Influence of Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of Hot-work Tool Steel on Wear Resistance Subjected to High-stress Wear Conditions

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of dissolution of the small carbides residual from annealing and earlier processing, on the mechanical and wear properties of hot-work tool steel. Recommended as well as extreme austenitization temperatures (950 °C, 1030 °C and 1150 °C) with subsequent tempering were used aiming at same hardness level of specimens of same material. This allows correlation in wear resistance variation to the microstructural elements and variations in other mechanical properties of the investigated steel. M 23 C 6 and MC are still present at the T aus = 950 °C, which are being dissolved with higher austenitization temperature. Optimal combination of mechanical properties are obtained at recommended austenitization. Specimens subjected to lowest austenitization showed the worst abrasive wear resistance.