Effects of Deep Cryogenic Treatment on the Microstructures and Tribological Properties of Iron Matrix Self-Lubricating Composites

The effects of deep cryogenic treatment on the microstructures and tribological properties of the self-lubricating iron matrix composites are investigated. The self-lubricating composites are deeply cryogenically treated at about −196 °C. The results show that with deep cryogenic treatment, the martensite phase transformation occurred from phase γ to α′, and the fine particle carbides precipitated between martensites with the extension of cryogenic treatment time, measured by X-ray diffractometry (XRD) and scanning electron microscope (SEM). Compared with the as-sintered specimen, the maximum hardness of the specimens processed by cryogenic treatment increases by 172.8% from 253.2 HV to 690.7 HV. The materials with deep cryogenic treatment for 8 h show the best tribological properties, i.e., the average friction coefficient decreases by 75% from 0.36 to 0.09, and the wear coefficient decreases by 63% from 341 to 126 × 10−6 mm3/Nm at 150 N and 8 mm/s. The improvement of the tribological property can be primarily attributed to the martensite phase transformation from γ to α′ and the precipitation of fine particles carbides between the martensites, which increase the hardness and the wear resistance after the cryogenic treatment