Improving the tribological characteristics of powder steel parts via multicomponent diffusion saturation of working surfaces

This paper discusses a new method for chemical heat treatment - multicomponent diffusion saturation of the surface of powder-steel products with chromium, silicon, and manganese in order to improve product performance, especially with respect to tribological properties. The samples to be saturated were fabricated from powdered iron, and powdered 40, 60, and 40N2M steel. The control samples consisted of hot-stamped and improved 40p steel and U8 compact steel heat treated to hardness 58-62 HRC e . Chromium-, silicon-, and manganese-saturated samples and samples not saturated with these elements were tested to determine their tribological properties. The tests were performed using a tribometer. The results obtained suggest that this three-component (chromium, silicon, and manganese) diffusion saturation technique is promising and of current importance for production of materials meeting certain specifications.