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The solidification microstructure, crystallography of eutectic precipitations and mechanical properties of high boron steel with various aluminium and chromium concentrations have been investigated extensively in the present study, as the foundation of the further analysis about the corrosion and abrasion properties at elevated temperature. The experiment results indicate that the as-cast microstructures of test alloys mainly consist of a dendritic matrix with many interdendritic precipitations. The Fe–B binary alloy is mainly composed of ferrite, Fe 2 B and pearlite and the Fe–B–Al ternary alloy consists of α-(Fe, Al) solid solution, Fe 2 B and Fe 3 AlC 0.5 . When aluminium and chromium elements are added synchronously, the as-cast microstructure changes to α-(Fe, Al, Cr) solid solution, (Fe, Cr) 2 B boride, M 7 (C, B) 3 and M 23 (C, B) 6 borocarbides. Moreover, the nucleation and growth of M 7 (C, B) 3 borocarbide is adhere to (Fe, Cr) 2 B boride because of an interphase match between crystal plane (10 1 ( — ) 0) of M 7 (C, B) 3 and (010) of Cr-rich (Fe, Cr) 2 B. Alloy Fe-1.46 wt. % B-0.22 wt. % C-11.92wt. % Cr-8.73 wt. % Al shows the highest impact toughness value. The main fracture mode is brittle fracture of boride and tough fracture of matrix. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Extreme High-Speed Laser Metal Deposition (EHLMD) is an efficient additive manufacturing technology that can quickly form difficult-to-machine materials. However, the rapid melting and solidification of EHLMD has the characteristic of forming a metastable microstructure. This study examines the effect of different aging temperatures on the microstructure and properties of EHLMD K648 superalloy. It is found that the formation of long needle-like α-Cr phase and γ' phase at lower aging temperatures (750 °C and 800 °C) is more beneficial for improving the strength of EHLMD K648 superalloy. The tensile strength was highest at 750 °C (1236 MPa) but its elongation was low (9.4 %). As the aging temperature increased (850–900 °C), the α-Cr phase transformed into rods and small particles, resulting in a decrease in tensile strength and an increase in elongation. At 900 °C, the tensile strength was 918 MPa and the elongation was 21.0 %. With further increase in aging temperature (>900 °C), coarse carbide and α-Cr phase precipitated in EHLMD K648 superalloy, causing its tensile strength and elongation to decrease. When the aging temperature reached 1000 °C, the tensile strength and elongation decreased to 790 MPa and 13.3 %, respectively. • The microstructure and mechanical properties of EHLMD K648 superalloy were investigated by different aging temperature. • The α-Cr phase evolves from long needle-like to rod-like and coarse particles with increase of aging temperature. • As the aging temperature increases, the tensile strength gradually decreases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In present study, Fe-based composite layers were fabricated on steel substrate by laser cladding with or without the addition of Nb and B 4 C in Fe-based alloy powders. The phase composition, microstructure evolution, microhardness and wear properties of Fe-based composite layers were studied. The results showed that the phases in the Fe-based composite layer were mainly α-Fe, Fe 2 B, Cr 7 C 3 and Cr 23 C 6. The addition of Nb and B 4 C resulted in the in-situ formation of NbC phase, an increase in the amount of Fe 2 B phase, and the refinement of the microstructure in the Fe-based composite layer. The microhardness of the Fe-based composite layer was increased by 269.5 HV 0.5 and the wear resistance was improved to about 1.5 times the original wear resistance when the 5% Nb and 5% B 4 C powders were added. The wear mechanisms of both two Fe-based composite layers were abrasive wear and adhesive wear. • A new Fe-based composite layers were fabricated by laser cladding. • In-situ NbC phase was generated. • The microstructure evolution mechanism were proposed. • The microhardness and the wear resistance was improved by adding Nb and B 4 C. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract The crack-free H13 block was deposited through additive manufacturing with the cold metal transfer technology. The internal 3D pore distribution, the microstructural evolution, and the mechanical performances were explored. A negligible porosity with dispersive-distribution and spherical-shape below 0.001% guaranteed a sound metallurgical bonding within the as-deposited part. The martensite laths growth direction varied dramatically with a very short position variation, as well as the block-like size-inconsistent δ-ferrite presence in the overlap zone, which were mainly generated by the thermal flux direction from the center to margin within a single arc track. Massive second-phase particles with morphology-diversity and size-nonuniformity were precipitated, indicating a strong dependency with the intrinsic heating treatment. The enhanced microhardness in the body zone was attributed to the martensite strengthening mechanism, while slightly low hardness was produced due to the soft δ-ferrite formation. When compared with the other zones, the enhanced ultimate tensile strength was obtained in the body zone at the expense of tensile ductility, revealing a positive relationship with the rise of hard martensite percentage. This work demonstrated that a crack-free H13 block with limited porosity and desirable mechanical properties was deposited using the present technology, despite the nonhomogeneous microstructures. Highlights • A crack-free H13 block part innovatively and firstly deposited using the robotic CMT technology. • A negligible porosity even below 0.001% guaranteed a sound metallurgical bonding behavior. • Varied microstructural evolution with a very short position variation within a single arc track. • Desirable mechanical performances due to martensite strengthening and precipitation strengthening. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wire arc additive manufacturing (WAAM) technology was adopted to deposite 2Cr13 thin-wall part using robotic cold metal transfer (CMT) equipment; the process stability, phase identification, microstructural evolution, and tensile properties in different layers were investigated. The results showed that a smooth surface was obtained for each layer due to the stable droplet transfer process, which ensured a stable deposition process. Positions in different layers had no significant influence on the structural aspects of the as-fabricated part according to XRD results. Elongated ferrite grains and fine-grained acicular martensite within the matrix in the top layer were recrystallized, instead of a spatial periodicity of martensite laths within equiaxed ferrite grains in the inner layers. Martensite content was increased gradually away from the base metal in the 05–25 th layers except nearly 100% martensite in the first layer. Long axis of martensite laths was randomly distributed in the X-Y plane in the both top and middle regions, while an epitaxial growth parallel to the building direction was found in the X-Z and Y-Z planes. Higher homogeneous ultimate tensile strength (UTS) and strong anisotropy in poorer ductility were obtained for the AM part when compared with the as-solutioned counterpart. Fracture behavior was transformed from ductile to mixed-mode, and finally to brittle from the 01 st layer to the 25 th layer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]