Influence of the quenching temperature on the phase composition, structure, and wear resistance of 150XHM steel

Abstract

The influence of the quenching temperature on the quantity of residual austenite, its stability, and its ease of deformational martensitic transformation in 150XHM steel is studied. In the addition, the hardening and abrasive-wear resistance of the steel are studied as a function of the quenching temperature. The dependences of the steel's hardening and wear resistance on the quenching temperature are of opposite form. The drop in hardness with increase in quenching temperature is due to increase in the content of residual austenite. At the same time, the relative ease of deformational martensitic transformation in the metastable residual austenite results in increase in wear resistance and microhardness of the worn surface. © 2013 Allerton Press, Inc.