Multicyclic radiative and thermal hardening of low-carbon steel

• Published in: Steel in translation Vol. 41; no. 8; pp. 698 - 703
• Main Authors: Aleksandrova, N. M., Supov, A. V., Skoblo, T. S.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Heidelberg Allerton Press, Inc 01-08-2011; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Chemistry and Materials Science; Durability; Electron beams; Hardening; Low carbon steels; Materials Science; Optimization; Quenching; Structural steels; Translations; Acicular Ferrite; Ferrite; Bainite; Martensite; Pearlite
• ISSN: 0967-0912; 1935-0988
• DOI: 10.3103/S096709121108002X

The influence of multicyclic radiative and thermal treatment by an electron beam on the structure and properties of low-carbon steel is considered. With an optimal number of treatment cycles, the required structure and properties of the hardened surface are obtained. Radiative and thermal hardening by the proposed method modifies the working surface of the steel to a depth of 2 mm. The effectiveness of the method is confirmed by bench tests of complex rail bases: the cyclic durability of the parts is 30–40% longer than for traditional treatment (bulk quenching and quenching by high-frequency current). The new method is protected by an Inventor’s Certificate.