Effects of Sub-zero Celsius Treatment and Tempering on the Stability of Retained Austenite in Bearing Steel

doi:10.1007/s40195-015-0264-2

Abstract

Abstract:

In this work, the influence of sub-zero Celsius treatment and tempering on the mechanical and thermal stability of retained austenite in bearing steel were assessed by tensile test and DSC. Compared with traditional quenched and tempered treatment, sub-zero Celsius treatment obviously decreases the volume fraction of retained austenite. Moreover, the mechanical stability of retained austenite was enhanced due to the accumulation of compressive stresses in retained austenite after sub-zero Celsius treatment and tempering. Meanwhile, the morphology of retained austenite changed from film-like to blocky with austenitization temperature increasing, and the mechanical stability of film-like retained austenite is higher than that of blocky one. The DSC results showed that the activation energy of retained austenite decomposition slightly increased through sub-zero Celsius treatment and tempering. This result may probably be ascribed to partitioning of carbon during tempering. However, the temperature at which retained austenite starts to decompose is unchanged.

Key words: Bearing, steel, Sub-zero, Celsius, treatment, Retained, austenite, Stability

Xiao-Hui Lu, Wei Li, Cheng-Lin Wang, Hong-Shan Zhao, Xue-Jun Jin. Effects of Sub-zero Celsius Treatment and Tempering on the Stability of Retained Austenite in Bearing Steel[J]. Acta Metallurgica Sinica (English Letters), 2015, 28(6): 787-792.

Figures/Tables 6

Fig. 1 Heat treatment processes for GCr15 bearing steel

Fig. 2 SEM images of the specimens after QT and QST treatments, with austenitizing temperatures of 860 and 1150 °C: a 860 °C, QT; b 1150 °C, QT; c 860 °C, QST; d 1150 °C, QST

Table 1 Fraction and mechanical stability of RA for the specimens subjected to different treatments

Treatment	Fraction of RA_i (vol%)	Fraction of RA_f (vol%)	Elongation (%)	k
860QT	13.2	9.4	1.64	20.9
860QST	9.1	8.5	0.87	7.9
920QT	23.7	17.9	0.62	45.4
920QST	11.3	10.2	0.29	35.3
1150QT	23.2	F
1150QST	10.1	F

Fig. 3 a DSC curves of the QT specimen with austenitizing temperature of 860 °C at different heating rates of 5, 10, 15 and 20 °C/min; b determination of activation energy using Kissinger method

Table 2 Phase transformation starting temperature (T s) and exothermic peak temperature (T p) under heating rate of 5 °C/min and activation energy of different specimens

Treatment	T _s (°C)	T _p (°C)	Fraction of RA (vol%)	Activation energy (kJ/mol)
860QT	251	276	13.2	126.4 ± 0.15
860QST	252	275	9.1	129.3 ± 0.15
920QT	256	283	23.7	128.6 ± 0.15
920QST	255	285	11.3	130.2 ± 0.15
1150QT	262	290	23.2	131.8 ± 0.15
1150QST	261	290	10.1	136.5 ± 0.15

Fig. 4 Compressive stress in retained austenite of different specimens

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