Jominy End Quench Test of Martensitic Stainless Steel X30Cr13

Abstract

In this study, the influence of thermal treatments on the properties of the martensitic stainless steel X30Cr13 (EN 10088-3: 1.4028) were investigated. These steels are characterized by a high hardness as well as corrosion resistance and can be specifically adjusted by heat treatment. In particular, the austenitizing temperature ϑA and cooling rate T˙ affect the hardness and corrosion properties of martensitic stainless steels. In order to investigate these influences, the Jominy end quench tests were performed at varying austenitizing temperatures. The aim is to determine the hardness and corrosion properties as a function of the austenitizing temperature and the cooling rate. The austenitizing temperature strongly influences the solubility of alloying elements within the austenitic lattice as well as the grain size, and thus affects both precipitation and phase transformation kinetics. In consequence, different austenitizing temperatures lead to different macroscopic material properties, like hardness and pitting corrosion potential. The heat treatment was simulated using finite element (FE) method and compared with time-temperature sequences measured at different locations of the Jominy end quench sample using thermocouples. That allows determining the cooling rate T˙ between 800 ∘C and 500 ∘C and to assign it to each location of the Jominy end quench sample. The numerical estimations were in close conformity with the experimental values. By assigning the hardness and pitting corrosion potentials to the respective cooling rates as a function of the austenitizing temperature, it is possible to determine optimum process windows for the required properties.