Investigation of Microstructure of Differently Sub-Zero Treated Vanadis 6 Steel
Ledeburitic tool steel Vanadis 6 has been subjected to sub-zero treatment (SZT) at -140 °C and -196 °C, for different durations up to 48 h. The microstructure and hardness have been examined with reference to the same material after room temperature quenching, by using the light microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, and Vickers hardness testing method. The microstructure of the material consists of the martensitic matrix with certain amount of retained austenite, and of several types of carbides – eutectic carbides, secondary carbides, and small globular carbides. SZT reduces the retained austenite amount – this is more effective at -196 °C than at -140 °C. Alternatively, the amount of small globular carbides increases more rapidly after SZT at -140 °C than after the treatment at -140 °C. The hardness of sub-zero treated material is higher than that of conventionally treated steel when tempered at low temperature. Compressive hydrostatic stresses are developed in the retained austenite due to the application of SZT, as a result of more complete martensitic transformation. This is also why the population density of small globular carbides is substantially increased due to the SZT. In contrast, the hardness of sub-zero treated samples decreases more rapidly compared to that of conventionally treated steel, and in addition, sub-zero treated material induces a loss the secondary hardening peak.
[1] P. Jurči, “Sub-Zero Treatment of Cold Work Tool Steels – Metallurgical Background and the Effect on Microstructure and Properties,” in HTM Journal of Heat Treatment and Materials, 72, 2017, pp. 62–68.
[2] P. Jurči, M. Dománková, Ľ. Čaplovič, J. Ptačinová, J. Sobotová, P. Salabová, O. Prikner, B. Šuštaršič, and D. Jenko, “Microstructure and hardness of sub-zero treated and no tempered P/M Vanadis 6 ledeburitic tool steel,” in Vacuum, vol. 111., 2015, pp. 92-101.
[3] D. Das, and K. K. Ray, “Structure-property correlation of sub-zero treated AISI D2 steel,” in Mater. Sci. Engng, A541, 2012, pp. 45–60.
[4] C. H. Surberg, P. Stratton, and K. Lingenhoele, “The effect of some heat treatment parameters on the dimensional stability of AISI D2,” in Cryogenics, 48, 2008, pp. 42–47.
[5] H. Berns, “Restaustenit in ledeburitischen Chromstählen und seine Umwandlung durch Kaltumformen, Tiefkühlen und Anlassen,” in HTM, 29 (4), 1974, pp. 236–247.
[6] A. Akhbarizadeh, A. Shafyei, and M. A. Golozar, “Effects of cryogenic treatment on wear behaviour of D6 tool steel,” in Mater. Des. 30, 2009, pp. 3259–3264.
[7] D. Das, A. K., Dutta, and K. K. Ray, “Influence of varied cryotreatment on the wear behaviour of AISI D2 steel,” in Wear, 266, 2009, pp. 297–309.
[8] D. Das, A. K., Dutta, and K. K. Ray, “Sub-zero treatments of AISI D2 steel: Part II. Wear behaviour,” in Mater. Sci. Engng., A527, 2010, pp. 2194–2206.
[9] J. Sobotová, P. Jurči, and I. Dlouhý, “The effect of subzero treatment on microstructure, fracture toughness, and wear resistance of Vanadis 6 tool steel,” in Mater. Sci. Engng., A652, 2016, pp. 192-204.
[10] J. Ptačinová, V. Sedlická, M. Hudáková, I. Dlouhý, and P. Jurči, “Microstructure - Toughness relationships in sub-zero treated and tempered Vanadis 6 steel compared to conventional treatment,” in Materials science and engineering., Section A. Structural materials. Properties, microstructure and processing, Vol. 702, 15. August (2017), pp. 241-258. ISSN 0921-5093.
[11] D. L. Mohan, S. Renganarayanan, and A. Kalanihidi, “Cryogenic treatment to augment wear resistance of tool and die steels,” in Cryogenics 2001, 41, pp. 149 – 155.
