Time-dependent synchrotron X-ray diffraction on the austenite decomposition kinetics in SAE 52100 bearing steel at elevated temperatures under tensile stress

We have studied the decomposition kinetics of the metastable austenite phase present in quenched-and-tempered SAE 52100 steel by in situ high-energy synchrotron X-ray diffraction experiments at elevated temperatures of 200–235 °C under a constant tensile stress. We have observed a continuous decomposition of austenite into ferrite and cementite. The decomposition kinetics is controlled by the long-range diffusion of carbon atoms into the austenite ahead of the moving austenite/ferrite interface. The presence of a tensile stress of 295 MPa favours the carbon diffusion in the remaining austenite, so that the activation energy for the overall process decreases from 138–148 to 82–104 kJ mol^?1. Before the austenite starts to decompose, a significant amount of carbon atoms partition from the surrounding martensite phase into the metastable austenite grains. This carbon partitioning takes place simultaneously with the carbide precipitation due to the over-tempering of the martensite phase. As the austenite decomposition proceeds gradually at a constant temperature and stress, the elastic strain in the remaining austenite grains continuously decreases. Consequently, the remaining austenite grains act as a reinforcement of the ferritic matrix at longer isothermal holding times. The texture evolution in the constituent phases reflects both significant grain rotations and crystal orientation relationships between the parent austenite phase and the newly formed ferritic grains.     

Isothermal transformation of supercooled austenite in steel 75KhSMF

Conclusion A T-T-T diagram for steel 75KhSMF was plotted. It was found that the transformation ceases in the pearlitic and intermediate temperature ranges.Translated from Metallovedenie i Termicheskaya Obrabotka Metallov, No. 1, pp. 66–67, January, 1972.     

Iterative taguchi analysis: Optimizing the austenite content and hardness in 52100 steel

Three iterations of Taguchi designed experiments and analyses were used to determine optimal thermal treatments for minimizing retained austenite content while maximizing Rockwell hardness (HRC) in AISI 52100 bearing steel. Experimental variables chosen for this study included austenitizing and tempering temperatures, tempering time and cold treatment. After one iteration, tempering temperature and cold treatment were seen to have the greatest effect on austenite content while austenitizing and tempering temperatures had the greatest influence on hardness. After the second and third experimental iterations, two thermal treatments were noted each producing hardness of 58–59 HRC in combination with zero retained austenite as measured by x-ray diffraction.     

Transformation of supercooled austenite in now-alloy steel 16GFR during continuous cooling

Conclusions A C–C–T diagram was plotted for steel 16GFR, which makes it possible to predict with adequate reliability the character of the structure formed during cooling of pipe at given rates under plant conditions and thus to correct the heat-treatment process for pipe made of steel 16GFR with strength _b=720 MPa and guarantee the mechanical properties and cold resistance required.Institute of Ferrous Metallurgy, Dnepropetrovsk. Translated from Metallovedenie i Termicheskaya Obrabotka Metallov, No. 7, pp. 54–56, July, 1981.     

热处理工艺对SAE4320钢奥氏体晶粒度的影响

对出现严重混晶的SAE4320钢在640~1000℃保温2 h后空冷,再采用模拟渗碳法进行奥氏体晶粒度检测及分析。结果表明,渗碳轴承钢SAE4320奥氏体晶粒度出现混晶与终轧温度过低有关;当SAE4320钢出现混晶时,经740~760℃保温2 h空冷后奥氏体晶粒度可达8.0~7.0级。     

1.25Cr0.5MoSiNb钢过冷奥氏体连续冷却转变

在Formastor-FⅡ相变仪上,用膨胀法测定了 1.25Cr0.5MoSiNb钢在不同冷速下过冷奥氏体连续冷却时的膨胀曲线;采用切线法获得了相转变点,结合硬度和金相测试,用Origin 软件绘制了实验钢过冷奥氏体连续冷却相转变曲线(CCT 曲线),并用实验验证了 CCT曲线的准确性.结果表明:实验钢的临界点Acl和...     

