Vacuum 85 (2010) 390e396

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Vacuum
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The effect of salt bath cementation on mechanical behavior

of hot-rolled and cold-drawn SAE 8620 and 16MnCr5 steels
_
Ilyas en, Metin Usta*
Yeg
Gebze Institute of Technology, Department of Materials Science and Engineering, No: 101, 41400 Gebze, Turkey

a r t i c l e i n f o a b s t r a c t

Article history: In this study, the effect of salt bath cementation on mechanical behavior of SAE 8620 and 16MnCr5
Received 4 June 2010 cementation steels, which are widely used in industry, was investigated. The experiments were carried
Received in revised form out with hot rolled and cold rolled specimens. The cementation processes were performed in NaCN salt
22 July 2010
bath at 920
C temperature for 1, 2, 3 and 4 h. Abrasive wear tests of specimens were conducted with
Accepted 24 July 2010
Wolfram Carbide (WC) ball for 1 h. After cementation processes, a martensite phase on the surface of
specimens was confirmed by X-ray diffraction analysis. After cementation processes carried out with
Keywords:
different times, a different surface hardness and effective cementation depth values were obtained.
Cementation
SAE 8620 steel
Experimental results showed that an effective cementation depth increased with increasing the
16MnCr5 steel cementation time. Wear tests showed that the wear resistance of specimens increased by the cemen-
Mechanical behavior tation processes. Experimental results revealed that the surface hardness of specimen affects the wear
resistance of specimens.
Ó 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

1. Introduction first the addition of carbon to the surface of a low-carbon steel (%

Steels are most useful engineering materials because of their
high mechanical properties, machining, rolling, forging capability
and lower cost than the alternative materials. Steels are widely
used for production of machine parts subjected to abrasive wear,
automotive industry, construction industry and the other engi-
neering areas. Wear is the most common problem for steels used in
these engineering areas. Therefore, production of wear resistance
steels came into prominence [1e5].
As a consequence of wear, the shape, dimension and the surface
structure of machine parts changes. The result of these changes the
machine parts are not be able to do their functions. The materials
lost, exchanging the worn parts, the expensing time and the cost for
maintenance- repair of machines, human resource etc. cause a big
economical lost for world industry [1e5].
Machine components such as shaft, gears and cams often require
a very hard surface that can resist wear and a soft, tough core that
can withstand the impact stress that occurs during operation. An
established method for production of such a combination of hard
case and soft, tough core is case hardening of steels through carbu-
rizing and quenching called cementation. This procedure involves
* Corresponding author. Tel.: þ90 262 605 17 82; fax: þ90 262 6538490.
E-mail address: ustam@gyte.edu.tr (M. Usta).
C < 0.25) to produce a composite consisting of high carbon steel case
and low-carbon steel core. During subsequent quenching the high
carbon austenitic surface layer transforms to martensite. The
microstructure of the core region is determined by the carbon
content and by the base hardenability of the steel. If steel has low
hardenability, the core may transform to ferrite and small amount of
pearlite, depending on the quenching rate. If the steel has high
hardenability, the core may transform to martensite [1e4].
Cementation is a remarkable method of enhancing the surface
properties of shafts, gears, high stressed machine parts to obtain
very high surface hardness, fatigue resistance and wear resistance.
Tempered martensite is the dominant microstructure constituent
of properly carburized steel. However, the martensite changes in
morphology, amount, and properties as a function of distance from
the surface. Other microstructural constituents may also be present
and significantly affect the performance of carburized parts. These
other microstructural components include retained austenite,
massive carbides, prior austenite, grain boundaries carbides,
phosphorus segregation and surface oxides. Core microstructures
depending on hardenability may consist of tempered martensite,
bainite, or ferrite and pearlite. The case and core microstructures
affect residual stresses levels occurred in the microstructures,
fatigue resistance, rolling-contact fatigue, hardness and wear
resistance of steels. After carburizing processes, the carbon content
that is normally maximum level at the surface decreases with

0042-207X/$ e see front matter Ó 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
doi:10.1016/j.vacuum.2010.07.013
 _ Yegen, M. Usta / Vacuum 85 (2010) 390e396
I. 391

Table 1
The chemical composition of the SAE 8620 and 16MnCr5 test specimens (written in bold) and the standard chemical analysis of SAE 8620 and 16MnCr5 cementation steels.

