Tempering Effects on Hardness and Wear Behaviors of 420 Martensitic Stainless Steel

Abstract

This study examined the impact of thermal tempering on the hardness and wear resistance of martensitic stainless steel AISI 420.  We used XRD, SEM, and EDS to look at the structure, and Vickers hardness and dry sliding wear tests to look at the mechanical performance.  The results showed that tempering at 350 °C for 90 minutes caused carbide precipitation and coarsening, but the martensitic matrix nevertheless stayed the same.  After tempering, the hardness went up a little, but the wear resistance went down a lot, as shown by the increased material loss under frictional loading.  This apparent disparity highlights the intricate interplay between hardness and wear behaviour in martensitic stainless steels, where microstructural changes and carbide dispersion are crucial factors.