Formation of the carbide steel structure (high-speed steel 10R6M5 + tungsten monocarbide WC) at induction surfacing

The work is devoted to the description of the process of forming the structure of carbide steel (high-speed steel 10R6M5 + 5 – 20 wt. % of tungsten monocarbide WC) during crystallization and cooling after induction surfacing. Theoretically, the chain of transformations in liquid-solid and solid states is considered. It was experimentally shown that the crystallization process begins with a peritectical transformation. Upon further cooling, as a result of eutectic transformation, ledeburite eutectic is formed with carbides of Me₆C and Me₁₂C types. Simultaneously with the precipitation of tungsten ledeburite, crystallization of VC carbides begins, which in pure 10R6M5 steel and in carbide steel with a small amount of WC precipitate mainly in the form of separate isolated carbide precipitates. An increase in the amount of WC hardener introduced into the charge leads to predominantly eutectic crystallization of VC carbide. The morphology of primary tungsten-molybdenum ledeburite also changes from fan-shaped in pure 10R6M5 steel through a number of modifications to the classic skeletal, characteristic high-tungsten R18 steel type, in carbide steel with a significant amount of introduced WC carbides. As the deposited layer cools, two-phase transformations occur in it, leading to the precipitation of carbides such as WC, W₂C, cementite, etc. In the microstructures of all surfacings, martensite crystals are observed, caused by hardening of the deposited layers when they are cooled in air. With induction surfacing, it is possible to adjust the processes described above by selecting such modes that partially or completely allow you to “inherit” the structure of the initial deposited pressing. As a result, it is possible to prevent the precipitation of ledeburite to a greater or lesser extent and fix the WC carbide hardener in the form of groups of angular carbides around the “powders” of the fused 10R6M5 steel. Thus, the determining role of the processes occurring in the upper temperature range of crystallization (precipitation of solid solutions and release of eutectic) on the structure formation of carbide steel is shown.

1. Tarraste M., Kübarsepp J., Juhani K., Mere A., Kolnes M., Viljus M., Maaten B. Ferritic chromium steel as binder metal for WC cemented carbides. International Journal of Refractory Metals and Hard Materials. 2018;73:183–191. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijrmhm.2018.02.010

2. Chang S.-H., Chen S.-L. Characterization and properties of sintered WC–Co and WC–Ni–Fe hard metal alloys. Journal of Alloys and Compounds. 2014;585:407–413. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jallcom.2013.09.188

3. Fernandes C.M., Senos A.M.R., Vieira M.T., Antunes J.M. Mechanical characterization of composites prepared from WC powders coated with Ni rich binders. International Journal of Refractory Metals and Hard Materials. 2008;26(5): 491–498. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijrmhm.2007.12.001

4. Savinykh L.M., Dudorova T.A., Pomyalov S.Yu., Verzh­balovich T.A. Increasing the efficiency of agricultural machinery repair based on the use of tools from carbide steel. Bulletin of the Kurgan State Agricultural Academy. 2022;(4(44)):73–80. (In Russ.). https://doi.org/10.52463/22274227_2022_44_73

5. Garcia J. Influence of Fe–Ni–Co binder composition on nitridation of cemented carbides. International Journal of Refractory Metals and Hard Materials. 2012;30(1):114–120. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijrmhm.2011.07.012

6. Chang S.-H., Chang M.-H., Huang K.-T. Study on the sintered characteristics and properties of nanostructured WC-15 wt% (Fe-Ni-Co) and WC-15 wt% Co hard metal alloys. Journal of Alloys and Compounds. 2015;649:89–95. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jallcom.2015.07.119

7. Kulkov S.N., Gnyusov S.F. Carbide Steels Based on Titanium and Tungsten Carbides. Tomsk: Publishing house of scientific and technical literature; 2006:239. (In Russ.).

8. Zhang Z., Wang X., Zhang Q., Liang Y., Ren L., Li X. Fabrication of Fe-based composite coatings reinforced by TiC particles and its microstructure and wear resistance of 40Cr gear steel by low energy pulsed laser cladding. Optics and Laser Technology. 2019;119:105622. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.optlastec.2019.105622

9. Ortiz A., García A., Cadenas M., Fernández M.R., Cuetos J.M. WC particles distribution model in the cross-section of laser cladded NiCrBSi + WC coatings, for different wt% WC. Surface and Coatings Technology. 2017;324:298–306. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.surfcoat.2017.05.086

10. Klimov S.A., Noskov F.M., Tokmin A.M., Masanskii O.A. Production of carbide steels based on high-speed steel by induction surfacing. Izvestiya. Ferrous Metallurgy. 2025;68(6):581–586. https://doi.org/10.17073/0368-0797-2025-6-581-586

11. Wang Y., Mao B., Chu S., Chen S., Xing H., Zhao H., Wang S., Wang Y., Zhang J., Sun B. Advanced manufacturing of high-speed steels: A critical review of the process design, microstructural evolution, and engineering performance. Journal of Materials Research and Technology. 2023;24:8198–8240. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jmrt.2023.04.269

12. Wang H., Hong D., Hou L., Ou P., Wang Z., Shen L., Zhao H. Influence of tempering temperatures on the microstructure, secondary carbides and mechanical properties of spray-deposited AISI M3:2 high-speed steel. Materials Chemistry and Physics. 2020;255:123554. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.matchemphys.2020.123554

13. Lyu C., Zhou J., Zhang X., Yao Y., Zhang Y. Effect of heat treatment on microstructure and impact toughness of a Tungsten-Molybdenum powder metallurgical high-speed steel. Materials Science and Engineering: A. 2021;815:141268. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.msea.2021.141268

14. El’tsov V.V. Repair Welding and Surfacing of Machine and Mechanism Parts: Tutorial. Togliatti:Togliatti State University; 2012:178. (In Russ.).

15. Voloshin V.V. Soldering and Surfacing at Induction Heating. Moscow – Leningrad: Mashinostroenie; 1965:92. (In Russ.).

16. Geller Yu.A. Instrumental Steels. Moscow: Metallurgiya; 1975:584. (In Russ.).

17. Liu Y., Li J., Liang W., Gao J., Qi Y., Shang C. Precipitation behaviors of carbides in high speed steel during ESR and heat treatment. Metals. 2021;11(11);1781. https://doi.org/10.3390/met11111781

18. Gouldstein J., Newbury D., Echlin P., etc. Scanning Electron Microscopy and X-ray Microanalysis. Trans. from Eng. Moscow: Mir; 1984:303. (In Russ.).

19. Pumpyanskaya T.A., Bulanov V.Ya., Zyryanov V.G. Atlas of Structures of Iron-Based Powder Materials. Vatolin N.A., Lepinskikh B.M. eds. Moscow: Nauka; 1986:261. (In Russ.).

20. Gnyusov S.F., Durakov V.G. Effect of titanium and tungsten carbide on the formation of the structure and the properties of composite coatings. Part 1: The structure and phase composition of steel R6M5–(WC+TiC) coatings. Welding International. 2013;28(2):154–157. https://doi.org/10.1080/09507116.2013.796668