Grant: Engage Plus Grants Program

Tool steels are characterized by very high strength along with high wear resistance due to their specificchemistry as well as through a complex heat treatment process. In recent years, cryogenic treatment, consistingof exposing the material to temperatures in the range of the boiling point of liquid nitrogen (-196°C), has beenintroduced as a new process bringing significant improvements to the performance of tool steels. DK Spec. Inc.is a major producer of blades, cutters, and saws, made of tool steel, for the Canadian wood industry. Thecompany desires to invest on this new technology and as such has started some preliminary activities in thisarea.In an initial collaborative work through an Engage Grant, the influence of cryotreatments process parameterson the microstructure and mechanical properties of D2 steel used by the company was investigated. Theobtained results showed promising improvement in the properties and encouraged the company to continue thecollaborations through the EngagePlus program. In this second phase, dilatometry experiments along withinternela friction measurements will be used to develop a better understanding of the mechanisms influencingmartensitic transformation and the precipitation of nano sized eta carbides. This knowledge will help to findthe critical process parameters and develop optimized cryogenic heat treatment processes.The implementation of cryogenic treatment as a standard process at DKSpec will allow further strengtheningthe competitiveness of the company as one of the major producers of wood cutting industry in Canada. It willalso help to reinforce the position of Canada as one of the world leaders in the wood industry.