Impact Behavior Characterization on Fractured Pins of AISI E52100 Steel

Two fractured pins of impact wrench were evaluated by fractography using scanning electron microscopy. This pneumatic wrench is used to the fabrication of automotive components being characterized by its power and tightening capacity. The important part of the wrench is the pin clutch impact mechanism used to generate high torque. An original pin manufactured with AISI E52100 steel adjusted 2,580 nuts before fracture and a substitute pin of E52100 modified steel with S adjusted 7,095 nuts before failure. Fractographic analysis in both fracture surfaces indicated a ductile-brittle mixed fracture mode. Original pin surface exhibited a granular appearance while substitute pin surface showed fibrous and rough morphology. Precipitation of nearly rounded, elliptical and elongate second – phase particles containing Cr, C and Mn measured as intergranular and transgranular particle density was observed, promoting some brittle failure zones and ductile fracture measured as the volume fraction of grain boundaries and microvoids, respectively. A larger amount of intergranular medium precipitates was found on the original pin which favored the brittle failure among the grain boundaries compared to that of the substitute pin. The ductile fracture by larger transgranular fine particle density which acted as nucleation sites of higher volume fraction of microvoids was found in the substitute pin.