Retained Austenite Decomposition and Carbide Formation During Tempering a Hot-Work Tool Steel X38CrMoV5-1 Studied by Dilatometry and Atom Probe Tomography

The microstructural development of a hot-work tool steel X38CrMoV5-1 during continuous heating to tempering temperature has been investigated with the focus on the decomposition of retained austenite (Stage II) and carbide formation (Stages III and IV). Investigations have been carried out after heating to 673.15 K, 773.15 K, 883.15 K (400 °C, 500 °C, 610 °C) and after a dwell time of 600 seconds at 883.15 K (610 °C). Dilatometry and atom probe tomography were used to identify tempering reactions. A distinctive reaction takes place between 723.15 K and 823.15 K (450 °C and 550 °C) which is determined to be the formation of M₃C from transition carbides. Stage II could be evidenced with the atom probe results and indirectly with dilatometry, indicating the formation of new martensite during cooling. Retained austenite decomposition starts with the precipitation of alloy carbides formed from nanometric interlath retained austenite films which are laminary arranged and cause a reduction of the carbon content within the retained austenite. Preceding enrichment of substitutes at the matrix/carbide interface in the early stages of Cr₇C₃ alloy carbide formation could be visualised on the basis of coarse M₃C carbides within the matrix. Atom probe tomography has been found to be very useful to complement dilatational experiments in order to characterise and identify microstructural changes.