Chemical Analysis (wt.%)

C Si Mn P S Cr Mo Ni
DIN 16MnCr5 0.14e0.19 0e0.40 1.00e1.30 0e0.035 0e0.035 0.80e1.10 e e
16MnCr5 Test Specimen 0.16 0.26 1.13 0.01 0.009 0.95 0.03 0.12
SAE 8620 0.17e0.23 0e0.40 0.65e0.95 0e0.035 0e0.035 0.40e0.70 0.15e0.25 0.40e0.70
8620 Test Specimen 0.19 0.25 0.85 0.01 0.004 0.54 0.19 0.46

distance into the specimen. Hardness level in the microstructure
also changes with carbon contents of the specimens. The effective
case depth is influenced by carburizing time, temperature, carbon
content of carburizing atmospheres, chemical composition of steel,
product shape and size, and the rate of cooling [1e4].
Case depth of carburized steel is a function of carburizing time
and the available carbon potential at the surface. When prolonged
carburizing times are used for deep case depths, a high carbon
potential produces a high surface-carbon content, which may thus
result in excessive retained austenite or free carbides. These two
microstructural elements both have adverse effects on the distri-
bution of residual stress in the case-hardened part. Consequently,
a high carbon potential may be suitable for short carburizing times
but not for prolonged carburizing [1e8].
Carburizing steels for case hardening usually have base-carbon
contents of about 0.2%, with the carbon content of the carburized
layer generally being controlled at between 0.8 and 1% C. However,
surface carbon is often limited to 0.8% because too high a carbon
content can result in retained austenite and brittle martensite.
Retained austenite reduces the hardness of the carburized surface
[1e8].
The aim of this study is to investigate the mechanical behavior of
hot rolled and cold-drawn SAE 8620 and 16MnCr5 cementation
steels exposed to carburizing processes. SAE 8620 and 16MnCr5
cementation steels have high mechanical and hardenability prop-
erties and the lower cost than the other cementation steels.
Therefore, SAE 8620 and 16MnCr5 cementation steels are widely
used in industry. Although these steels are widely used, there is not
enough study that compares the carburizing properties and wear
resistances of both steels in the same study. Most of the studies
were carried out with SAE 8620 steel, and most of those studies
widely focused on fatigue performance, retained austenite and
residual stresses affected by carburizing practices [1e16]. There-
fore, this study is important to compare the carburizing and wear
properties of SAE 8620 and 16MnCr5 steels at the same conditions.
2. Experimental studies
The experiments were carried out with hot rolled and cold rolled
specimens. Hot-rolled 22 mm. diameter specimens were cold drawn
to the 20 mm. diameter. After the cold-drawn process for two quality

Fig. 1. X-ray analysis of test specimens a) Hot-rolled SAE 8620 specimens b) Cold-drawn SAE 8620 specimens c) Hot-rolled 16MnCr5 specimes d) Cold-drawn 16MnCr5 specimens.
392 _ Yegen, M. Usta / Vacuum 85 (2010) 390e396
I.

steels (SAE 8620 and 16MnCr5), the hot rolled (22 mm. diameter)

1 hour 2 hours 3 hours 4 hours Base Specimen 1 hour 2 hours 3 hours 4 hours Base Specimen 1 hour 2 hours 3 hours 4 hours Base Specimen 1 hour 2 hours 3 hours 4 hours Base Specimen
and the cold-drawn (20 mm. diameter) specimens were obtained.
The chemical compositions of the SAE 8620 and 16MnCr5 test
specimens and the standard chemical analysis of SAE 8620 and

16.8

14.8

16.2

14.2
16MnCr5 cementation steels are given in Table 1.
The cementation processes were carried out in NaCN salt bath
called Durferrit at 920
C temperature for 1, 2, 3 and 4 h. During

7.7

6.8

6.2
carburizing process, the carbon potential of salt bath was % 1 C.