[12] T.P. Sweeney, “Deep cryogenics: the great cold debate,” in Heat Treating 2 (1986), pp. 28 – 33.
[13] T. Yugandhar, P. K. Krishnan, C. V. Bhaskar Rao, and R. Kalidas, “Cryogenic Treatment and its Effect on Tool Steel,” in: J. Bergstrom, G. Fredriksson, M. Johansson, O. Kotik, F. Thuvander (Eds.), proc. of the 6th Int. Tooling Conf., Karlstad, Sweden. September 10 – 13, 2002, Karlstad University, pp. 671 - 684.
[14] W. Reitz, and J. Pendray, “Cryoprocessing of Materials: A Review of Current Status,” in Mater. Manuf. Process. 16(6) (2001), pp. 829 – 840.
[15] V. G. Gavriljuk, W. Theisen, V. V. Sirosh, E. V. Polshin, A. Kortmann, G. S. Mogilny, Yu. N. Petrov, and Y. V. Tarusin, “Low-temperature martensitic transformation in tool steels in relation to their deep cryogenic treatment,” in Acta Mater. 2013, 61, pp. 1705 – 1715.
[16] Z. Zurecki, “Cryogenic Quenching of Steel Revisited,” in: D. Herring, R. Hill (Eds.), proc. of the 23rd ASM Heat Treating Society Conference, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA, September 25 – 28, 2006, pp. 106 - 113.
[17] ASTM, “E975-13: Standard Practice for X-Ray Determination of Retained Aus- tenite in Steel with Near Random Crystallographic Orientation,” in ASTM Book of Standards, vol. 3.01, West Conshohocken, PA, USA, 2004.
[18] P. Jurči, M. Kusý, J. Ptačinová, V. Kuracina, and P. Priknerová, “Long-term Sub-zero Treatment of P/M Vanadis 6 Ledeburitic Tool Steel – a Preliminary Study,” in Manufacturing Technology, Vol. 15, No. 1, February 2015, pp. 41-47.
[19] Vanadis 6 Super Clean – “High performance powder metallurgical cold work tool steel,” www.uddeholm.com
[20] D. Das, A.K. Dutta, and K.K. Ray, “Sub-zero treatments of AISI D2 steel: Part I. Microstructure and hardness,” in Mater. Sci. Engng. 2010, A527, pp. 2182 – 2193.
[21] M. Villa, K. Pantleon, and M. A.J. Somers, “Evolution of compressive strains in retained austenite during sub-zero Celsius martensite formation and tempering,” in Acta Mater., Vol. 65, 15 February 2014, pp. 383-392
[22] M. Pellizzari, and A. Molinari, “Deep Cryogenic Treatment of Cold Work Tool Steel,” In: Proc. of the 6th Int. Tooling Conf., Karlstad, Sweden. September 10 – 13, 2002, Eds. J. Bergstrom, G. Fredriksson, M. Johansson, O. Kotik, F. Thuvander, Karlstad University, pp. 547 - 558.
[23] D.N. Collins, and J. Dormer, “Deep Cryogenic Treatment of a D2 Cold-Work Tool Steel,” in Heat Treatment of Metals 1997, 24, pp. 71 - 74.
[24] D. Das, A.K. Dutta, V. Toppo, and K.K. Ray, “Effect of deep cryogenic treatment on the carbide precipitation and tribological behavior of D2 steel,” in Materials and Manufacturing Processes, 2007, 22, pp. 474 – 480.
[25] D. N. Collins, “Deep cryogenic treatment of tool steels - a review,” in Heat treatment of metals. 1996, 2, pp. 40 – 42.
[26] F. Meng, K. Tagashira, R. Azuma, and H. Sohma, “Role of Eta-carbide Precipitation´s in the Wear Resistance Improvements of Fe-12Cr-Mo-V-1,4C Tool Steel by Cryogenic Treatment,” in ISIJ Int., Vol. 34, pp. 205-210.
[1] P. Jurči, “Sub-Zero Treatment of Cold Work Tool Steels – Metallurgical Background and the Effect on Microstructure and Properties,” in HTM Journal of Heat Treatment and Materials, 72, 2017, pp. 62–68.
