Characterization of the 3D-distribution of the components in Al-alloyed high speed steels with SIMS

As prices for steel products have fallen, interest in the research for nove l cheaper basic materials for steels is rising. The aim is to achieve more cost-effective production without loss of performance. The outstanding prop erties of Al and its unlimited availability have brought this element into the center of current research and development. In this study we were inves tigating high speed steels (HSS) containing 1% aluminum by direct imaging s econdary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS). Our aim was to reveal the influence of aluminum on the 3D-distribution of the metallic main and trace component s. (C) 2001 Published by Elsevier Science B.V.