Influence of Laser Surface Texturing Sequence on Fatigue Properties of Coated Cold Work Tool Steel

Marko Sedlaček,Borut Žužek,Agnieszka Zuzanna Guštin

doi:10.3390/met10121636

Abstract

The aim of this research was to investigate the influence of laser surface texturing sequence on the fatigue properties of cold-work tool steel. For this reason, polished hourglass-type test specimens made from cold-work tool steel (K890) were surface textured using laser texturing. Surface textures were introduced before and after hard coating deposition (TiAlN) with the aim to investigate the sequence of surface-texturing process. It was found that coating deposition prolongs the fatigue life. The fatigue life behaviour can be influenced also by the sequence of surface texturing. In the case when laser texturing is done after coating deposition, it suffers in fatigue life properties. From a lower magnification, a fractured surface looks like a quasi-ductile fracture, but a closer look reveals that there is very little plastic deformation and some small flat regions can be seen with clear evidence of a brittle fracture mechanism with cleavage. Due to low fracture toughness of investigated steel, no fatigue striations of crack growth steps were found on the fractured surfaces.

Highlights

In a variety of engineering applications, the contact of different materials and surfaces leads to friction and wear
In the case when laser texturing is done after coating deposition, it suffers in fatigue life properties
In order to investigate the influence of texturing on the fatigue life, untextured, textured, uncoated, and coated samples were tested for comparison

Summary

Introduction

In a variety of engineering applications, the contact of different materials and surfaces leads to friction and wear. Economic effect of wear of different tools and components is in the range of 1 to 4% of the gross national product of industrialized countries. This effect is more pronounced in the industrial fields such as mining, mineral processing, and earthmoving fields, and in agriculture. Wear is one of the most important problems in many different engineering components and has direct influence on the life cycle of certain components. Tools used for the extrusion, forging, and blanking are exposed to high tribological, mechanical, and thermal loads. Improving their resistance is a constant task for the researchers and engineers

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