Crystallography and metallography of carbides in high alloy steels

The carbides in high carbon, high chromium bearing steels, high chromium carburizing steels, newly developed easily carburizable low carbon, low chromium high speed steels and M62 high speed steel fabricated by powder metal processing were studied. The particular steels evaluated include 440C, BG42. M50-Nil, CHS1, CHS50, Pyrowear 675®, CSS-42L™ and M62. The morphology and structure of the carbides were evaluated by means of metallography, X-ray diffraction and electron beam backscattered diffraction. The combination of these three techniques has provided new insight into how different carbide morphologies form during processing and the carbide structures that can be expected to be present in components fabricated from these steels by various types of heat treating.