Investigating the effect of the deep cryogenic heat treatment on the corrosion behavior of the 1.2080 tool steel

Deep cryogenic heat treatment is a supplementary process performed on a vast variety of materials, including tool steels, carburized steels, tungsten carbide, magnesium alloys, and polymers. This process improves the wear behavior and the working life of these materials. This study has investigated the effect of the deep cryogenic heat treatment on the corrosion behavior of the 1.2080 tool steel in different holding durations via the electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and linear polarization test (TAFEL) in the environment of 3.5 wt.% NaCl aqueous solution. Results show that cryogenic heat treatment decreases the corrosion resistance of the tool steels as a consequence of increasing the carbide percentage as well as improving the carbide distribution. This phenomenon decreases the dissolved chromium atoms which are the major components in corrosion resistance of the tool steels.