The influence of elevated temperature transformation and mechanical properties of a precipitation hardening martensitic stainless steel on its wear behaviour

Self wear tests of a martensitic stainless steel in CO2 in the temperature range 20-300degC showed transitional behaviour at 20 and 300degC. In the mid temperature range a severe wear rate of ∼ 2 x 10-13 m3/Nm persisted for sliding distances up to 2000 m. A possible explanation was that while strain induced transformation of retained austenite at low temperatures provided a sufficiently hardened substrate that allowed inelastic rather than plastic interactions this did not occur at 200degC. Tests were carried out to determine the temperature above which strain no longer transformed austenite into martensite. Although a martensite start temperature of ∼ 150degC was found for the present steel the presence of only ∼ 10% retained austenite in the ''as heat treated'' material suggests that its transformation to martensite at 200degC would not materially affect the extent of subsurface hardening. It is proposed that a surface reaction plays a role in transition behaviour. At 300degC the reaction product is an oxide but at room temperature it is possibly a carbonate. The stability of the carbonate decreases with temperature thus giving an intermediate temperature range where metal/metal contacts prevail leading to the persistent high wear behaviour. (author)