Structures and Properties of High-Carbon High Speed Steel by RE-Mg-Ti Compound Modification

The effects of rare earths(RE)-Mg-Ti compound modification on the structures and properties of high-carbon high speed steel(HSS) were researched.The impact toughness(α_k),the fracture toughness(K_(1c))and threshold of fatigue crack growth(ΔK_(th))are tested.The thermal fatigue test is done on a self-straining thermal fatigue tester,the wear test is done on a high temperature wear test machine.The results show that the matrix can be refined by the RE-Mg-Ti compound modification,the eutectic carbides are inclined to spheroidicize and are distributed evenly,the morphology and distribution of eutectic carbides are improved by appropriate RE-Mg-Ti complex modification.After RE-Mg-Ti compound modification,a little effects can be found on the strength,hardness and red hardness,but the fracture toughness(K_(1c)) and threshold of fatigue crack growth(△K_(th)) are improved in the meantime,the impact toughness (α_k) is increased by over one time,and the resistance to thermal fatigue and wear resistance at an elevated temperature are remarkably improved.

MICROSTRUCTURAL CHARACTERISTICS AND MECHANICAL PROPERTIES OF SPRAY FORMED HIGH SPEED STEEL FOR WORK ROLL

The mechanical properties and microstructure characteristics of a high speed steel (HSS) for roll has been studied. As compared with the as-cast HSS, the spray-formed HSS have fine grain and segregation free microstructures. Carbides distribute uniformly. The morphology and types of the carbides in spray-formed HSS are different from those in as-cast HSS. The results of the high temperature tensile experiment show that, as to spray-formed HSS, there is a possibility of superplastic deformation in the range of 780-810℃.

Effect of quenching temperature on structure and properties of centrifugal casting high speed steel roll

The critical points and time-temperature-transformation(TTT)curves of the isothermal transformation diagrams for a high-speed steel casting on a horizontal centrifugal casting machine had been determined experimentally in the study.The effects of quenching temperature on the microstructures and properties of centrifugal casting high speed steel(HSS)roll has been investigated using scanning electron microscopy(SEM), light optical microscopy(LOM)and X-ray diffraction(XRD)as well as using tensile,impact,and hardness tests. The results show that the HSS roll has excellent hardenability and its matrix structure can be transformed into the martensite after being quenched in the sodium silicate solution.The retained austenite in the quenching structure increases and the hardness decreases when the quenching temperature exceeds 1,040℃.The tensile strength and impact toughness of HSS roll increase once the quenching temperature is raised from 980℃to 1,040℃. However,the tensile strength and impact toughness have no significant change when the quenching temperature exceeds 1,040℃.The HSS roll quenched at 1,040℃exhibits excellent comprehensive mechanical properties.

Effect of casting technology on microstructure and phases of high carbon high speed steel

The as-cast microstructures of high carbon high speed steels （HC-HSS） made by sand casting, centrifugal casting and electromagnetic centrifugal casting, respectively, were studied by using of optical microscopy （OM） and D/max2200pc X-ray diffraction. The results show that the microstructure of as-cast HC- HSS is dominated by alloy carbides （W2C, VC, Cr7C3）, martensite and austenite. The centrifugal casting and electromagnetic centrifugal casting apparently improve the solidification structure of HCoHSS. With the increase of magnetic intensity （B）, the volume fraction of austenite in the HC-HSS solidification structure increases significantly while the eutectic ledeburite decreases. Moreover, the secondary carbides precipitated from the austenite are finer with more homogeneous distribution in the electromagnetic centrifugal castings. It has also been found that the lath of eutectic carbide in ledeburite becomes finer and carbide phase spacing in eutectic ledeburite increases along with the higher magnetic field strength.

Effect of High Pressure Heat Treatment on Microstructure and Compressive Properties of Low Carbon Steel

The effect of high pressure heat treatment on microstructure and compressive properties of low carbon steel were investigated by optical microscope,transmission electron microscope,hardness tester and compression test methods.The results show that martensite appears in low carbon steel at 1-5GPa GPa and 950°C for 15 minutes treatment,high pressure heat treatment can improve the hardness and compressive properties of the steel,the yield strength of the steel increases with increasing pressure,and its compressive properties are better than that treated under normal pressure quenching.

