A study of centrifugal cast high boron high speed steel

Abstract

In the present study a high‐boron high speed steel (HSS) roll material was designed. Many expensive alloy elements have been substituted by cheap boron alloy, and high‐boron high speed steel roll has been manufactured by centrifugal casting method. The microstructures, mechanical properties and wear resistance of centrifugal casting high‐boron high speed steel roll have been investigated by optical microscopy (OM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and X‐ray diffraction (XRD) analysis, hardness test, impact test and wear test. The results indicated that the solidification microstructures of high‐boron high speed steel roll consisted of M2(B,C), (W,Mo)2(B,C), M3(B,C), M23(B,C)6 type borocarbides and martensite, a small amount of retained austenite. Borocarbides were continuously distributed over the grain boundary. After quenching from 1050 °C, local broken network appeared in partial borocarbides, and fine secondary borocarbide precipitated from the matrix. After tempering from 525 °C, the amount of precipitated borocarbide increased significantly. After heat treatment, the hardness of high‐boron high speed steel roll excelled 60 HRC, and its impact toughness excelled 8.0 J/cm2. The single groove steel rolling amount of high‐boron high speed steel rolls increases by 500% than that of bainite cast iron roll, when the rolls are used in K1 mill housing of bar mill.