EFFECT OF DEEP CRYOGENIC TREATMENT ON MICROSTRUCTURAL AND MECHANICAL PROPERTIES OF HIGH-PERFORMANCE CPOH AND WP7V TOOL STEELS

In recent years, deep cryogenic treatment (DCT) has been applied to steel materials as an additional heat treatment to improve various material properties that include wear resistance, impact resistance and hardness. In this study, the mechanical properties of CPOH cold work tool steel with high wear and impact resistance and Dörrenberg Edelstahl patented WP7V cold work tool steel used in applications requiring high hardness were improved by deep cryogenic heat treatment. The material subjected to deep cryogenic heat treatment was subjected to deep cryogenic heat treatment and tempering after a conventional austenitizing and quenching process. The microstructure, hardness, wear and impact properties of the cryogenic heat treated materials were investigated in comparison with those obtained after conventional heat treatment. It was found that deep cryogenic heat treatment of tool steels in addition to conventional heat treatment can improve performance and provide high performance tool steels required by the industry.