Microstructures and mechanical properties of injection molded 17-4PH stainless steel powder with nickel boride additions

This paper describes the sintering of an injection molded 17-4 PH stainless steel with additions of nickel boride (NiB), with the aim of producing high mechanical properties. Boron is evaluated as the best sintering enhancing element in terms of densifying the iron-based materials by formation the liquid phase. Sintered density and mechanical properties were increased with the increased amount of NiB while sintering time and temperature were decreased. Sintering to full density and highest mechanical properties were obtained with the addition of 1 wt% NiB at 1280^∘C for 45 min. The formation of borides caused the increase of mechanical properties. This material may therefore find a wider technological application, because of its improved mechanical properties.     

Sintering of 17-4PH stainless steel feedstock for metal injection molding

The sintering behavior of 17-4PH stainless steel feedstock for metal injection molding was investigated in the temperature range of 650-1050 °C. Effects of sintering conditions, such as sintering temperature and sintering atmosphere, were examined. Results showed that when sintered in the hydrogen/nitrogen atmosphere, the 17-4PH feedstock was oxidized over the temperature range of investigation. The degree of oxidization increased with the sintering temperature. The main oxidization product was Cr₂O₃ as revealed by X-ray diffraction and composition analysis. The oxidation can be avoided by sintering in vacuum or argon atmosphere.     

Effects of residual carbon content on sintering shrinkage, microstructure and mechanical properties of injection molded 17-4 PH stainless steel

Carbon contamination from the thermoplastic binder is an inherent problem with the metal powder injection molding process. Residual carbon in the compacts after debinding has a strong impact on the sintering process, microstructure, and mechanical properties. In this study, injection molded 17-4 PH stainless steel was debound to two levels of residual carbon, 0.203 ± 0.014 wt% and 0.113 ± 0.008 wt%, by elevating the debinding temperature from 450°C to 600°C. Dilatometry in H₂ atmosphere shows that the 600°C-debound compacts shrink much faster than those debound at 450°C when the sintering temperature rises to over 1200°C. Density measurements for tensile bars sintered between 1260°C and 1380°C confirm the beneficial effect of low residual carbon content on sintering shrinkage. Quantitative metallography reveals that more -ferrite forms along austenite grain boundaries during sintering of the 600°C-debound compacts. In both samples, density gradients across the compact section are correlated with the residual carbon content and corresponding -ferrite formation. Finally, tensile tests show that the 600°C-debound compacts have lower tensile strength but higher ductility than those debound at 450°C. The relevant mechanisms are discussed with a focus on the effects of residual carbon content, -ferrite amount, and porosity.     

The rate of dynamic recrystallization in 17-4 PH stainless steel

The hot working behavior of 17-4 PH stainless steel (AISI 630) was studied by hot compression test at temperatures of 950–1150 °C with strain rates of 0.001–10 s⁻¹. The progress of dynamic recrystallization (DRX) was modeled by the Johnson–Mehl–Avrami–Kolmogorov (JMAK) kinetics equation. The flow softening was directly related to the DRX volume fraction and the DRX time was determined by strain rate. For quantification of recrystallization rate, the reciprocal of the time corresponding to the DRX fraction of 0.5% or 50% was used. Analysis of the sigmoid-shaped recrystallization curves revealed that the rate of DRX increases with increasing deformation temperature and strain rate. The Zener-Hollomon parameter (Z) was found to be inappropriate for analysis of DRX kinetics. Therefore, the dynamic recrystallization rate parameter (DRXRP) was introduced for this purpose. The DRXRP may be determined readily from the Avrami analysis and can precisely predict the rate of DRX at hot working conditions.     

Failure of a 17-4 PH stainless steel sailboat propeller shaft

In this study, a 17-4 PH precipitation hardening stainless steel propeller shaft failed in use when installed in a sailboat working in a marine environment. Failure analysis was conducted on the propeller shaft. Results indicate that the failure was caused by the fracture of the propeller shaft by torsional fatigue and stress corrosion cracking (SCC). SCC progressed transgranulary in the martensitic matrix.     

Machinability studies on 17-4 PH stainless steel under cryogenic cooling environment

Under higher cutting conditions, machining of 17-4 precipitation hardenable stainless steel (PH SS) is a difficult task due to the high cutting temperatures as well as accumulation of chips at the machining zone, which causes tool damage and impairment of machined surface finish. Cryogenic machining is an efficient, eco-friendly manufacturing process. In the current work, cutting temperature, tool wear (flank wear (V_b) and rake wear), chip morphology, and surface integrity (surface topography, surface finish (R_a), white layer thickness (WLT)) were considered as investigative machinability characteristics under the cryogenic (liquid nitrogen), minimum quantity lubrication (MQL), wet and dry environments at varying cutting velocities while machining 17-4 PH SS. The results show that the maximum cutting temperature drop found in cryogenic machining was 72%, 62%, and 61%, respectively, in contrast to dry, wet, and MQL machining conditions. Similarly, the maximum tool wear reduction was found to be 60%, 55%, and 50% in cryogenic machining over the dry, wet, and MQL machining conditions, respectively. Among all the machining environments, better surface integrity was obtained by cryogenic machining, which could produce the functionally superior products.     

