Surface Characteristics Analysis of Gas Carburized New Hot Working Tool Steel

Gaseous carburizing effects on improvement of performance of a new grade hot working tool steel close to as either chromium AISI H11/H13 are investigated. Such treatments are performed at 930. C for various processing times. Formed layers that are characterized by their basic properties (i.e. thickness, depth, formed phases, hardness distributions, carbon/carbides distributions and redistribution of alloys in the carburized layers) show a close dependence of both time-temperature process and chemical composition of material. Test results indicate that retained austenite amount act to improve significantly the wear resistance of components despite their relatively lower hardness. In addition, it is addressed that performance and productivity of the as-new material could be extensively enhanced when the above treatment is used. Metallurgical evaluations are carried out using metallographic techniques, optical, scanning electron microscopy equipped with an energy-dispersive X-Ray spectrometer and X-ray diffraction techniques. Mechanical properties are achieved mainly by standard hardness and wear tests.