Effect of Different Heat Treatments on Tensile Properties and Unnotched and Notched Fatigue Strength of Cold Work Tool Steel Produced by Powder Metallurgy

The present study investigates the effect of two heat treatments on the microstructure, the tensile and the fatigue properties of a powder metallurgy tool steel that has undergone two heat treatments: quenching and multiple tempering (conventional for powder metallurgy tool steel), and quenching and multiple tempering with an intermediate cryogenic step at −80◦ C (new solution). The findings of the research indicated that the new heat treatment promotes the development of a homogeneous distribution of carbides in the martensitic matrix, with an increase of about 10% in tensile strength and about 7% in elongation to failure. This combination of exceptional strength with a high degree of toughness leads to an improvement in the fatigue behaviour of the steel, which exhibits a higher unnotched and notched fatigue strength (about 15% and 25% respectively) and a lower fatigue notch factor (about 15%) compared to conventionally heat-treated steel. These results highlight that the powder metallurgy tool steel, with the new heat treatment, could be a viable option for the production not only of tools and dies, but also for high-performance automotive components, including even those with complex geometries, such as camshafts or crankshafts.