Microstructure simulation of rapidly solidified ASP30 high-speed steel particles by gas atomization

In this study, the microstructure evolution of rapidly solidified ASP30 high-speed steel particles was predicted using a simulation method based on the cellular automaton-finite element （CAFE） model. The dendritic growth kinetics, in view of the characteristics of ASP30 steel, were calculated and combined with macro heat transfer calculations by user-defined functions （UDFs） to simulate the microstructure of gas-atomized particles. The relationship among particle diameter, undercooling, and the convection heat transfer coefficient was also inves- tigated to provide cooling conditions for simulations. The simulated results indicated that a columnar grain microstructure was observed in small particles, whereas an equiaxed microstructure was observed in large particles. In addition, the morphologies and microstructures of gas-atomized ASP30 steel particles were also investigated experimentally using scanning electron microscopy （SEM）. The experimental re- suits showed that four major types ofmicrostructures were formed： dendritic, equiaxed, mixed, and multi-droplet microstructures. The simu- lated results and the available experimental data are in good agreement.

Effect of coiling and annealing temperatures on yield point behavior of low-carbon steel

Low-carbon steel is widely used for household appliance and automotive panel steel because of its excellent plasticity.Unfortunately,yield point phenomena easily appear in the low-carbon steel produced by a continuous annealing process and cause degradation to the surface quality during processing.The effect of the coiling temperature(600-750℃)and annealing temperature(740-820℃)on the yield point behavior is studied.Tensile tests show that coiling temperature has a greater effect on yield point elongation(YPE)and aging index(AI)than the annealing temperature.Microstructure observations show that coiling temperature at 750℃would make the micron-sized carbides appearing at the grain boundary disappear and a number of dispersed nanoscale carbides precipitate in grain interior,corresponding to the highest solid solution carbon content in the matrix of 750℃coiled sample.The experimental results suggest that AI rather than YPE has a positive relationship with the solid solution carbon content of the low-carbon steel.And YPE has a positive relationship with the upper/lower yield strength.

High speed steel produced by spray forming

In this paper, ASP2030 （A30） high speed steel （HSS） was produced by spray forming and the microstructure was studied by optical microscopy （OM）, scanning electron microscopy （SEM）, transmission elec- tron microscopy （TEM）, electron probe microanalysis （EPMA） and X-ray diffraction （XRD）. The spray formed A30 （SF A30） steel exhibited a very uniform and fine microstructure consisting of martensite, retained austenite and uniformly distributed network carbides. Microstructure refining can be explained in terms of the rapid solidification of spray forming. M2C, MC and M6C type carbides were found in the as-sprayed A30 HSS by XRD and TEM. A uniform distribution of carbides was obtained after forging and annealing. The microstructure properties of SF A30 steel indicate that spray forming can be considered as a cost-effective route for the production of A30 steels and other highly alloyed steels.