MICROSTRUCTURE AND WEAR RESISTANCE OF THE LASER HARDENED PM TOOL STEEL VANADIS 6

摘要

Laser hardening of previously unhardened PM tool steel Vanadis 6 was studied. It was found that the best combination of properties was achieved, applying the laser beam of 700 W and the scan speed of 300 mm/min. In this case, the microhardness values ranged from 330 to 540 HV0.3 and case depth from 7.3 to 7.8 mm, volumetric wear equaled to 2.4 mm~3, what is, however, 2 times larger wear than that of conventionally hardened steel. This result can be explained by the large amount of retained austenite.