Influence of Boron and Nitrogen on the Machinability, Polishability and Wear of Martensitic Stainless Steels

The utilization and advancement of a wide variety of polymer materials have led to the development of corresponding plastic injection mould steels. This study aimed to enhance the properties of the commercially available steel EN X33CrS16 (1.2085), specifically designed for corrosion-resistant mould bases. To achieve this, the impact of the addition of boron and nitrogen into the commercially available steel grade was examined, focusing on their effects on polishability, workability, and wear resistance. The analysis revealed a martensitic microstructure with moderate segregation in all investigated samples. The steel modification had no discernible impact on hardness, which remained relatively constant. However, the addition of boron and nitrogen significantly reduced polishing time, with boron exhibiting a more pronounced effect compared to nitrogen. Moreover, the inclusion of boron in the alloy resulted in an impressive 40% decrease in the wear rate, while the wear rate of the other investigated alloys remained relatively unchanged.