High-speed steel is widely used for cutting tools due to its convenience of preparation and cost-effectiveness. Previous research has shown that deep cryogenic treatments improve the mechanical properties of high-speed steel, due to the transformation of the residual austenite and the precipitation of carbide, while few studies have researched martensitic changes. The variations in martensite multi-level microstructures in AISI M35 high-speed steel, treated over different deep cryogenic time periods, were investigated in this study. Meanwhile, the effect of these variations on the mechanical properties of the selected steel was discussed. It was found that prolonging deep cryogenic time facilitated an increase in dislocation, low-angle grain boundary, and the coincident-site lattice boundary (especially the twin boundary) of martensite. The size of the martensite block (db) and lath (dl) decreased with deep cryogenic time. However, the effect on the microstructure was limited when the cryogenic treatment time exceeded 5 h. The increase in dislocation decreased the temperature for carbide precipitation and promoted fine carbide precipitation during tempering. The refinement of martensite multi-level microstructures and the greater precipitation of fine carbides gave the tempered specimens excellent impact toughness. The impact toughness of the tempered samples undergoing deep cryogenic treatment for more than 5 h was about 32% higher than the sample without deep cryogenic treatment.

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The effect of porosity and pore size on the quasi-static compression properties and energy absorption characteristics of the steel foam was investigated in this paper. The 316L steel foams were prepared through powder metallurgy using urea as the space holder. The macrostructure of steel foam and microstructure of the pore walls were characterized, and the quasi-static compression experiments were conducted on the specimens in the axial direction at a strain rate of 10−3 s−1. The results show that the increase in porosity decreases the yield strength and plastic modulus of the steel foam but increases the densification strain of the steel foam. The yield strength of the steel foam decreases significantly when the pore size is 2.37 mm. However, the pore size has little effect on the plastic modulus. Moreover, the energy absorption per volume of the steel foam decreases with increasing porosity at the same strain. The effect of porosity on energy absorption efficiency is greater than that of pore size.

It is crucial to conduct in‐depth research on the cryogenic‐treatment mechanism to promote the standardization and industrialization of cryogenic treatment in the high‐speed steel (HSS) industry. In this study, the microstructure and mechanical properties (microhardness and impact toughness) of AISI M35 HSS after deep‐cryogenic treatment (DCT) and conventional heat treatment (CHT) are investigated, and the microstructural characteristics at different stages of CHT and cryogenic treatment are studied. It is indicated in the results that DCT of the steel leads to the formation of fresh martensite from residual austenite, as well as the introduction of more dislocations due to plastic deformation. In addition, the deep‐cryogenic‐treated specimen that is tempered shows increased numbers of martensite blocks and secondary carbide precipitation. The carbides in the steel are mainly V‐rich (MC), W–Mo‐rich (M6C), and Cr‐rich (M23C6). The hardness of the deep‐cryogenic‐treated samples increases by approximately 50 HV1 because of the transformation of residual austenite and dislocation strengthening. Furthermore, specimens that are both deep‐cryogenic treated and tempered exhibit a 30% increase in impact toughness and a more uniform distribution in hardness, likely due to the more homogeneous precipitation of secondary carbides and refinement of martensite.