The effect of cryogenic treatment on dry sliding wear mechanisms in hard coatings

Purpose The effect of cryogenic heat treatment on the mechanical properties of different materials has been frequently investigated by researchers in recent years. The purpose of this paper is to investigate wear behaviour of monolayer, multilayer and nanocomposite coatings after cryogenic heat treatment. It is a first in its field in terms of both the heat treatment used and the coatings examined. Design/methodology/approach The aCN/TiAlN, TiAlN and ncTiAlSiN hard coatings deposited on the AISI D2 steel substrate were subjected to cryogenic heat treatment at −145oC and −196oC for 24 h and then tempered at 200oC for 2 h. Then, the samples were subjected to wear tests of 5, 10 and 15 N three different load values. The wear mechanisms occurring on the wear surfaces were determined by scanning electron microscope supported by EDS. Findings Oxidation, fatigue and delamination wear mechanisms were realized on the surfaces of the samples subjected to dry sliding wear test. The wear resistance of S1 increased with cryogenic heat treatment. According to the wear test results of the untreated samples, it was found that the samples with lower hardness than the others had higher wear resistance. The wear resistance of S1 and S2 samples was increased by cryogenic heat treatment. The best wear resistance in all parameters was obtained by S1. Oxidation in the S1 was found to have a positive effect on wear resistance. According to EDS results after wear of S2, chromium-rich layer was found on the surface of the material. It is understood that cryogenic heat treatment causes carbide precipitation in the inner structure of the substrate material. Originality/value The effect of cryogenic heat treatment on the mechanical properties of different materials has been frequently investigated by researchers in recent years. In this study, wear behaviour of monolayer, multilayer and nanocomposite coatings after cryogenic heat treatment was investigated. It is a first in its field in terms of both the heat treatment used and the coatings examined. Peer review The peer review history for this article is available at: https://publons.com/publon/10.1108/ILT-03-2020-0111/

Study of α”-Martensitic Transformation in Ti35NbxSn Alloys Subjected to Cryogenic Heat Treatment

TiNbSn alloys have been extensively researched due to several properties they exhibit, including high mechanical strength, low elastic modulus, superelasticity, shape memory effect, biocompatibility. The present study evaluated the cryogenic heat treatment in the Ti35NbxSn alloys (x = 0.0; 2.5; 5.0; 7.5). The alloys were arc melted, cold formed and quenched in both water and liquid nitrogen at-198° C. The Ti35Nb2.5Sn alloy was also aged after exposed to both quenching medium. Microstructure and microhardness analyses were performed. Cryogenic treatment was not enough for transformation of primary β phase into martensitic α” in alloys containing 5 and 7.5% Sn. Cryogenic treatment provided β to α” transformation in alloys containing 0 and 2.5% Sn. The Sn-free alloy was more likely to α" transformation in both quenching medium. The alloys microhardness increased with decrease of both quenching temperature and Sn content. The increase of α" is also related to the increase of the alloy microhardness after aging.

Cryogenic heat treatment — a review of the current state

The deep cryogenic heat treatment is an old and effective heat treatment, performed on steels and cast irons to improve the wear resistance and hardness. This process includes cooling down to the liquid nitrogen temperature, holding the samples at that temperature and heating at the room temperature. The benefits of this process are significant on the ferrous materials, but recently some studies focused on other nonferrous materials. This study attempts to clarify the different behavior of some materials subjected to the deep cryogenic heat treatment, as well as explaining the common theories about the effect of the cryogenic heat treatment on these materials. Results showed that polymers exhibit different behavior regarding to their crystallinity, however the magnesium alloys, titanium alloys and tungsten carbide show a noticeable improvement after the deep cryogenic heat treatment due to their crystal structure.