30.01.2013 Views

Thixoforming : Semi-solid Metal Processing

Thixoforming : Semi-solid Metal Processing

Thixoforming : Semi-solid Metal Processing

SHOW MORE
SHOW LESS

Create successful ePaper yourself

Turn your PDF publications into a flip-book with our unique Google optimized e-Paper software.

content with decreasing temperature. Microhardness measurements of the light<br />

grain boundary areas indicate that it is mainly a matter of a layer of retained austenite<br />

with fine carbide precipitations, the development of which is strongly dependent on<br />

the cooling conditions.<br />

In conclusion, it can be noted that an identification of the phase components is<br />

impossible due to the structural morphology and the low contrast of the metallographic<br />

images. Furthermore, it can be assumed based on the thermodynamic<br />

calculations and due to the higher process temperature and the, therefore, higher<br />

diffusion ability that as with steel X210CrW12, a considerable amount of secondary<br />

austenite is still formed during quenching and is subsequently martensitically<br />

transformed, so that it is metallographically not distinguishable.<br />

3.4.2.2 Microprobe Examination of the Quenched 100Cr6 Samples<br />

In Figure 3.29, a BSE image and the corresponding element distribution images of<br />

the elements silicon, manganese, chromium and carbon of a sample quenched from<br />

1425 C are depicted. Only chromium exhibits significant concentration differences,<br />

the other element being distributed fairly homogeneously. As in steel X210CrW12,<br />

the formerly liquid phase is chromium enriched, although, by means of line-scan<br />

measurements, no conclusion about the former <strong>solid</strong>–liquid phase boundary can be<br />

drawn. Thermodynamic calculations support the high segregation aptness of the<br />

chromium around the end of the <strong>solid</strong>ification of the liquid phase (Figure 3.30).<br />

Because of the faster diffusion due to the higher process temperature of steel 100Cr6,<br />

the concentration differences of the two phases are considerably less pronounced<br />

than for steel X210CrW12, so that no determination of the liquid-phase contents is<br />

possible by means of element distribution.<br />

Figure 3.29 BSE image (a) and element distribution images<br />

(Si, Mn, Cr, C) with dimensions 500 500 mm of a specimen<br />

quenched from 1425 C (b).<br />

3.4 Structural Parameter Development and Material Selectionj79

Hooray! Your file is uploaded and ready to be published.

Saved successfully!

Ooh no, something went wrong!