The present embodiments relate generally to a method of making a steel article comprising carbide banding.
A need exists for a process to treat metals and similar materials of manufacture in order to increase their structural characteristics. For example, in the manufacture of tools and tool components, machinery, engine parts, wear surfaces and like articles from various steels and materials that are used for high wear applications, the common practice is to subject the steel to one or more thermal process treatments, either before or after formation of the steel carbide, so as to modify the properties of at least the exterior of the components. These treatments provide the articles with greater strength, enhanced conductivity, greater toughness, enhanced flexibility, longer wear life, and the like.
A number of thermal type processes are known in the metallurgical arts to enhance the properties of manufacturing materials, such as steels and the like. One widely used class of such metallurgical processes generally known as quenching can involve forming an article of the desired metal containing material and then rapidly lowering the temperature of the article followed by a return of the article to ambient temperature. The problem with the current processes controlled or not, is the formation of residual stress in the material. This results in stressing the material and even possibly fracturing the material rendering it useless.
A further enhancement process for manufacturing materials, such as steel, is in the formation of a nitride containing layer on the surface of an article of the metal containing material that hardens the material by forming nitrides such as metal nitrides at or near the surface of an article. The formed nitride surface layer can include extremely hard compounds containing nitrides such as CrN, Fe2N, Fe3N and Fe4N. The formed nitride layer tends to create compressive stresses that improve the properties of the metal containing material, but can also lead to distortions in the article being treated.
The current art describes single wave processes that concentrate on the cryogenic target temperature and possibly one positive range temperature. The focus of the current art on the cryogenic target temperature does not give any regard to the material being treated. The cryogenic phase causes stress in the metal and the subsequent heat process also causes stress in the material. The prior art has done little to deal with these secondary stresses.
A need, therefore, exists, for multi-wave thermal treatments in which the target temperatures are dictated by the material being treated.
A need has long existed for a thermal process to treat a metal or article of manufacture to improve its structural characteristics.
The present embodiments meet these needs.
The invention relates to a method of making a steel article comprising carbide banding. The method uses steel with undissolved carbides distributed within the steel. The steel is about 0.3 weight percent to about 2.2 weight percent carbon and at least about 0.003 weight percent of a metal selected from the group consisting of chromium, molybdenum, aluminum, vanadium, tungsten, and a similar carbide forming element.
The method continues by heating the steel with carbides for a time ranging between about 5 minutes to about 12 hours at a temperature in the range from about an A-sub 1 temperature to about 50 and below 50 degrees Fahrenheit above an A-sub 3 temperature to form an austenitic steel with undissolved carbides. The method ends by cooling the austenitic steel with undissolved carbides to maintain the undissolved carbides within a chosen crystalline matrix creating carbide banding in the steel.
The detailed description will be better understood in conjunction with the accompanying drawings as follows:
The present embodiments are detailed below with reference to the listed Figures.
Before explaining the present embodiments in detail, it is to be understood that the embodiments are not limited to the particular embodiments and that they can be practiced or carried out in various ways.
The present invention is directed to a method of making a steel article with carbide banding.
The steel used in the method is composed of about 0.3 weight percent to about 2.2% weight carbon and at least about 0.003% weight of a particular metal. Examples of particular metals contemplated in this invention are chromium, molybdenum, aluminum, vanadium, tungsten, or similar carbide forming elements.
With reference to the Figures,
As shown in
In an alternative, as seen in
As shown in
The invention is also a method of making a steel article comprising carbide banding, as shown in
The invention contemplates that the materials in the methods can be varied. The crystalline matrix can be pearlite, austenite, ferrite, martensite, tempered martensite, bainite, or combinations thereof. The steel with undissolved carbides can be stainless steel, carbon steel, tool steel, or a steel alloy.
The step of cooling the austenitic steel with undissolved carbides is by air cooling. In the alternative, the step of cooling the austenitic steel with undissolved carbides is by quenching. The quenching process can be done by oil quenching, water quenching, salt quenching, or air quenching.
In the alternative, the cooling step takes place slowly at a temperature from just above 1330 degrees Fahrenheit to create a pearlite and ferrite crystalline matrix. The cooling time for this alternative is from about 5 minutes to about 6 hours.
While these embodiments have been described with emphasis on the embodiments, it should be understood that within the scope of the appended claims, the embodiments might be practiced other than as specifically described herein.
The present application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/582,286 filed on Jun. 23, 2004.
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Number | Date | Country | |
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60582286 | Jun 2004 | US |