View in EDS

Phase-Transformation-Driven Decarburization and its Cumulative Amplification in Multi-Stage Processing of 55SiCr Spring Steel.

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Title: Phase-Transformation-Driven Decarburization and its Cumulative Amplification in Multi-Stage Processing of 55SiCr Spring Steel.
Authors: Peng, Y. F.1 (AUTHOR), Zhang, L. N.1 (AUTHOR), Wei, C. Y.1 (AUTHOR), Yao, Z.1 (AUTHOR), Zheng, H. X.2 (AUTHOR), Jin, F.3 (AUTHOR), Dong, X. M.3 (AUTHOR), Zhang, Z. H.3 (AUTHOR) zhzhang@baosteel.com, Cao, G. H.1 (AUTHOR) ghcao@shu.edu.cn
Source: High Temperature Corrosion of Materials. Aug2026, Vol. 103 Issue 4, p1-33. 33p.
Subjects: Heat treatment, Carburization, Material fatigue, Oxide coating, Process optimization, Phase transitions, Diffusion kinetics
Abstract: Surface decarburization during heat treatment critically degrades the fatigue performance of 55SiCr spring steel. The present study systematically investigates the decarburization mechanisms and their dependence on process parameters through thermal analysis, metallographic experiments, and process simulation. Three key findings are revealed: (1) Austenitizing temperature controls decarburization by regulating oxide layer characteristics. Within the 1000–1050 °C range, a dense and continuous oxide scale forms that effectively blocks atmospheric ingress, achieving a minimum decarburized layer thickness of approximately 10 μm — a mechanism termed oxidation-induced decarburization suppression, directly confirmed by SEM/EDS analysis. At 1100 °C, the scale becomes highly porous and extensively cracked, losing its protective function. (2) The ferrite-austenite two-phase region (730–740 °C) is identified as a zone susceptible to decarburization. Here, phase transformation causes a sharp drop in carbon solubility in ferrite while the carbon diffusion coefficient increases by nearly two orders of magnitude, collectively triggering rapid carbon depletion. (3) A cumulative amplification effect is uncovered: even slight carbon inhomogeneity from prior processes is magnified during subsequent two-phase region treatment. Quantitative EPMA/WDS carbon profiling provides direct evidence: after re-austenitization in air, a pre-existing decarburized layer results in a cumulative amplification effect, with the near-surface carbon content averaging approximately 0.32 wt% — significantly below the nominal composition of 0.56 wt%. This finding demonstrates that decarburization control must be maintained throughout the entire production chain. Based on these mechanisms, a prevention-avoidance-control strategy is proposed, providing theoretical guidance and process optimization principles for producing spring steel with high surface quality and superior core toughness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Copyright of High Temperature Corrosion of Materials is the property of Springer Nature and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
Database: Engineering Source
FullText Text:
  Availability: 0
Header DbId: egs
DbLabel: Engineering Source
An: 194612021
AccessLevel: 6
PubType: Academic Journal
PubTypeId: academicJournal
PreciseRelevancyScore: 0
IllustrationInfo
Items – Name: Title
  Label: Title
  Group: Ti
  Data: Phase-Transformation-Driven Decarburization and its Cumulative Amplification in Multi-Stage Processing of 55SiCr Spring Steel.
– Name: Author
  Label: Authors
  Group: Au
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Peng%2C+Y%2E+F%2E%22">Peng, Y. F.</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Zhang%2C+L%2E+N%2E%22">Zhang, L. N.</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Wei%2C+C%2E+Y%2E%22">Wei, C. Y.</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Yao%2C+Z%2E%22">Yao, Z.</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Zheng%2C+H%2E+X%2E%22">Zheng, H. X.</searchLink><relatesTo>2</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Jin%2C+F%2E%22">Jin, F.</searchLink><relatesTo>3</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Dong%2C+X%2E+M%2E%22">Dong, X. M.</searchLink><relatesTo>3</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Zhang%2C+Z%2E+H%2E%22">Zhang, Z. H.</searchLink><relatesTo>3</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<i> zhzhang@baosteel.com</i><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Cao%2C+G%2E+H%2E%22">Cao, G. H.</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<i> ghcao@shu.edu.cn</i>
– Name: TitleSource
  Label: Source
  Group: Src
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="JN" term="%22High+Temperature+Corrosion+of+Materials%22">High Temperature Corrosion of Materials</searchLink>. Aug2026, Vol. 103 Issue 4, p1-33. 33p.
