Microstructural and Tribological Characterization of API X52 Dual-phase Steel

The effect of the morphology and the martensite volume fraction on the microhardness, the tensile, the friction and the wear behavior of API X52 dual phase (DP) steel has been investigated. Three different heat treatments were used to develop dual phase steel with different morphologies and with different amounts of martensite: Intermediate Quenching Treatment/Water (IQ); Step Quenching Treatment (SQ) and direct quenching (DQ). Tribological tests are conducted on DP steels using a ball-on-disc configuration under normal load of 5 N and at a sliding speed of 4 cm/s were used to study the friction and wear behavior of treated samples. Results show that the ferrite–martensite morphology has a great influence on the mechanical properties of dual phase steel. The steel subjected to (IQ) treatment attain superior mechanical properties compared to the SQ and the DQ treatments. On the other hand, it is also found that the friction coefficient and the wear rate (volume loss) decrease when the hardness and the martensite volume fraction increase. The steel with fine fibrous martensite provide good wear resistance.