Influence of Cryogenic Treatment on Microstructure and Properties Improvement of Die Steel

Abstract

Cryogenic treatment has been increasingly applied to enhance the hardness, antiwear ability andfatigue performance of die steel. On the basis of reading a large number of research papers andreferences across the world, the author makes a detailed analysis and brief summary of the influenceof cryogenic treatment on microstructure after quenching process or quenching plus temperingprocess, on first and second carbides, on content of retained austenite, on surface hardness,on mechanical properties and antiwear ability of die steels. It’s proved that cryogenic treatmenton die steel significantly improves its hardness, antiwear capacity and service life. It’s the cryogenicprocess to make die steel have higher hardness, better antiwear ability, better ductility andlonger service life because cryogenic process actually has a good influence on die steel of its microstructure,retained austenite volume and amount and size of the second carbide.