International Journal of Metalcasting, sa.-, ss.1-14, 2024 (SCI-Expanded)
The focus of this work is the effect of heat treatment temperature
upon the microstructure, hardness, wear and friction
of high manganese steel produced in an industrial
setting. The obtained steels were subjected to two heat
treatments, one at 1050 C and the other at 1100 C followed
by water quenching. The microstructures were characterized
by optical microscopy and scanning electron
microscopy equipped with an energy-dispersive spectrometer.
Rockwell C hardness and Vickers microhardness were
also measured. Wear behavior in dry conditions was investigated
under a load of 300 N using pin-on-disk method.
Tribological behavior in boundary lubricated conditions
under a load of 60 N at high temperature (100 C) was
studied using a custom-made reciprocating tribometer by
measuring the mass loss and the friction coefficient. A 5W-40
engine oil was used as lubricant. Atomic force microscopy
(AFM) analysis and roughness 2D and 3D of the tested
samples were measured. The obtained results showed that in
the as-cast state, the added elements favored the formation of
simple or complex inter- and intragranular carbides. In the
heat-treated state, the microstructure of the examined steels
consists of retained austenite, martensite and precipitates.
Increasing of heat treatment temperature increases the rate
of the formed martensite. Formation of secondary carbides
and increasing of martensite amount led to the improvement
of hardness and wear resistance.