Influence of kinetics of supercooled austenite decomposition on structure formation in sparingly-alloyed tool steel

The decomposition of supercooled austenite in 70Kh3G2VTB steel under isothermal conditions and continuous cooling have been studied. The isothermal and continuous cooling tranformation curves of the decomposition of austenite in the experimental steel have been constructed. The effect of alloying elements on phase transformations in the steel under heating and cooling have been established. The features of the formation of a microstructure in the 70Kh3G2VTB steel after different regimes of heat treatment have been described. The optimal parameters of hardening heat treatment have been developed.     

Influence of refrigeration/lubrication condition on SAE 52100 hardened steel turning at several cutting speeds

Nowadays, the use of cutting fluids on machining operations has been questioned, due to problems they may cause to the environment, due to damage to human health and also more due to the severe laws regarding industrial waste that have been passed. Therefore, industries are being forced to review the production processes aiming either, at elimination or, when it is not possible, a sharp reduction in the use of these fluids. The technique of minimum volume of oil (MVO) has been studied in machining processes as one alternative to the use of abundant cutting fluid. Research has shown that this technique, which is the pulverisation of a minimum volume of oil in a flow of compressed air, in several cases, reduces tool wear when compared to complete dry cutting, causing the improvement of the workpiece surface quality and an increase in tool life. In this work, the influence of MVO (oil flow of 10 ml/h) in the wear of a cubic boron nitride (CBN) tool, when turning 52100 hardened steel, was studied. Aiming at a comparison of the results, the experiments were also carried out under two other conditions: dry cutting and cutting with abundant soluble oil (wet cutting). During the experiments, the influence of cutting speed on CBN tool wear for the three refrigeration conditions was also checked. Besides this, tool wear and workpiece surface roughness was also measured as cutting time elapsed.     

含Nb热轧带钢中过冷奥氏体连续冷却转变行为

采用Formastor-FII型全自动相变仪研究了含铌热轧带钢奥氏体连续冷却过程中的相变规律,用热膨胀法结合金相法建立了含Nb和不含Nb试验钢奥氏体的连续冷却转变曲线(CCT),研究了冷却速度和合金元素Nb对组织转变的影响。结果表明,同不含Nb钢相比,含Nb钢可以在更大的冷却速度区间得到单一的贝氏体组织;在冷却速度不断增大的条件下,奥氏体向铁素体、珠光体转变开始温度显著降低。其中,不含Nb钢中,奥氏体向铁素体、珠光体转变开始温度分别降低10 ℃左右,含Nb钢中分别降低10、20 ℃左右;合金元素Nb不仅能够抑制高温转变,还能够细化铁素体晶粒尺寸,减少铁素体体积分数,而且使针状铁素体的临界冷却速度降低,扩大针状铁素体形成的冷却速度范围,有利于针状铁素体的生成。     

Metallurgical influence on quench distortion of SAE 52100 long cylinders

Abstract

Quenching of steel components results in complex and hard-to-predict dimensional and shape changes (distortion). Even the components manufactured from different parts of the same semifinished product may show significantly different distortion behaviours during quenching. The reason is thought to be non-uniform distribution of distortion potential carriers in the final component (i.e. alloying elements, segregations, residual stresses and phases) which are accumulated throughout the whole manufacturing chain. This study focuses on the effects of alloying element distribution and segregation on quench distortion. For this aim, long cylinders of various diameters were machined from 45 mm diameter SAE 52100 steel bars, and marked to define their exact positions in the initial bar. Then the cylinders were austenitised in a vertical furnace under nitrogen atmosphere and quenched in a gas nozzle field. The coordinate measurement results show that dimensional changes deviate significantly with machining position; however, the bending magnitudes and directions do not exhibit a distinct correlation with machining position and the cylinder diameter.