Behaviour of austenitic nitrocarburised AISI 1040 steel in Falex testing

Austenitic nitrocarburising improves the scuffing resistance of medium carbon steel. The simultaneous application of crushing load and frictional head on the treated Falex test sample converts the sub-layer of regained austenite to martensite-bainite. The usefulness of the test to understand the behaviour of hot working dies in service is discussed and a case is made out to eliminate the sub-zero and/or ageing treatment after austenitic nitrocarburising.