Effects of Heating and Quenching Processing Parameters on Phase Transformation of 55CrMo Steel.

Microstructure and mechanical properties after induction hardening have a significant effect on the wear resistance performance and lifetime of 55CrMo steel ball screw. In the paper, the dilatometric curves were recorded at the different heating rate by a Gleeble-1500D thermo-mechanical simulator to determine the effect of heating rate on the austenitizing temperature of 55CrMo steel. Heat treatment of some specimens was performed by the Gleeble-1500D thermal simulator at the different heating temperature, holding time and cooling rate to investigate the effect of induction hardening parameters on the phase transformation, microstructure and microhardness of 55CrMo steel. Microstructure of specimen was analyzed using an optical microscope and a scanning electron microscope. Volume fraction of retained austenite was measured using an x-ray diffractometer. The mechanical properties were evaluated by a microhardness tester. The results show that the austenitizing temperature of 55CrMo steel increases with the increasing heating rate. Increasing the heating temperature, holding time and cooling rate of specimen is helpful in obtaining a uniform cryptocrystalline martensite. Volume fraction of retained austenite is less as the heating temperature is in the range of 900-950 °C. In the induction hardening of 55CrMo steel, the heating temperature should be in the range of 900-1000 °C. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]