6
Specimens were processed to the direct quenched from carburizing

Wear Rate (mm3/Nm)

temperature. The specimens quenched into salt bath named AS 160

6.3

6.7

6.4
7
were tempered 180
C for 2 h.
X-ray diffraction analyses were performed for determination of

5.8

7.2

5.6
the phases on the surfaces after the cementation processes. The

6
analysis with Cu Ka radiation source has 1541 Angstron wavelength
and the scanning angles (2q) ranged 2q from 20
to 100
.

6.4

6.4

7.9

6.5
The microhardness values were measured by the Vickers
hardness method with the load of 20 g.
Wear experiments were conducted with wolfram carbide (WC)
ball for 1 h with the load of 10 N. Prior to the experiment, the
samples were cleaned with alcohol and the mass of the samples

e
was measured gravimetrically with 104 mg sensitivity. Then, the
wear rates of the specimens were calculated according to the

1.6

1.4

1.3

1.2
equation below.

Effective Case Depth (mm)

G  
mm3 =Nm

1.1

1.1

1.1
Wa ¼ (1)

1
d$M$S
Where Wa: wear rate (mm3/Nm), G: weight lost (mg), M: load (N),

0.9

0.9
S: wear distance (m), d density (g/cm3)

1
0.8

0.8

0.9

0.8
3. Results and discussions

3.1. X-ray diffraction analysis

Surface hardness, effective cementation depths and wear rate of carburized and non-carburized specimens.

240

250

265

270
The XRD analysis of carburized and non-carburized specimens
are given in Fig. 1. In Fig. 1, the specimens that were not carburized
named as “Base Specimen”, and the carburized specimens were
446

446

455

462
marked by 1 h, 2 h, 3 h, 4 h according to carburizing times.
The result of X-ray analysis showed that only iron phase was
442

442

458

460
determined on the non-carburized specimen surfaces as expected.
Core Hardnes (HV)

Martensite phase was determined on the carburized specimen

surfaces as expected. Determination of martensite phase on
445

446

461

460

carburized surfaces proved that the cementation processes were

effectively carried out. In addition to the martensite phase austenite
442

435

456

463

phase (retained austenite), oxide phases and iron carbide phase

were determined on the carburized specimen surfaces.
Increasing the carbon content of the austenite also depresses the
martensite start (Ms) temperature and the martensite finish (Mf)
temperature, which leads the difficulties in converting whole
250

290

268

310

austenite to martensite [2e4,6,7].

In steels, austenite is stable at temperatures above the A3 and
Acm phase lines. On cooling from such temperatures, it becomes
697

833

773

822

unstable and decomposes to some new constituent such as ferrite,

pearlite, or bainite depending on the chemical composition of the
Carburizing Surface hardness (HV)

793

813

767

813

steel and the rate of cooling. These resulting products are referred
as high temperature transformation products. In low-carbon steels,
these transformations take place at temperatures between the A3
848

787

830

845

and about 400
C. Martensite is formed by quenching at a rate

above cooling rate. If Mf temperature is lowered below the
808

804

639

800

quenching temperature, austenite does not transform to

martensite. Steel which contains above % 0.8 C must be quenched to
SAE 8620

SAE 8620

16MnCr5

16MnCr5
Cold Drawn

Cold Drawn
Hot Rolled

Hot Rolled

subzero temperatures to form all martensite microstructure

condition

[2e4,6e16].
Table 2

Increasing the carbon content on the carburized specimen

surfaces leads to carbon atoms combined with iron to form iron
 _ Yegen, M. Usta / Vacuum 85 (2010) 390e396
I. 393

a Hot Rollled SAE 8620 b 900 Cold Drawn SAE 8620

900

800
800

700
700

600
600

Hardness (HV)
Hardness (HV)

500 500

400 400

300 300
Base Specimen
Base Specimen
1 hour 200
200 1 hour
2 hours 2 hours
100 3 hours 100 3 hours
4 hours
4 hours
0 0
0,0 0,2 0,4 0,6 0,8 1,0 1,2 1,4 1,6 1,8 2,0 2,2 0,0 0,2 0,4 0,6 0,8 1,0 1,2 1,4 1,6 1,8 2,0 2,2
Distance from surface (mm)
Distance from surface (mm)

c Hot Rolled 16MnCr5 d Cold Drawn 16MnCr5

900 1000

800 900

800
700

700
600 Hardness (HV)
Hardness (HV)

