The effect of deep cryogenic treatments on the mechanical properties of an AISI H13 steel

Cryogenic treatments are considered a good way to reduce the retained austenite content and improve the performance of tool steels. Four different heat treatments, two of which included a deep cryogenic stage, were applied in this study to an H13 tool steel, subsequently determining its mechanical properties by means of tensile, hardness and fracture toughness tests. Furthermore, scanning electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction analysis were performed to gain an insight into the microstructural evolution of these heat treatments during all the stages. It was concluded that the application of a deep cryogenic treatment to H13 steel induces higher thermal stresses and structural defects, producing a dispersed network of fine carbides after the subsequent tempering stages, which were responsible for a significant improvement in the fracture toughness of this steel without modifying other mechanical properties. Although the application of a deep cryogenic treatment reduces the retained austenite content, there is a minimum innate content which cannot be transformed by heat treatment. Nevertheless, this austenite is hence believed to be stable enough and should not transform during the normal service life of forging dies.