Comparison of slip-rolling behaviour between 20MnCr5 gear steel, 36NiCrMoV1-5-7 hot working tool steel and 45SiCrMo6 spring steel

The automotive industry places significant importance on downsizing components to achieve greater efficiency. The goal of reducing CO2 emissions has led to the development of lightweight materials that are also able to enhance performance. In light of these aspirations, the aim of this study is to characterize two novel, high-performance steels, as well as a “classical” gear steel for comparison with each other and currently applied materials. The gear steel underwent carburization and subsequent deep freezing treatments in an attempt to yield discrete sample groups with respect to residual austenite. The high-performance steels were heat treated as recommended by their respective manufacturers, and were not carburized. Elemental analyses were conducted by multiple methods to ensure accurate results. Residual austenite contents of the steels and the depth profiles of residual stresses were determined by X-ray diffraction (XRD). Hardness profiles were taken from the testing surfaces into the material core. The carburization of 20MnCr5 led to higher hardness and the greater concentration of carbon in the carburization zone more representative of a hardened SAE E52100, or 100Cr6/102Cr6, than of a non-carburized 20MnCr5. Residual austenite contents ranging from approximately 6-14 vol% were generated, though effectively providing only two, rather than the desired four discrete sample groups. Residual stresses from machining and carburization were measured directly at the sample surface, and from carburization alone below the surface. The high-performance steels fulfilled manufacturer expectations in terms of elemental content, hardness between 50 and 55 HRC and strongly martensitic microstructure character. Finally, slip-rolling endurance testing (T=+120 °C, 10,000,000 cycles, approximately 19 days in a factory fill engine oil) was carried out on all materials, whereby coefficient of friction distributions during testing and wear coefficients after testing were calculated. Testing was performed up to and including P0Mean=1.94 GPa (P0Max=2.91 GPa, FN=2000 N). Ultimately, the non-carburized high-performance steels showed competitive wear performance and better friction behaviour than the carburized 20MnCr5, which has been attributed to their work hardening capability.