View in EDS

Effect of Nitrocarburizing and Tempering on Microstructure and Wear Performance of SKH51 High-Speed Tool Steel.

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Title: Effect of Nitrocarburizing and Tempering on Microstructure and Wear Performance of SKH51 High-Speed Tool Steel.
Authors: Jornsanoh, Pijarn1 (AUTHOR), Chankitmunkung, Suwaree2 (AUTHOR), Taweejun, Nipon3 (AUTHOR), Praditja, Tanabodee3 (AUTHOR), Diewwanit, Onnjira1 (AUTHOR) onnjira.tha@kmutt.ac.th
Source: Journal of Materials Engineering & Performance. Jun2026, Vol. 35 Issue 23, p23493-23509. 17p.
Subjects: Tempering, Microstructure, Wear resistance, Tool-steel, Heat treatment
Abstract: Traditional heat treatment of high-speed tool steels requires multiple thermal cycles, increasing processing time and energy costs. This study investigates an integrated approach combining tempering and nitrocarburizing processes to optimize both processing efficiency and surface properties of SKH51 high-speed tool steel. Various heat treatment sequences were examined: quenching–double tempering (Q2T), austenitizing at a temperature of 1220 °C for a duration of 15 min. Subsequently, the specimen underwent tempering at 570 °C for 3 hours and was cooled to room. In addition, it is a combination of quenching followed by single (QNC) or double (Q2NC) nitrocarburizing at 570 °C for 3 hours, and quenching–double tempering followed by single (Q2TNC) or double (Q2T2NC) nitrocarburizing. Microstructural analysis revealed that carbon and nitrogen atoms can diffuse into the martensite matrix when the steel is heated at 570 °C for 3 hours in a nitrocarburizing atmosphere. However, the thickness of the nitrocarburized layer was slightly greater for pre-tempered steel compared to direct tempering in the nitrocarburizing atmosphere. XRD analysis confirmed the formation of both ε-nitride (Fe2-3(N,C)) and γ′-nitride (Fe4(N,C)) phases in the compound layer, with the substrate microstructure influencing phase development. While double nitrocarburizing increased compound layer thickness from 4 to 8 μm, it also generated continuous porosity, particularly in pre-tempered specimens, which compromised mechanical performance. All heat treatment sequences effectively reduced the retained austenite content from 24.0 to 1.5-2.1%. Tribological properties were assessed using microhardness depth profiling, scratch test, and ball-on-disk wear test. The wear volume of the QNC specimen was close to that of the Q2TNC specimen. Additionally, the connected porosity in the compound layer developed after two nitrocarburizing cycles led to a decrease in scratch resistance and wear resistance, despite the high surface hardness. These findings establish that a single cycle of direct tempering in the nitrocarburizing atmosphere (QNC) offers a practical pathway for reducing processing steps while maintaining desired surface properties in tool steel manufacturing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Copyright of Journal of Materials Engineering & Performance 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: 194724799
AccessLevel: 6
PubType: Academic Journal
PubTypeId: academicJournal
PreciseRelevancyScore: 0
IllustrationInfo
Items – Name: Title
  Label: Title
  Group: Ti
  Data: Effect of Nitrocarburizing and Tempering on Microstructure and Wear Performance of SKH51 High-Speed Tool Steel.
– Name: Author
  Label: Authors
  Group: Au
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Jornsanoh%2C+Pijarn%22">Jornsanoh, Pijarn</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Chankitmunkung%2C+Suwaree%22">Chankitmunkung, Suwaree</searchLink><relatesTo>2</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Taweejun%2C+Nipon%22">Taweejun, Nipon</searchLink><relatesTo>3</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Praditja%2C+Tanabodee%22">Praditja, Tanabodee</searchLink><relatesTo>3</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Diewwanit%2C+Onnjira%22">Diewwanit, Onnjira</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<i> onnjira.tha@kmutt.ac.th</i>
– Name: TitleSource
  Label: Source
  Group: Src
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="JN" term="%22Journal+of+Materials+Engineering+%26+Performance%22">Journal of Materials Engineering & Performance</searchLink>. Jun2026, Vol. 35 Issue 23, p23493-23509. 17p.
