INFLUENCE OF CARBON CONTENT OF MARTENSITE STEELS ON HARDNESS RE-DISTRIBUTION NEAR WORN SURFACE

After three-body abrasion, the hardness re-distribution near the worn surface has a close relationship with the carbon content of martensite steel. It is considered that there is a competition between the work-hardening and the temper softening, which results from deformation and friction heat of material. When the carbon content of martensite steel is below about 0.6%, the subsurface hardness distribution of material is a softened layer sandwiched between two hardened layers, but above 0.6%C, no softened region appears on the hardness re-distribution curve.