INFLUENCE OF HEAT TREATMENT ON DIE STEEL 4Kh4N5М4F2 AND ESTABLISHMENT OF ITS PHYSICAL AND MECHANICAL PROPERTIES

Abstract

The results of researches after heat treatment (hardening and tempering) of alloyed structural steel of grade 4Kh4N5М4F2 in cast and forged state are given. It is recommended to carry out partial recrystallization (incomplete annealing) of the experimental steel (4Kh4N5М4F2) at a temperature of 750±20 °С. It is recommended to carry out thermo-deformation treatment (forging at a temperature of 1170±20 °C), which doubled the grain yield of hardened steel and increased the toughness five times after tempering. The optimal temperature mode of hardening (1095±5 °С) of cast and forged steel, the hardness of which coincides at the level of 56 HRC, is established. The grain score in cast and forged state (№ 3–№ 6 and № 6–№ 8, respectively) of the investigated steel depending on the quenching temperature (1050–1110 °С) is shown. The dependence between hardness and specific electrical conductivity of steel after hardening in comparison with cast and forged state is established. It is established that at optimized modes of heat treatment of the investigated steel it was determined by the minimum value of the parameter – specific electrical conductivity. Thus, for the optimal value of the tempering temperature of steel (1095 ºC), the specific electrical conductivity was 0,075 Ohm•mm2/ m, and at tempering (595 ºC) – 0,0415 Ohm•mm2/m. The methodical approach after hardening of steel is offered that allows carrying out control of a temperature mode at heating of the stamp tool. It is established that after hardening of steel, forged has the highest conductivity than cast. Physico-mechanical properties (strength threshold, impact strength, hardness, microhardness in the metal structure and specific electrical conductivity) of the investigated hardened steel (cast and forged) after tempering are presented. An increase in the hardness and strength of cast steel during tempering at temperatures from 450 to 500 °C, which is provided by the release of the carbide component, where there is an intensive increase in microhardness. It was found that the tempering brittleness of the investigated steel at a temperature of 475±15 °C. An anomalous decrease in impact strength (up to 15 J/cm2) and an intensive increase in the specific electrical conductivity of cast and forged steel at tempering brittleness are shown. The increase of microhardness of the investigated steel is established, which promotes increase of wear resistance and increase of service life of the stamping tool. It is established that during reheating (tempering), the conductivity in steel increases, and the structurally sensitive mechanical characteristic (impact strength) changes intensively, which increases twice in the range of tempering brittleness temperatures of 475±15 ºС. This makes it possible to increase the service life of the press tool (die) made of steel 4Kh4N5M4F2 for hot deformation of aluminum alloy in the temperature range 450-500 °C.