Volume 79, Issue 5

This article provides a comparative characterization of the mechanical and technological properties of a modified 20MnB4 quenched and tempered steel that are important for further processing. The aim of the modification was to represent the steel as a secondary steel with a significantly increased holding of accompanying elements to be assumed in the future. The aim was to check whether the increased hardening tendency due to increasing levels of accompanying elements can be compensated for by a targeted reduction in the Mn content without negatively affecting through-hardenability and tempering resistance. An industrially available steel was used as a reference condition. The results showed that the reduction of the Mn content contributed to the increase in cold formability, while a strong decrease in effective hardening depth occurred with an insignificant change in tempering behavior.

Cryogenic treatment can be employed as an additional heat treatment step for martensitic steels, particularly high-carbon and high-alloy tool steels, to improve their mechanical properties and wear resistance. This enhancement results from a transformation of retained austenite and precipitation of finely distributed secondary carbides. The present study examines the impact of a shallow cryogenic treatment, performed between the quenching and tempering processes, on the corrosion resistance and fracture toughness of cold work tool steel X153CrMoV12. The influence of the shallow cryogenic treatment was evaluated using potentiodynamic polarization test, salt spray tests and three-point bending tests in various hydrogen charging conditions. In addition, the microstructure and phase transformation of the tool steel were investigated using high-resolution scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction and dilatometer tests. The results suggest that the shallow cryogenic treatment followed by a single tempering cycle can slightly enhance the corrosion resistance of the steel. More importantly, the shallow cryogenic treatment positively affects fracture toughness and reduces hydrogen susceptibility. It is discussed how these improvements in the properties of the X153CrMoV12 steel are linked to the microstructural changes induced by the shallow cryogenic treatment.

Quenching with polymer solutions for steel heat treatment offers adjustable performance and improved ecological impact compared to conventional water or oil quenching. The submersion cooling operation poses challenges due to the intense vapor/polymer film collapse on the component surface, potentially destabilizing batch components. Therefore, controlled recirculation is critical to preventing tank and specimen damage during cooling and ensuring effective steel hardening. However, flow structure analysis is often overlooked and disregarded in industrial tank design. Thus, this study evaluates the tank geometries of two partner industries to determine if they provide the necessary homogeneous flow for optimal quenching. The analysis combines experimental velocity measurements with a numerical model, with the identification of different flow intensity regions being the main outcome of this work. The results suggest that geometric modifications could improve flow recirculation, enhancing quenching performance.