Abstract
In order to improve the impact toughness and wear resistance of the tool and die steels, this study innovatively prepared strengthened H13 steels with different contents of single-phase TiC and dual-phase TiC + TiB2 through in situ nanoparticle/Al master alloys at room temperature. The microstructure evolution and mechanical properties as well as wear resistance were investigated. Results indicate that the H13 steel with 0.02 wt.% dual-phase TiC + TiB2 nanoparticles has a more uniform and finer microstructure, and the mechanical properties and wear resistance are significantly improved. The yield strength, maximum tensile strength, breaking strain, uniform elongation, product of strength plasticity, and unnotched and U-notched impact toughness of H13 steel with 0.02 wt.% dual-phase TiC + TiB2 are higher than that of H13 steel. In addition, the volume wear rate, maximum scratch depth and width reach 7.1 × 10−11 m3/m, 6050 nm and 90 μm, respectively, which are reduced by 44.5%, 30.1% and 45.5% compared with that of H13 steel. Refining the microstructure and improving impact toughness and wear resistance of H13 tool steel through trace nanoparticles can provide important inspiration for industrial applications.
Highlights
IntroductionThe shield machine rolling tools generally made of tool and die steels with high Cr content [6,7,8,9,10,11] have good mechanical properties represented by impact toughness, as well as high wear resistance [12,13,14]
Tool and die steels should ensure wear resistance, and need good impact toughness, which can guarantee that they have a long service life under wear conditions [1,2,3,4,5].For example, the shield machine rolling tools generally made of tool and die steels with high Cr content [6,7,8,9,10,11] have good mechanical properties represented by impact toughness, as well as high wear resistance [12,13,14]
(Figure 4d) dual-phase TiC + TiB2 nanoparticles are more refined, most of the grains do not exceed 5 μm in size, and the distribution is relatively uniform. These results indicate that trace nanoparticles have a refinement on the microstructures of H13 steels, but the refinement effect of the dual-phase nanoparticles is more obvious
Summary
The shield machine rolling tools generally made of tool and die steels with high Cr content [6,7,8,9,10,11] have good mechanical properties represented by impact toughness, as well as high wear resistance [12,13,14]. Under the condition of high wear resistance, the impact toughness of steels is generally poor [21,22,23,24]. Developing a new and efficient method that can improve the impact toughness and wear resistance of steels has a high practical significance and industrial application value [32,33,34]
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