Effect of Fast Cooling Rate on the Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of Low-Carbon High-Strength Steel Annealed in the Intercritical Region

The effect of fast cooling rate on the microstructure and mechanical properties of low-carbon high-strength steel annealed in the intercritical region was investigated using a Gleeble 1500 thermomechanical simulator and a continuous annealing thermomeehanical simulator. The results showed that the microstructure consisted of ferrite and bainite as the main phases with a small amount of retained austenite and martensite islands at cooling rate of 5 and 50 ℃/s, respectively. Fast cooling after continuous annealing affected all constituents of the microstructure. The mechanical properties were improved considerably. Ultimate tensile strength （U-TS） increased and total elongation （TEL） decreased with increasing cooling rate in all specimens. The specimen 1 at a cooling rate of 5 ℃/s exhibited the maximum TEL and UTSxTEL （20% and 27 200 MPa%, respectively） because of the competition between weakening by presence of the retained austenite plus the carbon indigence by carbide precipitation, and strengthening by martensitic islands and precipitation. The maximum UTS and YS （1 450 and 951 MPa, respectively） were obtained for specimen 2 at a cooling rate of 50 ℃/s. This is attributed to the effect of dispersion strengthening of finer martensite islands and the effect of precipitation strengthening of carbide precipitates.

Effect of an Organic Inhibitor on the Electrical Properties of High Carbon Steel in Simulated Acid Environment

The effect of 1-Phenyl-3-Methyl Pyrazol-5-one (HPMP) on the electrical properties of high carbon steel in Hydrochloric acid (HCI), Trioxonitrate (v) acid (HNO3) and Perchloric acid (HCIO4) was studied by weight loss method. The acidic medium caused a complete degradation of the electrical properties of the coated and uncoated high carbon steel. However, the attack was more on the uncoated coupons, which showed that HPHP is an effective corrosion inhibitor. HNO3 had the most severe effect on the metal. The coupons coated with HPMP generally had higher values of resistance (0.0155 Ω) and conductivity (6.20 mho/m) in HCI environment than the uncoated coupons (0.0043 Ω) and (1.72 mho/m). Similar results were obtained for HNO3 and HCIO4 environments. These values are lower than the values obtained for as-received coupons: -0.0466 and 8.64 mho/m respectively.

High-temperature mechanical properties of near-eutectoid steel

The high-temperature mechanical properties of near-eutectoid steel were studied with a Cleeble-1500 simu- lation machine. Zero strength temperature （ZST）, zero ductility temperature （ZDT）, hot ductility curves, and strength curves were measured. Two brittle zones and one plastic zone were found in the temperature range from the melting point to 600℃. Embrittlement in zone I is caused by the existence of liquid film along dendritic interfaces. Ductility loss in zone Ⅲ mainly results from precipitates and inclusions as well as S segregation along grain boundaries. Pearlite transformation also accounts for ductility deterioration in the temperature range of 700-600℃. Moreover, the straightening temperature of the test steel should be higher than 925℃ for avoiding the initiation and propagation of surface cracks in billets.

High Speed Steel and WC Particle-Reinforced Composites Produce by Spray Forming

The process of spray forming utilized to fabricate WC particle-reinforced high speed steel composites has been studied. In addition, microstructures and mechanical properties of M2 high speed steel and its composites made by spray forming have been analyzed. The results show that the primary carbides of high speed steel are of two types: MC and MbC. With the increase in flight distance, the morphology of the primary carbides varies from fine fish-bone-like to islandlike and both bending strength and hardness increase. With the increase in volume fraction of WC reinforcement particles,hardness of the composites increases considerably, but bending strength, however, appears to be a decreasing tendency.

Alloying Elements in High Speed Steels

Effects of alloying elements,Si,Nb,Ti,W,Mo,V,Al and rare earth metals on the microstructure and properties of high speed steels(HSSs) have been reviewed.More attention is paid to effects of Si on the secondary hardening and V on the morphology of eutectic carbides in HSSs.A lot of work has been carried out on the behavior of alloying elements in HSSs in the past decade,and some new types of HSSs containing silicon,aluminum or rare earth metals have been successfully developed in the world.

