STUDIES ON THE HIGH TEMPERATURE PROPERTIES OF DUPLEX-TREATED AISI H13 STEEL

STUDIES ON THE HIGH TEMPERATURE PROPERTIES OF DUPLEX-TREATED AISI H13 STEEL

In oder to improve the wear resistance as well as oxidation resistance at high temperature a AISI H13 steel was treated by a duplex process of calorizing followed by plasma nitriding. The surface properties of the duplex-treated AISI H13 steel was characterized and compared with those treated by single surface process of calorizing and plasma nitriding, in terms of microstruture, microhardness, wear resistance at $500^{\circ}C$, and the oxidation behaviours at $700^{\circ}C$, Duplex process on H13 steel had created duplex layer of approximately $190\mu\textrm{m}$ on the surface, and surface microhardness was measured to be above 1450Hv(0.1Kgf). There was considerable improvement of the high temperature wear resistance at $500^{\circ}C$ in the duplex-treated steel when both wear volume and weight change due to oxidation were considered. In addition the duplex-treated steel showed an improved high temperature oxidation resistance than the plasma nitrided steel at $700^{\circ}C$.