Assessment of AISI 431Grade Stainless Steel properties by Vacuum Tempering Process

Abstract

The wear behaviour of AISI 431 stainless steel was examined under a dry sliding touch at compatible load with the vacuum tempering cycle. The method adopted was found to be effective in enhancing the wear conduct of stainless steel products, there by advancing the pliability quality. For the sample, vacuum tempering (VT) procedure for (VT1) 2 hours, (VT2) 4 hours and (VT3) 6 hours respectively, a low temperature heat procedure was performed. Untreated stainless steel was used as a kind of viewpoint tool for contrast with specific hardening samples and observed wear check. The hardening samples expose those moulded hard layers which improve the hardness of the surface. Predictions of small scale hardness showed a significant change in hardness during diagnosis. This operation improves the hardness of the material to up to 150 percent. For wear inspection, a pin on the disc drive is used to assess wear failure. The layers were observed by optical lens magnification and examination under electron magnifying lens.