– Name: Subject
  Label: Subjects
  Group: Su
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Tempering%22">Tempering</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Microstructure%22">Microstructure</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Wear+resistance%22">Wear resistance</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Tool-steel%22">Tool-steel</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Heat+treatment%22">Heat treatment</searchLink>
– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract
  Group: Ab
  Data: Traditional heat treatment of high-speed tool steels requires multiple thermal cycles, increasing processing time and energy costs. This study investigates an integrated approach combining tempering and nitrocarburizing processes to optimize both processing efficiency and surface properties of SKH51 high-speed tool steel. Various heat treatment sequences were examined: quenching–double tempering (Q2T), austenitizing at a temperature of 1220 °C for a duration of 15 min. Subsequently, the specimen underwent tempering at 570 °C for 3 hours and was cooled to room. In addition, it is a combination of quenching followed by single (QNC) or double (Q2NC) nitrocarburizing at 570 °C for 3 hours, and quenching–double tempering followed by single (Q2TNC) or double (Q2T2NC) nitrocarburizing. Microstructural analysis revealed that carbon and nitrogen atoms can diffuse into the martensite matrix when the steel is heated at 570 °C for 3 hours in a nitrocarburizing atmosphere. However, the thickness of the nitrocarburized layer was slightly greater for pre-tempered steel compared to direct tempering in the nitrocarburizing atmosphere. XRD analysis confirmed the formation of both ε-nitride (Fe2-3(N,C)) and γ′-nitride (Fe4(N,C)) phases in the compound layer, with the substrate microstructure influencing phase development. While double nitrocarburizing increased compound layer thickness from 4 to 8 μm, it also generated continuous porosity, particularly in pre-tempered specimens, which compromised mechanical performance. All heat treatment sequences effectively reduced the retained austenite content from 24.0 to 1.5-2.1%. Tribological properties were assessed using microhardness depth profiling, scratch test, and ball-on-disk wear test. The wear volume of the QNC specimen was close to that of the Q2TNC specimen. Additionally, the connected porosity in the compound layer developed after two nitrocarburizing cycles led to a decrease in scratch resistance and wear resistance, despite the high surface hardness. These findings establish that a single cycle of direct tempering in the nitrocarburizing atmosphere (QNC) offers a practical pathway for reducing processing steps while maintaining desired surface properties in tool steel manufacturing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
– Name: AbstractSuppliedCopyright
  Label:
  Group: Ab
  Data: <i>Copyright of Journal of Materials Engineering & Performance 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=194724799
RecordInfo BibRecord:
  BibEntity:
    Identifiers:
      – Type: doi
        Value: 10.1007/s11665-026-13308-0
    Languages:
      – Code: eng
        Text: English
    PhysicalDescription:
      Pagination:
        PageCount: 17
        StartPage: 23493
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Tempering
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Microstructure
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Wear resistance
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Tool-steel
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Heat treatment
        Type: general
    Titles:
      – TitleFull: Effect of Nitrocarburizing and Tempering on Microstructure and Wear Performance of SKH51 High-Speed Tool Steel.
        Type: main
  BibRelationships:
    HasContributorRelationships:
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Jornsanoh, Pijarn
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Chankitmunkung, Suwaree
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Taweejun, Nipon
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Praditja, Tanabodee
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Diewwanit, Onnjira
    IsPartOfRelationships:
      – BibEntity:
          Dates:
            – D: 20
              M: 06
              Text: Jun2026
              Type: published
              Y: 2026
          Identifiers:
            – Type: issn-print
              Value: 10599495
          Numbering:
            – Type: volume
              Value: 35
            – Type: issue
              Value: 23
          Titles:
            – TitleFull: Journal of Materials Engineering & Performance
              Type: main
ResultId 1