The Influences of Nb Microalloying and Grain Refinement Thermal Cycling on Microstructure and Tribological Properties of Armox 500T
This study aims to investigate the combined effect of niobium (Nb) microalloying and austenite grain refinement, using a specific heat treatment cycle, on the microstructure and tribological properties of Armox 500T steel. In this work, Nb addition and thermal cycling were utilized for grain refinem...
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| author | Mervat Youssef Eman H. El-Shenawy Wael Khair-Eldeen Tadaharu Adachi Adel Nofal Mohsen A. Hassan |
| author_facet | Mervat Youssef Eman H. El-Shenawy Wael Khair-Eldeen Tadaharu Adachi Adel Nofal Mohsen A. Hassan |
| author_sort | Mervat Youssef |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | This study aims to investigate the combined effect of niobium (Nb) microalloying and austenite grain refinement, using a specific heat treatment cycle, on the microstructure and tribological properties of Armox 500T steel. In this work, Nb addition and thermal cycling were utilized for grain refinement and enhancement of the mechanical properties of Armox 500T alloy, to provide improved protection via lightweight armor steel components with a high strength-to-weight ratio. The kinetics of transformation of the developed Armox alloys were studied using JMATPro version 13.2. The samples were subjected to two austenitizing temperatures, 1000 °C and 1100 °C, followed by 4 min of holding time and three consecutive thermal and rapid-quenching processes from 900 °C to room temperature. Scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive X-ray analysis (SEM-EDX) was employed to analyze the microstructure, which primarily consists of four types of martensite: short and long lath martensite, blocky martensite, and equiaxed martensite. Additionally, a small percentage (not exceeding 3%) of carbide precipitates was observed. The wear characteristics of the investigated alloys were evaluated using a pin-on-disc tribometer. The results demonstrate that alloying with Nb and grain refinement using a thermal cycle significantly reduce the wear rate. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T01:47:16Z |
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| id | doaj.art-bb08fdd41d664ea4a3a72dd88548b756 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1996-1944 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T01:47:16Z |
| publishDate | 2023-12-01 |
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| spelling | doaj.art-bb08fdd41d664ea4a3a72dd88548b7562023-12-08T15:21:26ZengMDPI AGMaterials1996-19442023-12-011623748510.3390/ma16237485The Influences of Nb Microalloying and Grain Refinement Thermal Cycling on Microstructure and Tribological Properties of Armox 500TMervat Youssef0Eman H. El-Shenawy1Wael Khair-Eldeen2Tadaharu Adachi3Adel Nofal4Mohsen A. Hassan5School of Innovative Design Engineering (IDE), Egypt-Japan University of Science and Technology (E-JUST), Alexandria 21934, EgyptPlastic Deformation Department, Metal Technology Institute, Central Metallurgical Research and Development Institute (CMRDI), Cairo 11912, EgyptSchool of Innovative Design Engineering (IDE), Egypt-Japan University of Science and Technology (E-JUST), Alexandria 21934, EgyptDepartment of Mechanical Engineering, Toyohashi University of Technology (TUT), Aichi 441-8122, JapanMetal Casting Department, Manufacturing Technology Institute, Central Metallurgical Research and Development Institute (CMRDI), Cairo 11912, EgyptSchool of Innovative Design Engineering (IDE), Egypt-Japan University of Science and Technology (E-JUST), Alexandria 21934, EgyptThis study aims to investigate the combined effect of niobium (Nb) microalloying and austenite grain refinement, using a specific heat treatment cycle, on the microstructure and tribological properties of Armox 500T steel. In this work, Nb addition and thermal cycling were utilized for grain refinement and enhancement of the mechanical properties of Armox 500T alloy, to provide improved protection via lightweight armor steel components with a high strength-to-weight ratio. The kinetics of transformation of the developed Armox alloys were studied using JMATPro version 13.2. The samples were subjected to two austenitizing temperatures, 1000 °C and 1100 °C, followed by 4 min of holding time and three consecutive thermal and rapid-quenching processes from 900 °C to room temperature. Scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive X-ray analysis (SEM-EDX) was employed to analyze the microstructure, which primarily consists of four types of martensite: short and long lath martensite, blocky martensite, and equiaxed martensite. Additionally, a small percentage (not exceeding 3%) of carbide precipitates was observed. The wear characteristics of the investigated alloys were evaluated using a pin-on-disc tribometer. The results demonstrate that alloying with Nb and grain refinement using a thermal cycle significantly reduce the wear rate.https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/16/23/7485Armox 500TNb microalloyingheat treatmentgrain refinementsurface textureAbbott–Firestone curve |
| spellingShingle | Mervat Youssef Eman H. El-Shenawy Wael Khair-Eldeen Tadaharu Adachi Adel Nofal Mohsen A. Hassan The Influences of Nb Microalloying and Grain Refinement Thermal Cycling on Microstructure and Tribological Properties of Armox 500T Materials Armox 500T Nb microalloying heat treatment grain refinement surface texture Abbott–Firestone curve |
| title | The Influences of Nb Microalloying and Grain Refinement Thermal Cycling on Microstructure and Tribological Properties of Armox 500T |
| title_full | The Influences of Nb Microalloying and Grain Refinement Thermal Cycling on Microstructure and Tribological Properties of Armox 500T |
| title_fullStr | The Influences of Nb Microalloying and Grain Refinement Thermal Cycling on Microstructure and Tribological Properties of Armox 500T |
| title_full_unstemmed | The Influences of Nb Microalloying and Grain Refinement Thermal Cycling on Microstructure and Tribological Properties of Armox 500T |
| title_short | The Influences of Nb Microalloying and Grain Refinement Thermal Cycling on Microstructure and Tribological Properties of Armox 500T |
| title_sort | influences of nb microalloying and grain refinement thermal cycling on microstructure and tribological properties of armox 500t |
| topic | Armox 500T Nb microalloying heat treatment grain refinement surface texture Abbott–Firestone curve |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/16/23/7485 |
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