[2] P. Jurči, M. Dománková, Ľ. Čaplovič, J. Ptačinová, J. Sobotová, P. Salabová, O. Prikner, B. Šuštaršič, and D. Jenko, “Microstructure and hardness of sub-zero treated and no tempered P/M Vanadis 6 ledeburitic tool steel,” in Vacuum, vol. 111., 2015, pp. 92-101.
[3] D. Das, and K. K. Ray, “Structure-property correlation of sub-zero treated AISI D2 steel,” in Mater. Sci. Engng, A541, 2012, pp. 45–60.
[4] C. H. Surberg, P. Stratton, and K. Lingenhoele, “The effect of some heat treatment parameters on the dimensional stability of AISI D2,” in Cryogenics, 48, 2008, pp. 42–47.
[5] H. Berns, “Restaustenit in ledeburitischen Chromstählen und seine Umwandlung durch Kaltumformen, Tiefkühlen und Anlassen,” in HTM, 29 (4), 1974, pp. 236–247.
[6] A. Akhbarizadeh, A. Shafyei, and M. A. Golozar, “Effects of cryogenic treatment on wear behaviour of D6 tool steel,” in Mater. Des. 30, 2009, pp. 3259–3264.
[7] D. Das, A. K., Dutta, and K. K. Ray, “Influence of varied cryotreatment on the wear behaviour of AISI D2 steel,” in Wear, 266, 2009, pp. 297–309.
[8] D. Das, A. K., Dutta, and K. K. Ray, “Sub-zero treatments of AISI D2 steel: Part II. Wear behaviour,” in Mater. Sci. Engng., A527, 2010, pp. 2194–2206.
[9] J. Sobotová, P. Jurči, and I. Dlouhý, “The effect of subzero treatment on microstructure, fracture toughness, and wear resistance of Vanadis 6 tool steel,” in Mater. Sci. Engng., A652, 2016, pp. 192-204.
[10] J. Ptačinová, V. Sedlická, M. Hudáková, I. Dlouhý, and P. Jurči, “Microstructure - Toughness relationships in sub-zero treated and tempered Vanadis 6 steel compared to conventional treatment,” in Materials science and engineering., Section A. Structural materials. Properties, microstructure and processing, Vol. 702, 15. August (2017), pp. 241-258. ISSN 0921-5093.
[11] D. L. Mohan, S. Renganarayanan, and A. Kalanihidi, “Cryogenic treatment to augment wear resistance of tool and die steels,” in Cryogenics 2001, 41, pp. 149 – 155.
[12] T.P. Sweeney, “Deep cryogenics: the great cold debate,” in Heat Treating 2 (1986), pp. 28 – 33.
[13] T. Yugandhar, P. K. Krishnan, C. V. Bhaskar Rao, and R. Kalidas, “Cryogenic Treatment and its Effect on Tool Steel,” in: J. Bergstrom, G. Fredriksson, M. Johansson, O. Kotik, F. Thuvander (Eds.), proc. of the 6th Int. Tooling Conf., Karlstad, Sweden. September 10 – 13, 2002, Karlstad University, pp. 671 - 684.
[14] W. Reitz, and J. Pendray, “Cryoprocessing of Materials: A Review of Current Status,” in Mater. Manuf. Process. 16(6) (2001), pp. 829 – 840.
[15] V. G. Gavriljuk, W. Theisen, V. V. Sirosh, E. V. Polshin, A. Kortmann, G. S. Mogilny, Yu. N. Petrov, and Y. V. Tarusin, “Low-temperature martensitic transformation in tool steels in relation to their deep cryogenic treatment,” in Acta Mater. 2013, 61, pp. 1705 – 1715.
[16] Z. Zurecki, “Cryogenic Quenching of Steel Revisited,” in: D. Herring, R. Hill (Eds.), proc. of the 23rd ASM Heat Treating Society Conference, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA, September 25 – 28, 2006, pp. 106 - 113.
