Study of the effect of asymmetric rolling followed by ion nitriding on the hardness and structure of HSS M2 tool steel

Abstract

This study investigates the effects of asymmetric rolling and ion nitriding on the hardness and structureof HSS M2 tool steel. Asymmetric rolling was used to induce a gradient microstructure along thethickness direction of the steel [1, 2], while ion nitriding was used to improve the surface hardness[3]. During asymmetric rolling, the heating temperature, the number of passes, the speed mismatchcoefficient of the work rolls and the total compression were varied. During nitriding, the temperatureand duration of the treatment were varied. The results showed that asymmetric rolling significantlyimproved the hardness and wear resistance of the steel, while ion nitriding further enhanced its surfacehardness. Overall, this study provides insights into the potential of combining asymmetric rolling andion nitriding as a method for improving the performance of HSS M2 tool steel.