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Metallurgical principles of cryogenically treated tool steels—a review on the current state of science

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Abstract

The cryogenic treatment of tool steels has transformed over centuries from black art to science, but the metallurgical principles responsible for increase in wear resistance, tensile strength, toughness, and stability are still disputed. Metallurgists comprehend how tool steels respond to cryogenic treatment, but they also understand that for many years, the cryogenic treatment of tool steels had the reputation of being a quick fix for poor heat treatment practice. During the cryogenic treatment of tool steels, the process modifies the carbon present in the tool steels. However, cryogenic treatment has not been widely adopted by the cutting tools industry due to lack of understanding of the fundamental metallurgical mechanisms and due to the wide variation in reported research findings. In the present paper, an attempt has been made to review the literature on metallurgical changes that occurred during the cryogenic treatment of tool steels to benefit the cutting tools industry. The prominent reasons found to be responsible for improving the mechanical properties of tool steels are transformation of retained austenite to martensite and precipitation of fine carbides.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Mechanical Engineering, Beant College of Engineering and Technology, Gurdaspur, 143521, Punjab, India

    Simranpreet Singh Gill & Jagdev Singh

  2. Department of Production Engineering, Guru Nanak Dev Engineering College, Ludhiana, 141006, Punjab, India

    Rupinder Singh

  3. Department of Mechanical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology, Ropar, 140001, Punjab, India

    Harpreet Singh

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  1. Simranpreet Singh Gill
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  2. Jagdev Singh
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  3. Rupinder Singh
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Correspondence to Simranpreet Singh Gill.

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Gill, S.S., Singh, J., Singh, R. et al. Metallurgical principles of cryogenically treated tool steels—a review on the current state of science. Int J Adv Manuf Technol 54, 59–82 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00170-010-2935-5

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