Investigating the structural properties and wear resistance of martensitic stainless steels

The present work explores the microstructures and abrasive wear behavior of AISI 410 and AISI 420 martensitic stainless steels after hardening and tempering. Microstructural changes and wear were analyzed using optical microscopy and SEM. Different heat treatments resulted in varying hardness values, with a slight increase at 723 K due to (Fe,Cr)23C6 formation, and a significant reduction at 873 K. SEM and EDS showed AISI 410 had a martensitic structure without notable precipitates, while AISI 420 exhibited coarser and new carbide precipitations after tempering. XRD confirmed martensitic peaks and carbide formation (Cr₃C₂, Mo₂C), improving wear resistance through carbon and chromium segregation. No direct correlation between bulk hardness and abrasive wear resistance was found. AISI 410 showed lower wear mass than AISI 420, with wear mechanisms including micro-cracking, ploughing, groove formation, and particle pullout. Wear debris consisted of machining chips and flaky particles, offering insights into the wear processes.