Influence of production process chain on grain size stability of a microalloyed 20CrMo5 case hardening steel

Abstract

Within the scope of a research project in cooperation with steelmakers and steel users, the whole production process chain of gear parts was investigated concerning the influence on the grain size stability. Three different case hardening steels were investigated in a basic and a microalloyed state. This paper discusses the results gained with a case hardening steel with a new alloying concept, called 20CrMo5. The grain size stabilities of four different industrially produced states of the microalloyed material are compared to the standard material produced in a standard production chain. As a result, it emerged that additional annealing treatments above the eutectoid temperature within the production process chain reduce the grain stability of microalloyed steels.