600
500
500
400
400
300
300
Base Specimen
Base Specimen
200 1 hour
1 hour 200 2 hours
2 hours
3 hours
100 3 hours 100 4 hours
4 hours
0 0
0,0 0,2 0,4 0,6 0,8 1,0 1,2 1,4 1,6 1,8 2,0 2,2 0,0 0,2 0,4 0,6 0,8 1,0 1,2 1,4 1,6 1,8 2,0 2,2

Distance from surface (mm) Distance from surface (mm)

Fig. 2. The hardness profiles and the effective cementation depths of specimens a) Hot-rolled SAE 8620 Specimens b) Cold-drawn SAE 8620 specimens c) Hot-rolled 16MnCr5
specimens d) Cold-drawn 16MnCr5 specimens.

carbide. When carbon content on surfaces increases, more carbon of austenite phase peaks and the lowest intensity of martensite
atoms combine with iron atoms and form iron carbide phases phase peaks. X-ray analysis revealed that the oxides phases lead to
[2e4]. non-martensitic transformation by reducing the amount of alloying
In the oxidation process, oxygen atoms, released by the elements providing hardenability.
gasemetal reactions that take place during carburizing, are adsor- In hot-rolled carburized SAE 8620 specimens, the specimen
bed onto the metallic surface. From there, the oxygen atoms diffuse carburized for 4 h has the highest intensity of oxides phase peaks
inward along grain and subgrain boundaries and into the lattice. and has the highest intensity of austenite phase peaks. The highest
They can chemically combine with available substitutional intensity of oxides phases and austenite phase caused the lowest
elements that have high oxidation potential and form oxides. In intensity of martensite phase in hot-rolled carburized SAE 8620
commercial case hardening steels, the depths at which the oxides specimens. The specimen carburized for 2 h has the lowest inten-
are detected by conventional optical microscopy are typically less sity of oxides phase peaks and has the lowest intensity of austenite
than 25 mm. Deeper cases will produce deeper penetrating oxides. phase peaks. The lowest intensity of oxides phases and austenite
When oxidation takes place, the amounts of alloying elements are phase caused the highest intensity of martensite phase in hot-rol-
reduced due to the chemically combining of oxygen to the alloying led carburized SAE 8620 specimens.
elements such as Mn, Cr providing hardenability of steels. This In cold-drawn carburized SAE 8620 specimens, the specimen
reducing causes the non-martensitic transformation in steels. carburized for 2 h has the highest intensity of oxides phase peaks
A consequence of forming oxides phases or increasing the amount and has the highest intensity of austenite phase peaks. The highest
of oxide phases leads to non-martensitic transformation, resulting intensity of oxides phases and austenite phase caused the lowest
in reducing the amount of martensite and increasing the amount of intensity of martensite phase peaks in cold-drawn carburized SAE
retained austenite [17,18]. 8620 specimens. The specimen carburized for 4 h has the lowest
The chemical compositions of test specimens given Table 1 have intensity of oxides phases and has the lowest intensity of austenite
alloying elements that have high oxidation potential such as Mn, Cr, phase. The lowest intensity of oxides phases and austenite phase
Si, Ni. Due to the chemical compositions of specimens, oxides caused the highest intensity of martensite phase in cold-drawn
phases were determined on all of the carburized specimen surfaces. carburized SAE 8620 specimens.
X-ray analysis in Fig. 1 showed that the specimens that have the These results are valid for 16MnCr5 hot-rolled and cold-drawn
highest intensity of oxide phases peaks, have the highest intensity carburized specimens. In hot-rolled carburized 16MnCr5
394 _ Yegen, M. Usta / Vacuum 85 (2010) 390e396
I.
Fig. 3. The SEM micrograph shows the microhardnesses of carburized SAE 8620
specimen carburized for 2 h.
specimens, the specimen carburized for 2 h has the lowest intensity