Study of micropart fabrication via 17-4 PH stainless nanopowder injection molding

Micropart fabrication via 17-4 PH stainless nanopowder injection molding was investigated. The nanopowder was mixed with a binder that was based on wax to produce a feedstock composed of 45% powder and binder (the powder load). Initially, the fit and proper test was done before the micropart was made by making some bars of green samples, which the properties were examined after the sintering process. The examination involved the mechanical properties such as the porosity, hardness, and some of metallurgical aspects, such as the second-phase formation and the final compound after the sintering. The results showed that utilizing 17-4 PH stainless nanopowder is promising for micropart fabrication since it can form a nearly full-density sintered sample with a low porosity and good toughness, and can provide a smooth surface finish. After this, the investigations followed with the injection of the feedstock into the PDMS micromold that was formed by the nickel pattern from the X-Ray LIGA process. The green samples successfully produced a high-aspect-ratio sample with a thickness of up to 1 mm and an aspect ratio of 15 in the microchannel part. Then the green samples were sintered at 1,300 degrees C for 2 h, since from the initial test, they showed optimum parameters with nearly full density, low porosity, and a high degree of hardness. The research shows the excellent results of the application of the 17-4 PH stainless nanopowder to micropart fabrication.     

Effect of molybdenum on SCC of 17-4PH stainless steel under different aging conditions in chloride solutions

Type 17-4 PH martensitic precipitation-hardenable stainless steel, having a combination of high mechanical properties and good corrosion resistance is widely used in aerospace, chemical, and petrochemical and food industries This alloy has a high resistance to stress corrosion cracking but age hardening treatment, increases its sensitivity to stress corrosion cracking. There are several works investigating the influence of different aging treatments on the microstructure, mechanical properties and corrosion resistance of 17-4 PH steels, however there are little works studying the simultaneous effects of aging treatments and molybdenum content on corrosion properties of these steels. In this research, the effect of molybdenum on stress corrosion cracking resistance of 17-4 PH alloy using U-bend samples in chloride solutions, as well as its effect on passivity, has been investigated. Quantometer, Scanning Electron Microscope(SEM) and potentiostat were used to determine the chemical composition, microstructure and anodic polarization behavior of the alloys. It is found that molybdenum has a useful effect on stress corrosion cracking resistance under the peak aged conditions, and this is because of development of delta-ferrite phase by increasing the molybdenum content and subsequently decreasing the strength of the alloy.     

Interfacial precipitation in hot isostatically pressed diffusion bonds of 17-4 PH stainless steel

Abstract

The embrittlement of hot isostatically pressed (hipped) diffusion bonds manufactured from 17-4 PH stainless steel has been investigated by Auger electron spectroscopy (AES) of in situ fracture specimens. Depth profiling by AES has revealed copper precipitation at the interface of the diffusion bond. This precipitation, up to a few monolayers in thickness, occurs during the ramp up to temperature and pressure of the hot isostatic pressing (hipping) cycle and is not readily removed by subsequent heat treatment. This effect is explained in terms of the metallurgical characteristics of copper within the steel. Results suggest that the extent of the precipitation decreases with increasing process temperature. In the case of PH 13-8 Mo stainless steel, where the precipitation hardening phase is NiAl, the interface is weakened by sulphur segregation and the formation of oxide particles.     

Effect of strain rate on high-temperature low-cycle fatigue of 17-4 PH stainless steels

The effect of strain rate (10⁻², 10⁻³ and 10⁻⁴ s⁻¹) on the low-cycle fatigue (LCF) behavior was investigated for 17-4 PH stainless steels in three different conditions at temperatures of 300–500 °C. The cyclic stress response (CSR) for Condition A tested at 300 and 400 °C showed cyclic hardening due to an influence of dynamic strain aging (DSA). An in situ precipitation-hardening effect was found to be partially responsible for the cyclic hardening in Condition A at 400 °C. For H900 and H1150 conditions tested at 300 and 400 °C, the CSR exhibited a stable stress level before a fast drop in load indicating no cyclic hardening or softening. At 500 °C, cyclic softening was observed for all given material conditions because of a thermal dislocation recovery mechanism. The cyclic softening behavior in Conditions A and H900 tested at 500 °C is attributed partially to coarsening of the Cu-rich precipitates. The LCF life for each material condition, tested at a given temperature, decreased with decreasing strain rate as a result of an enhanced DSA effect. At all given testing conditions, transgranular cracking was the common fatigue fracture mode.     

