EffectofMicrostructureandFatiguePropertieson.pdfVIP

Effect of Case Carburizing on Mechanical Properties And Fatigue Endurance Limits of P/M Steels George Fillari*, Thomas Murphy*, Igor Gabrielov** *Hoeganaes Corporation Cinnaminson, NJ 08077 **Borg Warner Automotive Livonia, MI 48150 ABSTRACT Case carburizing has long been a basic technique for the improvement of the wear and fatigue resistance and of PM steel components. The key to the successful improvement in carburizing, however, is understanding, and interpreting the microstructure of the carburized case. The main area for growth in the PM industry is in the high performance gearing applications. The success of penetrating this area depends upon the ability to understand the key components that effect the fatigue endurance limits of PM materials. This paper will examine and illustrate how tensile properties and the fatigue endurance limits of a P/M hybrid alloy are affected by alloying additions and carburizing. INTRODUCTION Carburizing is the addition of carbon to the surface of low-carbon steels at temperatures generally between 850 °C and 950 °C (1560 °F and 1740 °F), at which austenite, with its high solubility for carbon, is the stable crystal structure. Hardening is accomplished when the high-carbon surface layer is quenched to form martensite so that a high-carbon martensitic case with good wear and fatigue resistance is superimposed on a tough, low-carbon steel core. [1] Case depth of carburized steel is a function of carburizing time and the available carbon potential at the surface. [2] When prolonged carburizing times are used for deep case depths, a high carbon potential produces a high surface-carbon content, which may thus result in excessive retained austenite or free carbides. These two microstructural elements both have