Abstract

Analysis of the evolutions of the localmechanical properties through the carbon-enriched sub-surface of a cemented steel bar using image analysis

Author(s): Patrice Berthod

Some piecesmade of carbon steelmay be easilymodified about their surface and sub-surfacemicrostructure by carbon enrichment and inwards diffusion at high temperature, for example by applying the cementation technique. After this operation and cooling from the austenitic domain down to room temperature these pieces are usually characterized by an outermicrostructure containing hard phases and compound (pro-eutectoid cementite and pearlite) while the bulkÂ’s microstructure has become the initial one (ferritic or ferriticpearlitic) since not reached by the added carbon atoms. Thus the improved wear resistance of the outer part of the piece is not accompanied by any loss of ductility, impact toughness or resistance against cracks propagation. For a more complete knowledge of the evolution of the overall mechanical behaviour from surface to the pieceÂ’s centre it is possible to use Nital etching (colouring pearlite in grey and letting bright both free cementite and ferrite) and image analysis to quantify the microstructure evolution and then the new carbon distribution. That is what was undertaken here for a cemented carbon steel bar, with in parallel a study of the evolution of mechanical properties of several carbon steels in order to get laws of variation, on the carbon content, of hardness, ultimate tensile strength and rupture strain. The combination of the two works led to specify the local values of the three above properties and then their evolution through the cemented bar under study, mechanical data which can be of importance for further mechanicalmodelization calculations.