Nanotribological behavior of deep cryogenically treated martensitic stainless steel

G. PRIETO; KONSTANTINOS D. BAKOGLIDIS; W. R. TUCKART; E. BROITMAN

Beilstein Journal of Nanotechnology

Beilstein-Institut Zur Forderung der Chemischen Wissenschaften

Lugar: Fran; Año: 2017 vol. 8 p. 1760 - 1768

2190-4286

Cryogenic treatments are increasingly used to improve the wear resistance of various steel alloys by means of transformation ofretained austenite, deformation of virgin martensite and carbide refinement. In this work the nanotribological behavior and mechanical properties at the nano-scale of cryogenically and conventionally treated AISI 420 martensitic stainless steel were evaluated.Conventionally treated specimens were subjected to quenching and annealing, while the deep cryogenically treated samples were quenched, soaked in liquid nitrogen for 2 h and annealed. The elastic?plastic parameters of the materials were assessed by nanoindentation tests under displacement control, while the friction behavior and wear rate were evaluated by a nanoscratch testing methodology that it is used for the first time in steels. It was found that cryogenic treatments increased both hardness and elastic limit ofa low-carbon martensitic stainless steel, while its tribological performance was enhanced marginally.