Corrosion and abrasion behavior of high-temperature carburized 20MnCr5 gear steel with Nb and B microalloying

This paper investigates the effect of Nb and B microalloying on the wear and corrosion resistance of 20MnCr5 steel after high-temperature carburization at 950 °C. The abrasion and corrosion performance of the steel was compared using electrochemical experiments and dry sliding wear tests. The results show that Nb microalloying reduces the size of residual austenite, thereby improving the wear resistance of 20MnCr5 steel. Furthermore, the combination of Nb and B microalloying reduces the amount of residual austenite, leading to further improvements in wear resistance. Both microalloying methods reduce the wear scar depth and debris accumulation. The corrosion potentials of 20MnCr5, 20MnCr5Nb, and 20MnCr5NbB are 0.645 V, 0.627 V, and 0.675 V, respectively. The addition of Nb to 20MnCr5 steel results in higher corrosion resistance after carburization due to the refinement of needle-like martensite. However, 20MnCr5NbB steel exhibits low corrosion resistance due to the coarsening of needle-like martensite caused by B microalloying. In summary, this study provides new insights into the effects of microalloying elements on the properties of steel. The findings contribute to a deeper understanding of how to design and manufacture gears and other components with superior wear and corrosion resistance.