Structural and phase changes in carbides of the high-speed steel upon heat treatment

The effect of austenitizing temperature on structural and phase changes in carbides of the tungsten–molybdenum high-speed steel has been studied. The results of metallographic analysis and energy dispersive microanalysis have been discussed. It has been shown that an increase in austenitizing temperature from 1180 to 1260°C causes structural transformations in carbide particles of eutectic origin crushed upon hot plastic deformation, which are related to their dissolution and coalescence, and changes in the phase composition of the carbides themselves.