Effect of heat treatment on wear resistance of Fe–Cr–Mn–C–N high-interstitial stainless steel

Abstract

High-Interstitial Fe–Cr–Mn–C–N stainless steels, CN66 (C+N=0.28+0.38wt%) and CN71 (C+N=0.27+0.44wt%), were produced in an induction melting furnace and cast in air atmosphere. The abrasive wear resistance of CN66 and CN71 was investigated as a function of heat treatment conditions, subsequent to casting. The wear rate of CN66 decreased from 0.107 to 0.095mm3/m. with a heat treatment of 1200°C solutionizing for 2h followed by water quenching, The value of Fe2p bonding energy of CN66 shifted from 708.93 to 708.53eV due to the heat treatment, and was caused by the dissolution of pearlite. The dissolution was also confirmed by microstructural analysis. The bonding energy of CrN, that formed as a result of heat treatment, is at 575.4eV (Cr2p2/3). The amount of ferrite phase in CN66 and CN71 was increased with heat treatment from 3.4% to 8.9% and 1.3% to 5.7%, respectively. The enhancement of wear resistance is due to the increased amount of ferrite phase resulting from lower nitrogen content in CN66 steel as well as the dissolution of pearlite by heat treatment. The abrasive wear resistance of type 316L stainless steel comparatively is lower than any of the experimental steel developed in this study.