The Effect of Heat Treatment on the Microstructure and Hardness of an Austenitic Matrix of High-Manganese Cast Steel with the Addition of Molybdenum
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.24425/afe.2025.155351Abstract
The greatest influence on the wear of tool steel has its microstructure, which depends on the chemical composition and heat treatment. The presence of carbides in the alloy matrix is not always desirable and can have an adverse effect on the wear mechanism of this material, resulting in the formation of stresses and even cracks during operation. Therefore, it is necessary to apply heat treatment, which makes the microstructure homogeneous or allows for the precipitation of secondary carbides strengthening the matrix. The main aim of this study is to examine the effect of molybdenum addition on the structure and microhardness of high-manganese cast steel in the as-cast state and after heat treatment. The as-cast microstructure consists of a high-manganese austenitic matrix with molybdenum carbides and alloy ledeburite distributed at grain boundaries. As a result of solution heat treatment, only the alloy ledeburite is dissolved. The result of aging is not the precipitation of secondary molybdenum carbides but of alloy cementite. Raising the temperature or extending the time of solution heat treatment changes the hardness of austenite to a very small degree only, and the decrease in hardness becomes less significant with the increasing addition of molybdenum. Extending the tempering time has a similar effect, and changes in the hardness decrease are less pronounced.References
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