Effect of tempering conditions on wear resistance in various wear mechanisms of H13 steel

In dry sliding wear of H13 steel, with increasing ambient temperature and load, the wear mechansim changed from adhesive wear to oxidative mild wear and finally to oxidative wear. In adhesive wear, the specimens tempered at 600, 200 and 440 °C presented higher wear resistance than the ones tempered at 500, 650 and 700 °C. In oxidative wear, the wear resistance increased in the following order: the specimens tempered at 700, 500, 200, 650, 440 and 600 °C. Wear resistance was suggested to depend on hardness and fracture resistance in adhesive wear and on the formers and thermal stability in oxidative wear. ► With increasing ambient temperature and load, the wear mechansim changed from adhesive wear to oxidative mild wear and finally to oxidative wear. ► The tempering conditions presented different influences on wear resistance of steel in various wear mechanisms. ► Wear resistance depended on hardness and fracture resistance in adhesive wear and the formers and thermal stability in oxidative wear.