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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]

The microstructure and properties of Fe-1.50 wt%B-0.40 wt%C high-speed steel (i.e. High boron high-speed steel, HBHSS) containing various Al contents have been investigated. The results show that the microstructure of HBHSS is composed of martensite, a little M 6 (C,B) and a large number of eutectic M 2 B borides. With the increase of aluminum, the martensite can reduce and lots of ferrite and pearlite occur, while M 2 B boride is gradually refined and isolated. Meanwhile, most of aluminum is mainly segregated within the ferrite grains. The room tensile strength of the steel begins to decrease when Al content exceeds 0.6 wt%, whereas the fracture and impact toughness are remarkably enhanced. A little aluminum can maintain high-temperature tensile stress of the steel at 500 °C and simultaneously improve its elongation. The high-density dislocations can be formed within Al-segregated ferrite zone to exhibit the strengthening and toughening roles, and a possible orientation relationship between (Fe,Cr) 2 B and multi-component M 2 B is (110) (Fe,Cr)2B ∕∕ (110) M2B in the steels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]