Mechanical Properties of Tool Steels with High Wear Resistance via Directed Energy Deposition

Abstract

This study focused on the mechanical and metallurgical characteristics of high-wear-resistance steel (HWS) deposited using directed energy deposition (DED) for metal substrate hardfacing or repairing. As post-deposition heat treatment changes the metallurgical characteristics of deposits, the effect of post-deposition heat treatment on the mechanical properties was investigated via microstructure observation and by conducting hardness, wear, and impact tests. The obtained micro-images showed that the deposited HWS layers exhibit cellular and columnar dendrites, and the microstructure of heat-treated HWS (HT-HWS) transformed its phase during quenching and tempering. The hardness and wear resistance of the HT-HWS deposits were higher than those of the HWS deposited specimen, whereas the latter exhibited a higher fracture toughness. The matrix microstructure and carbide characteristics, which are characterized by the chemical composition of the materials, significantly influenced the mechanical properties.