Microstructure and Properties of Selective Laser Melted High Hardness Tool Steel

Abstract

A secondary hardening tool steel material X110CrMoVAl 8-2 was successfully processed by selective laser melting (SLM), producing defect free samples of high density. The microstructure appeared irregular after SLM, which was attributed to locally different temper states in consequence of the SLM process pattern. By a subsequent heat treatment, a homogeneous microstructure with ultrafine carbide precipitations and a very high resulting hardness of 765 HV were achieved. The hardness came very close to that of the same material processed by spray forming and forging, whilst the SLM microstructure was significantly finer. Therefore this tool steel material was considered as highly promising for SLM manufacturing of tools, e.g. for micro tooling applications.