Improvement of wear and corrosion resistances of 17-4PH stainless steel by plasma nitrocarburizing

17-4PH stainless steel was plasma nitrocarburized at 460 °C for improving its mechanical properties without compromising its desirable corrosion resistance. The plasma nitrocarburized layers were studied by optical microscope, X-ray diffractometer, microhardness tester, pin-on-disc tribometer and the anodic polarization method in a 3.5% NaCl solution. The experimental results show that the nitrocarburized layer depths increase with increasing duration time and the layers growth conform approximately to the parabolic law. The phases in the nitrocarburized layer are mainly of γ′-Fe₄N and α′-Fe with traces of CrN phase. The surface hardness of the modified specimen is more than 1200 HV, which is three times higher than that of untreated one. The friction coefficient and corrosion resistance of the specimen can be apparently improved by plasma nitrocarburizing. With the increase of duration time, the surface hardness slightly decreases whereas the friction coefficient and corrosion resistance of the modified specimen are first increase and then decrease. The 8 h treated specimen has the lowest friction coefficient and the best corrosion resistance in the present test conditions.     

Influence of high temperature exposure on the mechanical behavior and microstructure of 17-4 PH stainless steel

The mechanical behavior and microstructural evolution of 17-4 PH stainless steels in three conditions, i.e. unaged (Condition A), peak-aged (H900) and overaged (H1150), exposed at temperatures ranging from 200 to 700°C were investigated. The high-temperature yield strength of each condition decreased with an increase in temperature from 200 to 400°C except for Condition A at 400°C with a longer hold time where a precipitation-hardening effect occurred. At temperatures from 500–700°C, the decrease in after-exposure hardness of Condition A and H900 at longer exposure times was caused by a coarsening effect of copper-rich precipitates. A Similar microstructural change was also responsible for the hardness of H1150 exposed at 700°C decreasing with increasing exposure time. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) observations indicated that the matrix structures of Condition A and H900, when exposed at 600°C and above, exhibited lamellar recrystallized -ferrite in the tempered martensite and the size and quantity of these lamellar ferrite phases increased with exposure time. X-ray diffraction (XRD) analyses showed that the reverted austenite phase in H1150 that formed during the over-aging treatment was stable and hardly affected by deformation at temperatures of 200–400°C.     

Structure and properties of solid state diffusion bonding of 17-4PH stainless steel and titanium

Abstract

Solid state diffusion bonded joint between titanium and 17-4 precipitation hardening stainless steel was carried out in the temperature range of 800–1050°C in steps of 50°C for 30 min and also at 950°C for 30–180 min in steps of 30 min under a uniaxial pressure of 3·5 MPa in vacuum. Bonded samples were characterised using light microscopy, field emission scanning electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction technique. Up to 850°C for 30 min, FeTi phase was formed at the diffusion interface; however, α-Fe+λ, χ, Fe₂Ti and FeTi phases and phase mixtures were formed above 850°C for 30 min and at 950°C for all bonding times. Maximum tensile strength of ～326 MPa, shear strength of ～254 MPa and impact toughness of ～24 J were obtained for the diffusion couple processed at 1000°C for 30 min and 30–180 min time interval at 950°C, and maximum tensile strength ～323 MPa, shear strength ～243 MPa and impact toughness of ～22 J were achieved when bonding was processed for 120 min. The residual stress of the bonded joints increases with the increase in bonding temperatures and times.     

Improving the mechanical properties of 17-4PH stainless steel by low temperature plasma surface treatment

17-4PH stainless steel was plasma nitrocarburized at low temperature for improving its mechanical properties. The results show that the modified layer thicknesses increase with increasing treatment time and the layers growth approximately conforms to the parabolic law. The phases in the modified layers are mainly of incipient γ′-Fe₄N and α′-Fe with amorphous characterization, and then changed into γ′-Fe₄N, α′_N and traces of CrN with the treatment time increasing. The hardness of the nitrocarburized specimen is more than 1280 HV, which is about 3.5 times as hard as the untreated one. Meanwhile, the wear resistance of the steel specimen can be dramatically improved by plasma nitrocarburizing. The surface hardness and the wear resistance of the nitrocarburized specimens slightly decrease with an increase in treatment time for the surface hardness as well as microstructure changing.     

Cracking due to Cu and Ni segregation in a 17-4 PH stainless steel piston rod

The 17-4 PH stainless steel is employed to produce piston rods in industry due to the high strength and toughness, good workability and nice corrosion resistance. In the present failure analysis, obvious long cracks were observed along the longitudinal direction on the surface of the commercial 17-4 PH stainless steel piston rod after heat treatment. The cracks were carefully looked into by observing the crack tip and characterizing the microstructure along the cracks. The results showed that the cracks were mostly initiated from the surface of the rod and propagated along the phase boundary between martensite and δ ferrite. The EDXA showed that the segregation of Cu and Ni should be responsible for the cracking after heat treatment. In order to define when the crack was coming into being, oxidation film along the crack was considered as a clue. The scrutiny of the oxidation film on the crack edge illustrated that the crack should be formed right in the heat treatment of aging.