Cu Partitioning Behavior and Its Effect on Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of 0.12C-1.33Mn-0.55Cu Q&P Steel

Cu, as an austenitic stable element, is added to steel in order to suppress the adverse effects of high content of C and Mn on welding. Based on C partitioning, Cu and Mn partitioning can further improve the stability of retained austenite in the intercritical annealing process. A sample of low carbon steel containing Cu was treated by the intercritical annealing, then quenching process（I＆Q）. Subsequently, another sample was treated by the intercritical annealing, subsequent austenitizing, then quenching and partitioning process（I＆Q＆P）. The effects of element partitioning behavior in intercritical region on the microstructure and mechanical properties of the steel were studied. The results showed that after the I＆Q process ferrite and martensite could be obtained, with C, Cu and Mn enriched in the martensite. When intercritically heated at 800 ℃, Cu and Mn were partitioned from ferrite to austenite, which was enhanced gradually as the heating time was increased. This partitioning effect was the most obvious when the sample was heated at 800 ℃ for 40 min. At the early stage of α→γ transformation, the formation of γ was controlled by the partitioning of carbon, while at the later stage, it was mainly affected by the partitioning of Cu and Mn. After the I＆Q＆P process, the partitioning effect of Cu and Mn element could be retained. C was assembled in retained austenite during the quenching and partitioning process. The strength and elongation of I＆Q＆P steel was increased by 5 305 MPa% compared with that subjected to Q＆P process. The volume fraction of retained autensite was increased from 8.5% to 11.2%. Hence, the content of retained austenite could be improved significantly by Mn and Cu partitioning, which increased the elongation of steel.

Improvement of High-Temperature Mechanical Properties of Low-Carbon RAFM Steel by MX Precipitates

To investigate the influence of tantalum content on high-temperature mechanical properties of low-carbon reduced acti- vation ferritic/martensitic （RAFM） steels, RAFM steels containing different tantalum contents （0 and 0.073%） were fabricated, and the tensile tests at room temperature and high temperature were performed, as well as the creep tests were conducted at 550 ~C with the applied stress of 180 and 220 MPa. It was found that 0.073% tantalum addition results in the increase in amount of stable carbonitrides （MX）, and the creep rupture time of the steel under 180 MPa is obviously increased. In addition, the increase in MX caused by tantalum addition also leads to the improvement of high-temperature tensile strength. The improvement of high-temperature mechanical properties of RAFM steels is primarily related to the evolution of precipitates.

Effect of Austempering–Partitioning on the Bainitic Transformation and Mechanical Properties of a High-Carbon Steel

The 1.1C-1.5Si-1.1Mn1.4Cr-0.5Mo-0.6Al-0.6Co （in wt%） steel was treated, respectively, by isothermal austempering process and newly developed austempering-partitioning-tempering process （A-P-T）. After austempering at 250, 280 and 300 ℃ for 38, 20 and 10 h, respectively, the sample microstructures were composed of bainitic ferrite plates and film-like retained austenite with thicknesses between 60 and 150 nm. The highest tensile strength of 2003 MPa and hardness value of 53.9 HRC were obtained for the steel after austempering at 250 ℃ for 38 h, resulting from the combining effect of super-saturated martensite decarburization and stabilization of bainitic formation. After A-P-T treating （heated at 300 ℃ for 8 h following water cooling, and then heated at 300 ℃ for 2 h following air cooling）, bamboo leaf-like martensite, primary and secondary bainites and retained austenite were observed. The thickness of the secondary bainitic ferrite plates formed during partitioning is much smaller than that of the primary bainite formed during 300 ℃ austempering. Samples subjected to A-P-T treatment showed improvement in ductility compared to that subjected to austempering.

Microstructure, Mechanical Properties and Wear Behaviourof Deep-Cryogenic-Treated HSS

In this paper we compare the wear behaviour of a vacuum-heat-treated ESR AISI M2 high-speed steel and the same steel that was vacuum heat treated in conjunction with a deep-cryogenic treatment at -196 °C. Four different tempering temperatures for the specimens austenized at the same austenitizing temperature were carefully selected to obtain various in-advance-determined combinations of the microstructures, the fracture toughness, KIc and the Rockwell-C hardness. Each of the eight specimens was therefore characterised by these microstructures and resulting material properties. The wear study was performed using a reciprocating sliding device under well-controlled contact conditions. Relatively high loads were used to provide enough wear for a comparison of the selected samples. A much harder and dissimilar model counter-material, i.e. silicon nitride ceramic, was used in order to avoid excessive wear of the counter samples and adhesion, which could occur in contacts with similar materials (metals/steels) under such high loads and in non-lubricated conditions. The wear behaviours were then compared and discussed in terms of these microstructures and the related properties. The differences in the wear resistance obtained in our investigation were as high as an order of magnitude. However, the beneficial effects are not a direct result of the type of the treatment, but relate to a proper combination of the resulting fracture toughness and the hardness. The more uniform and moderate values, which, however, tend to be obtained with a deep-cryogenic treatment, are beneficial to the high wear resistance of the selected high-speed steel.