of austenite phase and the highest intensity of martensite phase. In
cold-drawn 16MnCr5 specimens, the specimen carburized for 2 h
has the lowest intensity of austenite phase and the highest inten-
sity of martensite phase.
In comparison of the cold-drawn with the hot-rolled carburized
specimens, the cold-drawn specimens have the higher intensity of
martensite phase rather than hot-rolled specimens, because of
their different diameters leading to probable different cooling rate.
The chemical composition of 16MnCr5 specimens have higher
amount of Mn, Cr alloying elements, forming oxide phases, than
SAE 8620 specimens. Therefore, highest intensity of oxide phases
was obtained in 16MnCr5 specimens.
In addition to the chemical composition of 16MnCr5 specimens,
SAE 8620 specimens have Mo and Ni alloying elements that provide
hardenability of steels. Therefore, the highest intensity of martensite
phases was obtained in SAE 8620 specimens.
3.2. The hardness and the effective cementation depth results
The hardness profiles and the effective cementation depths are
given in Fig. 2. The SEM pictures show the microhardness values of
hot-rolled carburized SAE 8620 and 16MnCr5 for 2 h given in
Figs. 3 and 4. The SEM photos were taken for each hardness values
from surface to the core. After that, each SEM photos was combined
and Figures 3, 4 were obtained. Surface hardness, effective
cementation depths and wear rate of carburized and non-carbu-
rized specimens given in Table 2.
The hardness tests showed that the hardnesses of carburized
specimens decreased from the surface to the core depending on the
carbon profile that reaches maximum content at surface and
Fig. 4. The SEM micrograph shows the microhardnesses of carburized 16MnCr5
specimen carburized for 2 h.
decreases in the core. The core hardness of carburized specimens
increased by the quench process performed after the carburizing.
The chemical composition of carburized specimens consists of Mn,
Cr, Ni, Mo alloying elements that provides the hardenability.
Therefore, the specimens could be hardened by the quench process.
Effective cementation depths increased depending on the carbon
diffusion that increased with time. While carburizing time increases,
the carbon atoms can diffuse deeper distances from the surface. As
a consequence of increasing carbon diffusion, the effective cemen-
tation depth increases as well.
The hardness test showed that surface hardnesses of carburized
specimens varied depending on the intensity of phases obtained by
X-ray diffraction analysis. In all of the steel quality groups (SAE
8620-16MnCr5 hot rolled-cold drawn) the specimens that have the
highest intensity of martensite phase peaks have the highest
surface hardnesses. The specimens that have the highest intensity
of oxide phases peaks, causing the highest intensity of austenite
phase peaks, have the lowest surface hardnesses. When oxidation
occurs, the amounts of alloying elements are reduced due to the
chemically combining of oxygen to the alloying elements such as
Mn, Cr that providing the hardenability of steels. This reducing
causes the non-martensitic transformation in steels. This results in
decreasing the surface hardness by reducing the amount of
martensite and increasing the amount of retained austenite.
In cold-drawn materials, the degree of the plastic deformation
on the surfaces is greater than the one on the core. Therefore, the
dislocation density of surfaces is greater than the cores in cold-
drawn materials. In addition, the dislocation density is greater in
cold-drawn materials than in the hot-rolled materials. Thus, the
surface hardnesses of cold-drawn materials are greater than the
core hardnesses and also hot-rolled materials. As shown in Table 2,
the surface hardnesses of cold-drawn non-carburized specimens
 _ Yegen, M. Usta / Vacuum 85 (2010) 390e396
I. 395

