CHANGEMENTS OF MECHANICAL-PROPERTIES OF ALLOYED STEELS BY THERMOMECHANICAL PROCESSING

Two high alloy tool steels of a similar type were ausformed in the temperature range of the metastable austenite. Swaging and forward extrusion were chosen as deformation process. As long as characteristic properties such as deformation velocities, deformation temperatures and the local distribution of deformation temperatures are similar, the mechanical behaviour of the material is mostly independent of the deformation processes. Mechanical properties, such as tensile strength and yield point, increase by ausforming in comparison to the quenched and annealed material condition. Values for ductility slightly drop. The work hardening capability cannot be related to any specific ausforming process.