Influence of Carbon Content on the Strengthening Characteristics of Steels during AFSH

Abstract:

The article considers the features of heat treatment of steels, includes quenching, phase transformations and their influence on the structure and properties of the material. The key parameters of heat treatment are described: heating temperature, holding time and cooling rate, as well as their role in forming the required mechanical characteristics of steel. Phase diagrams are considered, in particular for the "iron-carbon" system, and their significance for choosing processing modes. Additional friction-strain hardening (AFSH) of various steel grades (20, 45, U7, U12) after preliminary quenching and low-temperature tempering is studied. An analysis of microstructural changes and microhardness of surface layers after AFSH is carried out, which confirmed the effectiveness of additional hardening. It was found that steels with a higher carbon content, limited to 0.8 %, demonstrate a greater depth of the hardened layer and higher microhardness values, which determines their feasibility for use in conditions of increased wear. The results of the study emphasize the importance of choosing the optimal AFSH mode depending on the carbon content in the steel, which has a significant impact on the formation of the strength characteristics of the material.

• Periodical: Materials Science Forum (Volume 1163)
• Pages: 11-18
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.4028/p-UnvH6Q
• Online since: October 2025
• Authors: Оleh Volkov, Valeriia Subbotina, Zhanna Kraievska, Alexey Vasilchenko*, Oleksandr Lyubchenko
• Keywords: Additional Friction-Strain Hardening, AFSH, Carbon Content, Deformed Martensite, Heat Treatment, Microstructure, Steel 20, Steel 45, Steel U12, Steel U7, White Surface Hardened Layer

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