Improving Properties of Tool Steels by Method of Dynamic Alloying

Abstract

The influence of high-speed particle fluxes on changes in the structure and properties of materials has been widely studied currently. The effect exerted by particles moving at very high speeds can have both negative (in spacecrafts) and positive character (dynamic processing of tool steels). Therefore a task for studying an effect of high-speed particle flows on structure change in tool steels and improving their performance properties has been set in the paper. The study has used an explosive method for creation of a high-speed flow of SiC + Ni and Al2O3 particles. Samples after dynamic alloying have been subjected to diffusion nitriding. Microstructure of specimens made of X12M, R18, R6M5K5steel has been studied using optical and electron metallography. Wear resistance of the samples has been also tested on a friction machine. Theoretical and experimental results on a complex effect of high-speed microparticle flows and nitriding on a structure and properties of tool steels have been obtained during the research. It has been established that dynamic alloying by particles leads to formation of a specific structure in a composite material reinforced with channels. Central fiber (channel) zone with powder particles residues is surrounded by areas of amorphous state which is succeeded by a zone with a nanocrystalline fragmented cellular structure. Then we observe a zone with a microcrystalline structure that transits to a zone with crystalline structure which is characteristic for a matrix material of structural steel. The obtained data can expand and complement some ideas about mechanisms for dynamic loading of solids and condensed matter, plastic deformation, physical mechanics of structurally inhomogeneous media at different levels, a number of effects arising from collision and ultra-deep penetration of microparticles into metals. It has been shown that wear resistance of high-speed steel subjected to dynamic alloying in the quenched state is increased by 1.2 times in comparison with wear resistance of steel alloyed in the annealing state.