Hot Rolled SAE 8620 Cold Drawn SAE 8620

18,0 16,0
251 HV
290 HV
16,0
a 14,0
b
14,0
12,0
Wear rat e ( mm 3/Nm)x10-5

Wear Rat e ( mm 3/Nm)x10-5

12,0
10,0
10,0

8,0 787 HV
697 HV
8,0 793 HV 804 HV 813 HV
808 HV 833 HV
848 HV 6,0
6,0

Base Specimen Base Specimen

4,0
4,0 1 hour
1 hour
2 hours 2 hours
2,0 2,0 3 hours
3 hours
4 hours 4 hours
0,0 0,0
0 1 2 3 4 5 0 1 2 3 4 5
Carburizing time (hour) Carburizing time (hour)

Hot Rolled 16MnCr5 Cold Drawn 16MnCr5

18,0 16,0

268 HV
16,0 310 HV
14,0

14,0
c d
12,0
Wear Rat e ( mm 3/Nm)x10-5

Wear Rat e ( mm 3/Nm)x10-5

12,0
10,0

10,0
8,0
639 HV
8,0 800 HV
773 HV 813 HV 822 HV
767 HV
6,0 845 HV
830 HV
6,0
Base Specimen
4,0 Base Specimen
4,0 1 hour
1 hour
2 hours
2 hours
2,0 3 hours 2,0
3 hours
4 hours
4 hours
0,0 0,0
0 1 2 3 4 5 0 1 2 3 4 5
Carburizing time (hour) Carburizing time (hour)

Fig. 5. The wear rates of test specimens a) Hot-rolled SAE 8620 Specimens b) Cold-drawn SAE 8620 specimens c) Hot-rolled 16MnCr5 specimens d) Cold-drawn 16MnCr5
specimens.

are greater than core hardnesses, and hot-rolled non-carburized The wear rates of carburized and non-carburized test specimens
specimens by the greater dislocation density forming on the are given in Table 2 and Fig. 5.
surfaces. As shown in Table 2, the wear rate of test specimens decreased
It can be expected that the surface hardnesses of cold-drawn after the cementation processes. The abrasive wear test results
carburized specimens are greater than the hot-rolled carburized showed that the wear rate of materials varies with the specimen
specimens. However, the hardness tests showed that there were no surface hardnesses. The specimens which have greater surface
distinct differences between the cold-drawn and hot-rolled speci- hardnesses are worn less than the others. As shown in Table 2, the
mens. This results from the carburizing process carried out at 920
C highest wear rates or the highest material loses are obtained in
in austenite phase zone which is higher than the recrystallization non-carburized specimens.
temperature. The carburizing process carried out above the recrys- The carburizing process carried out above the recrystallization
tallization temperature softened the cold-drawn specimens by temperature softened the cold-drawn specimens by eliminating
eliminating the dislocation density and rearranging the dislocation the dislocation density and rearranging the dislocation array.
array. Therefore, there is no distinct difference determined on the Therefore, there is no distinct difference determined on the surface
surface hardnesses of the cold-drawn and hot-rolled specimens. hardnesses. Thus, there are no distinct wear rate differences
The chemical composition of 16MnCr5 specimens have more determined between hot rolled and cold-drawn carburized speci-
Mn, Cr alloying elements, providing solid solution hardening. mens. The differences were found in non-carburized specimens. As
Therefore, 16MnCr5 specimens are harder than SAE 8620 speci- a result of increasing the surface hardness by cold-drawn process,
mens due the solid solution hardening. cold-drawn non-carburized specimens have lesser wear rate than
the hot-rolled non-carburized specimens.
3.3. Abrasive wear tests
4. Conclusions
Hardness is the most important factor that influences wear
resistance of materials. As a result of increasing hardness, the  Martensite phase was determined on all of the carburized
wear resistance of materials increases. It is concluded that the specimen surfaces by X-ray diffraction analysis. Determination of
wear resistance of low-carbon steel is increased by the cemen- martensite phase on carburized surfaces is the sign of cemen-
tation process [5,19,20]. tation processes carried out effectively.
396 _ Yegen, M. Usta / Vacuum 85 (2010) 390e396
I.
 Martensite phase, austenite phase and oxide phases were
determined on all of the carburized specimen surfaces.
 The surface and the core hardnesses of carburized specimens
were increased by the cementation which consists of carburizing
and quenching processes. The hardness test showed that the
surface hardnesses of carburized specimens varied depending on
the intensity of phases obtained by X-ray diffraction analysis.
 Effective cementation depths increased depending on the
carbon diffusion that increased with time as expected.
 The abrasive wear test results showed that the wear rate of
specimens varied depending on the specimen surface hardnesses.
 The abrasive wear test results showed that cold-drawn non-
carburized specimens have lesser wear rate than the hot-rolled
non-carburized specimens.
Acknowledgments
The authors thank Mr. Adem Sen for running the X-ray diffrac-
tometer, Mr. O. Faruk Deniz for helping hardness measurements,
Mr. Ahmet Nazım for helping with SEM study at Gebze Institute of
Technology and the company of Akçelik Iron and Steel for their
support during this study.
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