A Novel Design to Enhance the Tribological Properties of High‐Cr Hot Work Die Steel via Trace TiC Ceramic Nanoparticles

Abstract

Excellent wear properties can improve the service performance and service life of high‐Cr hot work die steels. Herein, an innovative method is proposed to introduce TiC nanoparticles into the matrix of high‐Cr hot work die steels, and the effects of TiC nanoparticles on the microstructure and wear resistance of high‐Cr hot work die steels are investigated. In isothermal spheroidizing and quenching and tempering heat treatments, the TiC nanoparticles refine the granular pearlite, tempered martensite, and precipitates, which are attributed to the improved nucleation rates by increasing the number of heterogeneous cores. In sliding wear tests, the nanoparticle‐reinforced high‐Cr hot work die steels show higher wear resistance under the temperatures of 20 and 400 °C. The better wear properties of high‐Cr hot work die steels are because the substrates are strengthened and toughened, the dislocations are hindered, the mating areas are partially separated, and external loads are withstood by nanoparticles. This work shows new prospects for the development of high‐Cr hot work die steels with excellent wear performance.