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Microstructural characterization of laser surface melted AISI M2 tool steel
Author(s) -
ARIAS J.,
CABEZA M.,
CASTRO G.,
FEIJOO I.,
MERINO P.,
PENA G.
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
journal of microscopy
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.569
H-Index - 111
eISSN - 1365-2818
pISSN - 0022-2720
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2818.2010.03370.x
Subject(s) - materials science , microstructure , transmission electron microscopy , carbide , scanning electron microscope , laser , characterization (materials science) , layer (electronics) , surface layer , diffraction , optical microscope , metallurgy , composite material , optics , nanotechnology , physics
Summary We describe the microstructure of Nd:YAG continuous wave laser surface melted high‐speed steel, namely AISI M2, treated with different laser scanning speeds and beam diameters on its surface. Microstructural characterization of the remelted surface layer was performed using light optical and scanning electron microscopy and X‐ray diffraction. The combination of the three techniques provided new insights into the substantial changes induced by laser surface melting of the steel surface layer. The advantage of the method is that it avoids the difficult and tedious work of preparing samples of this hard material for transmission electron microscopy, which is the technique normally used to study these fine microstructures. A melted zone with a dendritic structure and a partially melted zone with a heterogeneous cellular structure were observed. M 2 C carbides with different morphologies were identified in the resolidified surface layer after laser melting.