Effect of quenching media on wear resistance of AISI 52100 bearing steel alloy

Abstract EN

A study has been made to evaluate wear behavior of AISI 52100 steel under different quenching media.

This investigation was accomplished by two stages.

In the first stage of the study, quenching treatment was applied to the steel alloy and then cooling was carried out in various media (Oil, Polyvinyl Alcohol, Glycerol), and finally low temperature tempering (200 Co) was applied to the quenched samples to eliminate internal stresses after transformation from austenization temperature to the temperature which the samples were cooled.

Microstructural examination was achieve using light microscopic for all heat treated specimens after metallographic preparations.

In the second stage, pin-on-disk technique was used to determine the wear rate of the treated specimens depending on weight loss method.

Worn surfaces of the steels were examined using light microscopic to characterize the topography of the surfaces The results exhibited that (i) Martensitic matrices with retained austenite can be obtained depending on the quenching medium.

(ii) Chromium carbides have been precipitated as a result of quenching heat treatment in different quenchants.

(iii) Quenching in oil and then tempering revealed wear resistance more than other quenchants.

(iv) wear cracks were presented on the worn surfaces of the steels which was used in this work.