Microstructure and mechanical characterization of rapidly solidified Cr-C tool steel: Annealing effects

The effect of isochronal annealing on D2 tool steel powder, rapidly solidified via both Impulse Atomization and Water Atomization, has been evaluated using high-resolution scanning electron microscopy and Vickers microhardness. The amount of supersaturation of the alloying elements inside the retained austenite phase as a function of eutectic undercooling was calculated. The fraction of austenite transformed to ferrite at different annealing …