Microstructure evolution and mechanical properties of PESR 55Cr17Mo1VN plastic die steel during quenching and tempering treatment

55Cr17Mo1VN high nitrogen martensitic stainless steel is usually applied to the high-quality mold, which is largely produced by the pressurized electro slag remelting process. The microstructure evolution of quenching and tempering heat treatment were investigated and an optimal heat treatment process to achieve excellent mechanical properties was found out. The main precipitates in the steel included carbon-rich type M₂₃C₆ and nitrogen-rich type M₂N. With increasing austenitizing temperature, the equivalent diameter of the precipitates got fined, and retained austenite content increased significantly when the austenitizing temperature exceeded 1020 °C. The fracture mode gradually changed from brittle fracture to ductile fracture with increasing tempering temperature from 200 to 550 °C. The experimental steel tempered at 350 °C achieved a good combination of hardness (60.6 HRC) and strength (2299.2 MPa) to meet service requirements. Flake M₂₃C₆ precipitated along martensite lath boundaries and the secondary hardening phenomenon occurred when the tempering temperature was 450 °C. Due to the high nitrogen content, M₂N precipitated from the inside of laths and matrix when tempered at 550 °C.