Influence of the Chemical Composition of Steel on the Heat Resistance of a Surface Layer Subjected to Combined Hardening Treatment with Electromechanical Treatment + Surface Plastic Deformation

This work presents the results of studies regarding the thermal stability of the surface layer of steel specimens subjected to combined hardening by electromechanical treatment (EMT) with subsequent surface plastic deformation (SPD), herein referred as (EMT + SPD). We also present the experimental data and characteristic aspects of the distribution of the microhardness of the white layer of steel samples 40H, 55, and 60S2A during sequential heating from 100°C to 400°C with an interval of T = 100°C. The results revealed that the thermal stability of surface-hardened EMT + SPD steel samples depends on the content of carbon and alloying elements of the original metal. Furthermore, the heat resistance of the white layer after EMT + SPD increased by 30–35% compared with the white layer obtained by traditional electromechanical processing and furnace martensite.