Thermocyclic regulation of the morphology and size distribution of eutectic carbides in high-speed steel

The influence of the temperature and time of softening thermocyclic annealing on the morphology and size distribution of carbides in high-speed steel is investigated. It is established that hot plasticity is facilitated by globular microstructure, when round carbides are uniformly distributed throughout the ferrite matrix. Thermocyclic treatment of high-speed steel creates a structural state with desirable carbide morphology. For maximum effectiveness, thermocyclic treatment is combined with holding at maximum and minimum temperatures. Research permits the development of thermocyclic treatment of hot-rolled high-speed steel bar in industrial chamber furnaces.