparison on low magnification in Figure 28 also shows the
same behavior.
From the above research, we can Say that the impact resistance of these tool
steeis is influenced by a number of physical and structural variables such as grain
size, hardness, and type and volume fraction of phases present. However, the
primary variables that were affect4 by austenitizing temperature are grain size,
Fig: 26
Fig: 27
Fig: 28
Hl3 Tool steel austenitized at 10 2 S 0 ~ 0 m i(Lett)
n
Tempered Nice at 538C
and 593OCIZHAS (Right) Tempere thrice at 538*C, 593'C and 593% MHRS.
hardness capability, and the type and amount of various transformation products
that are present. In general, impact resistance is inverseiy proportional to grain
538"C, 593C and 620C used for 02 and H l 3 tool steel sarnples show similar
behavior.
Thus, the use of increased austenitizing temperatures promoted improved
temper resistance in the 02 and H l 3 tool steels that were evaluated. Undoubtedly
this effect is related to the increased levels of alloy in soiid solution that would be
available to form temper carbides. The degree of strengthening resulting from
second phase particles depends on the distribution of the particles in the ductile
Austenitizing Temp
1 No of Temper at OC
Hardness (HRC)
538 "C12hrs
Once
Twice
Thrice
593 '~/2hrs
Once
Twice
Thrice
20s Ocnhr~
Once
Twice
1025 o~/30min
538 '~/2hrs
Once
Twice
1038 '~/30min
58.5
56.1
1.1
1.O
48.1
1.2
1.9
Once
Twice
Thrice
205 '~/2hrs
47.3
46.3
62.7
62.0
Once
Twice
L
2.2
1.6
1-9
538 Oc/2hrs
1065 '~/30min
t
Once
Twice
Thrice
593 o ~ / 2 h r s
Once
Twice
Thrice
205 '~L2hn
Once
Twice
64.1
60.6
1.2
1 .O
48.7
47.3
46.0
1.1
1.9
2.1
60.7
60.7
1.5
1.8
i
1
1 038 '~/30min
--
55.8
55.0
2.6
3.4
3.9
54.2
I
55.8
50.5
1 Once
1 Twice
538 Ocnhr~
Once
1 Twice
Thrice
593 '~/2hrs
Once 538 Ocl2h.r
Twice
Thrice
620 '~/2hrs
Once 538 Oc12hr
1 Twice
56.6
1065 o ~ / 3 ~ m i n Once
Twice
593 ' ~ n h r s
Once 538 '~12hr
Twice
Hardness (HRC)
620 "C12hrs
Once 538 '~/2hr
1 Twice
56.0
55.3
2.6
3.7
29
3 -5
3.4
56.6
50.2
49.0
2.9
56.6
44.5
2.9
5 -8
4.1
4.4
58.0
56.5
2.4
3 -5
58.0
50.8
2.4
3.6
58.O
44.9
2.4
5.6
rnatrix. For a given volume fraction of a second phase, reducing the particle sire
decreases the average distance between particles, which enhances the
precipitation strengthening effect. So during tempering, very fine carbides
precipitate throughout the matrix giving high secondary hardness.
Figures 29-34 reveal comparatively higher secondary hardness at 1065C
austenitizing temperature, than at 1038C and 1025C after tempering up to three
times at 538C. However, tempering at 2 0 5 ' ~shows the reverse behavior. A
possible explanation for this behavior is the presence of a relatively large amount
of retained austenite after air cooling from 1065'~(versus 1038C or 1025C)
that, after tempering at 2 0 5 does
~ ~ ~not transform into martensite or another
transformation product, and as a result shows relatively lower hardness. The
second or third tempering at 5 9 3 ' ~or 62CI0C produced almost the same hardness
for al1 three austenitizing temperatures. This research shows that tempering
following austenitization at high temperature precipitates very fine, unifomly
distributed carbide particles that produce high strength and hardness, whereas
tempering following austenitization at low temperature precipitates coarser
carbide particles, which give relatively low strength and hardness. Second or third
tempering agglomerate the finer and coarser carbide particles in the same
manner and gives similar hardnesses.
Fig: 29
No of tempers at 538C12hrs
Fig: 30
Hardness data
Material D2 tool steel
No of tempers at 20SC12hrs
I +Austenitioed at 1O25"CBOMN
Austenitized at 1038"C(30niin
Fig: 32
Austenite temp:
Tempering tem p:
No of tempers :
Hardness data
Material H l3 tool steel
1 -+-
Series3
Fig: 34
Hardness data
Material H l3 tool steel
-tAustenitized at
1025'Ci30nln
Austentized at 103BC(30nin
-*-Austenitized at 1065'C130min
1
1
3.7
impact toughness.
4. Conclusions
Based on the above results and discussion, the following conclusions and
recommendations can be drawn.
1. 02 and H i 3 tool steels should be hardened in a controlied protective
moderate (slower than oil and faster than air cooling), which manage little
temperature difference between core and case of the material and results in
uniform microstructure with less distortion.
3. Three temperings are necessary for both D2 and H l 3 tool steels used for
ingot casting and form coarse and brittle networks. Since such carbides are
not greatly affected by heat treatment, heavy reduction by hot working before
increase in the width of the bainite laths together with an increase in volume
fraction of upper bainite, and this results in deterioration of the toughness.
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