– Name: Subject
  Label: Subjects
  Group: Su
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Heat+treatment%22">Heat treatment</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Carburization%22">Carburization</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Material+fatigue%22">Material fatigue</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Oxide+coating%22">Oxide coating</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Process+optimization%22">Process optimization</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Phase+transitions%22">Phase transitions</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Diffusion+kinetics%22">Diffusion kinetics</searchLink>
– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract
  Group: Ab
  Data: Surface decarburization during heat treatment critically degrades the fatigue performance of 55SiCr spring steel. The present study systematically investigates the decarburization mechanisms and their dependence on process parameters through thermal analysis, metallographic experiments, and process simulation. Three key findings are revealed: (1) Austenitizing temperature controls decarburization by regulating oxide layer characteristics. Within the 1000–1050 °C range, a dense and continuous oxide scale forms that effectively blocks atmospheric ingress, achieving a minimum decarburized layer thickness of approximately 10 μm — a mechanism termed oxidation-induced decarburization suppression, directly confirmed by SEM/EDS analysis. At 1100 °C, the scale becomes highly porous and extensively cracked, losing its protective function. (2) The ferrite-austenite two-phase region (730–740 °C) is identified as a zone susceptible to decarburization. Here, phase transformation causes a sharp drop in carbon solubility in ferrite while the carbon diffusion coefficient increases by nearly two orders of magnitude, collectively triggering rapid carbon depletion. (3) A cumulative amplification effect is uncovered: even slight carbon inhomogeneity from prior processes is magnified during subsequent two-phase region treatment. Quantitative EPMA/WDS carbon profiling provides direct evidence: after re-austenitization in air, a pre-existing decarburized layer results in a cumulative amplification effect, with the near-surface carbon content averaging approximately 0.32 wt% — significantly below the nominal composition of 0.56 wt%. This finding demonstrates that decarburization control must be maintained throughout the entire production chain. Based on these mechanisms, a prevention-avoidance-control strategy is proposed, providing theoretical guidance and process optimization principles for producing spring steel with high surface quality and superior core toughness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
– Name: AbstractSuppliedCopyright
  Label:
  Group: Ab
  Data: <i>Copyright of High Temperature Corrosion of Materials is the property of Springer Nature and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract.</i> (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
PLink https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=egs&AN=194612021
RecordInfo BibRecord:
  BibEntity:
    Identifiers:
      – Type: doi
        Value: 10.1007/s11085-026-10424-z
    Languages:
      – Code: eng
        Text: English
    PhysicalDescription:
      Pagination:
        PageCount: 33
        StartPage: 1
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Heat treatment
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Carburization
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Material fatigue
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Oxide coating
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Process optimization
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Phase transitions
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Diffusion kinetics
        Type: general
    Titles:
      – TitleFull: Phase-Transformation-Driven Decarburization and its Cumulative Amplification in Multi-Stage Processing of 55SiCr Spring Steel.
        Type: main
  BibRelationships:
    HasContributorRelationships:
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Peng, Y. F.
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Zhang, L. N.
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Wei, C. Y.
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Yao, Z.
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Zheng, H. X.
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Jin, F.
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Dong, X. M.
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Zhang, Z. H.
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Cao, G. H.
    IsPartOfRelationships:
      – BibEntity:
          Dates:
            – D: 01
              M: 08
              Text: Aug2026
              Type: published
              Y: 2026
          Identifiers:
            – Type: issn-print
              Value: 27318397
          Numbering:
            – Type: volume
              Value: 103
            – Type: issue
              Value: 4
          Titles:
            – TitleFull: High Temperature Corrosion of Materials
              Type: main
ResultId 1