Phase Transformation of M2 High Speed Steel during Semi-Solid Cooling and Conventional Cooling

Abstract:

In this paper, the fundamental microstructure evolution of M2 high speed steel was investigated during semi-solid controlled cooling and conventional cooling, respectively. Semi-solid controlled cooling was conducted at 1260 °C with cooling rates from 0.1 to 10 °C/s, while conventional cooling was conducted at 1200 °C and 890 °C with different cooling rates. The continuous cooling transformation curves were plot according to the microstructure evolution. The results showed that microstructure transformation behavior of cooling structure in semi-solid temperature range was different from that of conventional process. For semi-solid specimen, the solid austenite dissolved more alloy elements, and the austenite stability was increased. The solid matrix was pearlite structure in the samples with cooling rate of 0.1 °C /s. When the cooling rate reached 1 °C/s, the granular pearlite disappeared and martensite lath was formed. The structure was relatively uniform, on which there were large carbide with regular shape. The solidified liquid phase showed a network shape surrounding the solid particles. The size of solid particles showed a decreasing trend with the increase of cooling rates. For conventional cooling process, the large eutectic M₆C carbide and the small precipitated MC carbide could not be dissolved by austenitized at 890 °C. Increasing the austenitization temperature helped dissolving part of the carbides. The hardenability of M2 steel was high. The hardness has increased to a high level for both semi-solid and conventional specimens when cooling rate reached 1 °C/s. No obvious increase happened when cooling rate continued increasing.

• Periodical: Solid State Phenomena (Volume 327)
• Pages: 105-110
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.4028/www.scientific.net/SSP.327.105
• Online since: January 2022
• Authors: Ting Sun, Yong Jin Wang*, Ren Bo Song, Ya Zheng Liu, Jun Yanagimoto, Tom Taylor
• Keywords: M2 High Speed Steel, Microstructure Evolution, Semi-Solid Controlled Cooling

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