Structural-phase changes in high-speed steel surfacing during tempering and electron beam treatment

Studying the structure and phase composition of high-speed steel R2M9 surfacing of medium-carbon steel 30KhGSA, transmission and scanning electron microscopy, X-ray phase and X-ray structural analysis were used. Heat treatment included three-fold high-temperature tempering with subsequent irradiation with pulsed electron beams. The solid solution based on α-iron is the main phase in the initial state and after heat treatment; the γ-phase is present in a small amount (3–5 mas.%). The lattice parameter of both phases decreases after tempering. Irradiation of the deposited layer with electron beams is accompanied by an increase in the crystal lattice parameter of the α-phase and its decrease for the γ-phase. The paper discusses reasons of the observed patterns. It has been established that the deposited layer is characterized by the presence of a carbide frame containing carbides of complex composition MeC, Me₆C, Me₂₃C₆, Me₇C₃, which is not destroyed after tempering and electron beam treatment. Carbide of composition Me₆C is the main phase forming the frame, and MeC is formed after tempering and electron beam treatment. The martensitic structure formed during surfacing contains nanosized inclusions of the second phase of the composition MoC, Mo₂C, Me₆C with a size of 20–45 nm, located in the martensite plates’ volume and along the boundaries. Their volume fraction decreases to 19 mas.% after tempering and additional irradiation with electron beams.

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