The effect of salt bath cementation on mechanical behavior of hot-rolled and cold-drawn SAE 8620 and 16MnCr5 steels

In this study, the effect of salt bath cementation on mechanical behavior of SAE 8620 and 16MnCr5 cementation steels, which are widely used in industry, was investigated. The experiments were carried out with hot rolled and cold rolled specimens. The cementation processes were performed in NaCN salt bath at 920 degrees C temperature for 1, 2, 3 and 4 h. Abrasive wear tests of specimens were conducted with Wolfram Carbide (WC) ball for 1 h. After cementation processes, a martensite phase on the surface of specimens was confirmed by X-ray diffraction analysis. After cementation processes carried out with different times, a different surface hardness and effective cementation depth values were obtained. Experimental results showed that an effective cementation depth increased with increasing the cementation time. Wear tests showed that the wear resistance of specimens increased by the cementation processes. Experimental results revealed that the surface hardness of specimen affects the wear resistance of specimens. (C) 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.