Structure, mechanical, and tribotechnical properties of an austenitic nitrogen steel after frictional treatment

The features of the structure and the mechanical and tribotechnical properties of an austenitic nitrogen steel (Cr16.5, Mn18.8, C0.07, N0.53, Si0.52 wt %, and Fe for balance) after frictional treatment have been studied. It has been shown that, along with twinning, the nitrogen austenite upon frictional treatment undergoes a γ → stacking fault → e transformation. The strengthening of the steel by the frictional treatment manifests in a delay of the onset of the plastic flow. In the structure of the surface layer with a thickness of 5 μm, a high concentration of stacking faults has been detected. The mechanical properties depend on the orientation of the acting stresses relative to the direction of the frictional treatment. Upon the sliding friction of a ball made of hard alloy (94%WC + 6%Co) on the strengthened surface, an anomalously low coefficient of friction of 0.13 is observed. The coefficient of friction in the presence of abrasive particles in the form of wear debris increases to 0.50; however, the wear rate is almost two times lower compared to the same characteristic for a nonstrengthened surface of the nitrogen steel tested under the same conditions.