Microstructural investigations in the semi-solid state of the steel X210CrW12

Thixoforming is an emerging young technology to produce complex structural parts and near net shape components. Thixoforming stands for the forming of materials in the semi-solid state. One precondition for the thixoformabili ty of materials is the minimum temperature range for the solidus-liquidus i nterval and the globulitic formation of the solid phase during the thixofor ming process. Besides this other parameters like shape factor, contiguity, matrix character, melting interval, and phase distribution are important pr ocess parameters, Aluminium and magnesium alloys are the objectives of nume rous investigations, but research activities concerning the thixoformabilit y of steel alloys have been commenced recently. This article provides metal lographic information on the relevant parameters of the steel X210CrW12, ta king into account the microstructural evolution and the establishment of a parameter field for forming this material in the semi-solid state.