Evaluating the effect of deep cryogenic heat treatment on microstructure, wear and tension properties of the GOST9HF-steel at tempering temperature from 150 to 650˚C

In recent years, cryogenic-treatment is considered in order to improve of wear and hardness resistance of tool steels. Cryo-treatment is performed on steel before and after of tempering and quenching treatment, respectively. In this research, the effect of deep cryogenic treatment is investigated on the GOS9HF-steel. In this regard, the quenched-tempered and quenched-Cryo-treated samples are prepared after tempering treatment for 2hrs. then, impact of Cryo-treatment on value of retained austenite, fine carbide precipitations are evaluated by XRD, SEM and the amount of hardness, strength and wear resistance are measured by micro-hardness, tensile and wear tests. The wear test is conducted by pin-on-disc method. The results indicated that the amount of hardness and properties of wear and tensile in the Cryo-treated sample were rather than the quenched-tempered samples at all of tempering temperatures (i.e. from 150 to 650˚C). Additionally, with increase of tempering temperature, the amount of hardness, wear behavior and tensile property are decreased in both of Cryo-treated and quenched-tempered samples. This can be attributed to the softening of microstructure and the growing of grain sizes. Moreover, it was obvious that improving of Cryo-treated samples are related to the removing of retained austenite, precipitation of fine carbides and more appropriate distribution of these carbides. It is cleared that the Cryo-treatment causes to decrease of value of retained austenite from 12% to below of 1% at quenched-tempered and Cryo-treated samples, respectively. Finally, Cryo-treatment causes to increase of volume fracture of carbides to 52%.