Influence of trace elements and heat treatment on carbide morphology and properties of CD-2 steel

The purpose of the current investigation was to develop a modified ledeburi te cast die steel with granular carbide, which, different from the conventi onal ledeburite cast die steel CD-2 with network carbide, had higher streng th and toughness. By adding trace elements, grain and eutectic in the steel were refined, with a concomitant increase in divorced eutectic and decreas e in segregation of Cr and Mo. After heat treatment between 1100 and 1130 d egrees C, network carbide changed into a granular form. As a result, the mo dified CD-2 steel with granular carbide gave higher impact toughness, fract ure toughness and resistance to fatigue crack propagation compared to conve ntional CD-2 steel. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science S.A. All rights reserved.