Specifics of Microstructure and Phase Composition of High-Speed Steel R6M5

Abstract

In this paper microstructure, morphology, elemental composition, phase composition and crystal structure of the sample steel R6M5 were investigate by using the methods of scanning electron microscopy, electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD) analysis and X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis. Determined that the microstructure of steel R6M5 after hardening and three-time tempering consists of tempered martensite and solid carbide M6C and MC-type with spherical shape and a diameter of less than 3 μm. Detected that the volume fraction of each carbide amounted to 10.4±0.6% and 2.3±0.4% - for grey and bright carbides, respectively, and that the sizes of bright carbides particles in the microstructure of steel R6M5 are 0.4-4,5 μm, and the sizes of grey carbides particles are 0.5-1.1 μm. XRD analysis showed that the main carbides in the studied steel are carbides М6С and MC, which have complicated the FCC crystal lattice and the Fd3m spatial group. Determined that carbides are uniform and monocrystalline. ESBD analysis with the support of the XRD analysis showed that carbides spherical shape М6С fit to Fe3W3C composition.