Influence of various heat treatment stages on evolution of microstructure and grain in H407 steel

Regarding heat treatment as one of the main methods for improving property of die steel, dead annealing, quenching, once tempering, twice tempering, and thrice tempering treatment of H407 die steel were conducted in this thesis. Microstructure conversion and grain size development in various stages of heat treatment were analyzed, and then magnitude, shape, and distribution of secondary phase during heat treatment were investigated to explore the function mechanism of microalloyed elements on evolution of microstructure and grain during heat treatment. The steel achieves homogeneous microstructure and composition after this heat treatment. The final phase constituent is α and γ phase as well as the final microstructure consists of tempered martensite, trace retained austenite and granular carbides. A large number of fine and dispersive MC as well as M 7 C 3 type granular carbides containing V, Mo and Cr precipitate in trice tempered microstructure. After this heat treatment grain is finer with grain size of 5.96 μm.