[17] ASTM, “E975-13: Standard Practice for X-Ray Determination of Retained Aus- tenite in Steel with Near Random Crystallographic Orientation,” in ASTM Book of Standards, vol. 3.01, West Conshohocken, PA, USA, 2004.
[18] P. Jurči, M. Kusý, J. Ptačinová, V. Kuracina, and P. Priknerová, “Long-term Sub-zero Treatment of P/M Vanadis 6 Ledeburitic Tool Steel – a Preliminary Study,” in Manufacturing Technology, Vol. 15, No. 1, February 2015, pp. 41-47.
[19] Vanadis 6 Super Clean – “High performance powder metallurgical cold work tool steel,” www.uddeholm.com
[20] D. Das, A.K. Dutta, and K.K. Ray, “Sub-zero treatments of AISI D2 steel: Part I. Microstructure and hardness,” in Mater. Sci. Engng. 2010, A527, pp. 2182 – 2193.
[21] M. Villa, K. Pantleon, and M. A.J. Somers, “Evolution of compressive strains in retained austenite during sub-zero Celsius martensite formation and tempering,” in Acta Mater., Vol. 65, 15 February 2014, pp. 383-392
[22] M. Pellizzari, and A. Molinari, “Deep Cryogenic Treatment of Cold Work Tool Steel,” In: Proc. of the 6th Int. Tooling Conf., Karlstad, Sweden. September 10 – 13, 2002, Eds. J. Bergstrom, G. Fredriksson, M. Johansson, O. Kotik, F. Thuvander, Karlstad University, pp. 547 - 558.
[23] D.N. Collins, and J. Dormer, “Deep Cryogenic Treatment of a D2 Cold-Work Tool Steel,” in Heat Treatment of Metals 1997, 24, pp. 71 - 74.
[24] D. Das, A.K. Dutta, V. Toppo, and K.K. Ray, “Effect of deep cryogenic treatment on the carbide precipitation and tribological behavior of D2 steel,” in Materials and Manufacturing Processes, 2007, 22, pp. 474 – 480.
[25] D. N. Collins, “Deep cryogenic treatment of tool steels - a review,” in Heat treatment of metals. 1996, 2, pp. 40 – 42.
[26] F. Meng, K. Tagashira, R. Azuma, and H. Sohma, “Role of Eta-carbide Precipitation´s in the Wear Resistance Improvements of Fe-12Cr-Mo-V-1,4C Tool Steel by Cryogenic Treatment,” in ISIJ Int., Vol. 34, pp. 205-210.
@article{"International Journal of Chemical, Materials and Biomolecular Sciences:77472", author = "J. Ptačinová and J. Ďurica and P. Jurči and M Kusý", title = "Investigation of Microstructure of Differently Sub-Zero Treated Vanadis 6 Steel", abstract = "Ledeburitic tool steel Vanadis 6 has been subjected to sub-zero treatment (SZT) at -140 °C and -196 °C, for different durations up to 48 h. The microstructure and hardness have been examined with reference to the same material after room temperature quenching, by using the light microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, and Vickers hardness testing method. The microstructure of the material consists of the martensitic matrix with certain amount of retained austenite, and of several types of carbides – eutectic carbides, secondary carbides, and small globular carbides. SZT reduces the retained austenite amount – this is more effective at -196 °C than at -140 °C. Alternatively, the amount of small globular carbides increases more rapidly after SZT at -140 °C than after the treatment at -140 °C. The hardness of sub-zero treated material is higher than that of conventionally treated steel when tempered at low temperature. Compressive hydrostatic stresses are developed in the retained austenite due to the application of SZT, as a result of more complete martensitic transformation. This is also why the population density of small globular carbides is substantially increased due to the SZT. In contrast, the hardness of sub-zero treated samples decreases more rapidly compared to that of conventionally treated steel, and in addition, sub-zero treated material induces a loss the secondary hardening peak.
", keywords = "Microstructure, Vanadis 6 tool steel, sub-zero treatment, carbides.", volume = "12", number = "6", pages = "257-6", }