Evolution of carbides and carbon content in matrix of an ultra-high carbon sintered steel during heat treatment process

DTA, thermal expansion, XRD, and SEM were used to evaluate the effect of quenching temperature on the mechanical properties and microstructure of a novel sintered steel Fe-6Co-1Ni-5Cr-5Mo-1C. Lattice parameters and the mass fraction of carbon dissolved in the matrix of the steel quenched were investigated. It is discovered that the hardness of the steel increases with quenching temperature in the range of 840-900℃ and remains constant in the range of 900 to 1100℃. It decreases rapidly when the temperature is higher than 1100℃. The mass fraction of carbon dissolved in the matrix of the steel quenched at 840℃ is 0.38, but when the quenching temperature is increased to 1150℃, it increases to 0.98. The carbides formed during sintering are still present at grain boundaries and in the matrix of the steel quenched at low quenching temperatures, such as 840℃. When the quenching temperature is increased to 1150℃, most of the carbides at grain boundaries are dissolved with just a small amount of spherical M23C6 existing in the matrix of the quenched steel.

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.

High Carbon Alloy Steels with Multiple Types of Ultra-fine Carbides and Their Characteristics

Under normal forging and annealing conditions, there are different ultra fine carbides (M3C, M23C6, M7Cj, M6C and MC) in high carbon alloy steels when alloy composition design is carried out properly. On the basis of carbides transformation orderliness, the alloy composition design of the high carbon alloy steels is conducted by phase-equilibrium thermodynamic calculation for Fe-Cr-W-Mo-V-C system. The nucleation and growth of new carbides, dissolution of previous partial carbides in these steels during annealing process, all these lead to ultra-fine distribution of carbides. Due to different crystal structures of carbides and different thermodynamics as well dynamics parameters of the carbides dissolution and precipitation, the range of quenching temperature of these steels is widened, and the good temper-resistance is obtained. The characteristics of heat treatment process and microstructure variance, and the carbides transformation for different temperature are explained by the phase-equilibrium component satisfactorily. Their bend and yield strength, flexibility and toughness all are advanced markedly comparing with that of kindred steels. Results of the applications have proved that the microstructure of ultra-fine carbides in these steels played importance roles in the enhancement of edginess and fatigue crack resistance of the die and knives.

Microstructure and Property of High Carbonic-Chromium Cast Steel with Different Hot Deformation Ratio

The microstructure and properties of high carbonic-chromium cast steel subjected to different hot deformation ratios were studied.The experimental results show that the microstructure and properties of high carbonic-chromium cast steel are obviously improved after hot deformation,and the best mechanical properties of the cast steel can be obtained under hot deformation ratio of 40 %-50 %,which leads to the morphology change of eutectic carbide and the precipitation of granular carbides.

Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of 1,000 MPa Ultra-High Strength Hot-Rolled Plate Steel for Coal Mine Refuge Chamber

The 1,000 MPa ultra-high strength hot-rolled plate steel with low-carbon bainitic microstructure was developed in the laboratory for coal mine refuge chamber. The static recrystallization behavior, microstructure evolution, and mechanical properties of this hot-rolled plate steel were investigated by the hot compression, continuous cooling trans- formation, and tensile deformation test. The results show that the developed steel has excellent mechanical properties at both room and elevated temperature, and its microstructure mainly consists of lath bainite, granular bainite, and ferrite after thermal-mechanical control process （TMCP）. The ultra-high strength plate steel is obtained by the TMCP process in hot rolling, strengthened by bainitic transformation, microstructure refinement, and precipitation of alloying elements such as Nb, Ti, Mo, and Cu. The experimental steel has relatively low welding crack sensitivity index and high atmospheric corrosion resistance index. Therefore, the developed steel has a good balance of strength and ductility both at room and elevated temperature, weldability and corrosion resistance, and it can suffice for the basic demands for materials in the manufacture of coal mine refuge chamber.

Effect of RE-Modifier on Microstructure and Mechanical Property of High-Carbon Medium-Manganese Steel

The effect of RE-modifier on the microstructure and mechanical properties of high carbon-medium manganese steel has been investigated in present work.The results showed that the RE-modifier can refine the crystalline grain of high-carbon medium-manganese steel.The shape and distribution of carbides are improved and the columnar grains and phosphide in grain boundary are eliminated.Consequently,the impact toughness of the steel is increased by more than one time,compared with no addition of RE-modifier.