Precipitation and decomposition behaviors of carbides in AISI M2 high-speed steel with nitrogen and mischmetal

The behaviors of the precipitation and decomposition of carbides in AISI M2 high-speed steel modified by nitrogen and mischmetal were investigated using DSC, XRD, SEM and TEM. The as-cast microstructure of the experimental steel consists of dendrites of iron matrix, networks of eutectic carbides and secondary carbides. The average distance between networks is about 34 μm. The carbides mainly include M_2C, M(C,N) and M_6C, and their relative contents are 58.5%, 30.3% and 11.2%, respectively. The average spacing between the M_2C fibers is 1.5 μm. The decomposition of M_2C occurs from 897.2 to 1221.5 ℃(heating rate of 200 ℃/h). Some precipitated carbide particles occur in the M_2C matrix after holding for 15 min at 1100 ℃. With increasing holding time, the carbide fibers neck down more and more obviously until they are broken down. The spectral peaks of M_2C almost disappear after holding for 60 min. The spectral peaks of M_6C gradually strengthen with the holding time, and the relative content of M_6C increases to 79.8% after holding for 60 min. After holding for 180 min, the carbide fibers disappear, and the decomposition products consist of fine carbide particles(about 300 nm) and short rod-like carbides(about 3.5 μm).

2Cr12Ni4Mo3VNbN钢中析出相的热力学计算与试验分析

利用Thermo-Calc热力学软件计算了2Cr12Ni4Mo3VNbN钢中各个元素在成分范围内均为中值时的平衡相图,同时计算了2Cr12Ni4Mo3VNbN钢中碳、铬、钼、铌、氮元素含量变化时的平衡相图,以此分析钢中主要平衡析出相和合金元素含量对析出相析出行为的影响。为验证热力学计算的可靠性,采用XRD、SEM及TEM等分析方法对热处理后的2Cr12Ni4Mo3VNbN钢中析出相类型进行了试验验证。结果表明,钢中的平衡析出相为MX相、M_(23)C_(6)、M_(6)C、Z相和Laves相。在热力学平衡条件下,MX相在850℃转化为Z相,M_(6)C在787℃转化为Laves相。但是在实际热处理过程,由于保温时间较短且冷却速度较快,上述转化过程不会发生,所以钢中主要析出相为MX相、M_(23)C_(6)和M_(6)C。平衡析出相种类与相分析的试验结果基本一致。MX相存在大尺寸的一次MX相和细小弥散的MX相,MX相主要受铌、氮元素影响,其析出量随氮含量升高而升高,析出温度随铌含量升高而升高;M_(23)C_(6)相的析出温度随碳含量增加而升高,析出量也随之升高;M_(6)C的析出温度随铬含量增加而降低,随钼含量增加而升高;在成分范围内,元素控制原则为增加碳含量以增加M_(23)C_(6)的析出强化作用,减少铬含量以避免热加工时进入δ-Fe相区,减少钼含量以降低Laves相析出倾向,减少铌含量以降低一次MX相的析出温度,氮含量需要采取中间量以减少一次MX相析出,增加低温阶段细小弥散的MX相析出。