heal.abstract |
The purpose of this study is to examine the effect of Cryogenic Treatment and its parameters on the microstructure and the mechanical properties of Uddeholm Ovar 2M (AISI H13) tool steel. The present work consists of five chapters, which are presented below.
The first chapter provides general information on steels and tool steels describing their properties and chemical composition and focusing on H13 hot work tool steel. The second chapter contains an overview of the processes applied on tool steels and presents various studies investigating the effects of cryogenic treatment and its parameters on H13 tool steel and other steels.
The third chapter contains the steps of the experimental procedure of this study. The specimens went under the heat treatments of Austenitization, Quenching, Snap- Tempering, Cryogenic Treatment and Tempering at different temperatures. After the heat treatment the specimens were cut, mounted, grinded and polished in order to measure their microhardness and observe their microstructure on microscope. Deep cryogenic treatment parameters were the temperature of -130 oC and the time periods of 1,4,12 and 24 hours.
The fourth chapter presents the results of the experimental procedure of this study. The measurements of microhardness are presented with Tempering Diagrams for each time period of cryogenic procedure. Moreover, optical and electron scan microscopy pictures of microstructure are presented in order to study the grain boundaries, the retained austenite, the primary and the secondary carbides.
Finally, the fifth chapter contains the conclusion of this study regarding the effect of cryogenic treatment and the parameters of cryogenic temperature and time period at the microstructure and mechanical properties of AISI H13 tool stee |
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