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Abstract: Innovative technological processes allow the formation of unconventional structures with specific mechanical properties even when using conventional materials. One of many possibilities is the treatment of metal alloys in the semi-solid state. In this experiment thixoforming technology was examined by processing X210Cr12 steel with rapid solidification of the liquid phase. The steel is ledeburitic in its basic state and, after conventional heat treatment, it is usually used in the state of tempered martensite. During treatment in the region between the solid and liquid state with rapid cooling, a structure made up of 96% of globular austenitic formations with the rest consisting of a carbide network is obtained from the initial structure of primary and secondary carbides distributed in a ferrite matrix. The aim of this experiment was to describe the structure and confirm its stability under various conditions of the subsequent heat treatment, and also determine its behaviour during mechanical loading. The structures were analysed via light and laser confocal microscopy. The volume fractions of individual phases were determined by means of X-ray diffraction analysis. The hardness of individual components varies from 320 to 400 HV0.05 for austenite formations and approx. 550 HV0.05 for the carbide network. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]