INVESTIGATION OF THE EFFECTS OF FURNACE, SAND AND WATER COOLING PROCESSES ON THE TRIBOLOGICAL PROPERTIES OF POWDER METAL STEEL WITH ADDED VANADIUM CARBIDE

Abstract

In this study, Vanadium carbide, as well as chromium, molybdenum and tungsten elements, were added to hot work tool steel, which is considered a good wear and erosion resistant material due to its high hardness and fracture toughness. Powder metallurgy (PM) This hot work tool steel, produced by adding vanadium carbide, was heat treated by cooling it in different cooling environments. The effects of different heat treatments applied to the produced alloy on microstructure, hardness and wear properties in dry environments were examined. In this context, during sample production with the PM method, a powder mixer, powder pressing mold, hydraulic press and an atmosphere-controlled sinter furnace were used for the sintering process. Following the PM production process, the samples were subjected to heat treatment. Protherm brand heat treatment furnace was used for heat treatment, Nikon brand optical light microscope for microstructure analysis, Shimadzu brand micro hardness measuring device for hardness measurements, and 4D-ECN model Tribometer device for wear tests. The wear test was carried out under 20N load, 100 meters sliding distance and 0.02 m/s sliding speed. The heat treatment was carried out at 800 °C. After waiting for 1 hour at the austenitizing temperature, the first of the samples was left to cool in water, the second in air, and the third in the oven. Looking at the results, the highest hardness value was measured in the samples cooled in water, while the highest wear area loss was measured in the samples cooled in the oven.