Microstructure And Mechanical Properties Of A Cold-Work Tool Steel Produced Via Electron Beam Melting (EBM)

Electron Beam Melting (EBM) is one of the most promising techniques within Metal Additive Manufacturing (AM) techniques, which currently is for the fabrication of high performance components for the aerospace and medical industries, mostly. Among the industrial applications envisioned for the future of EBM, the fabrication of high carbon steels for the tooling industry is of great interest.In this study, martensitic highly alloyed (Cr-Mo-V) cold-work tool steel was processed by EBM. A suitable heat treatment was proposed in order to obtain an optimal microstructure, which was studied by means of optical and scanning-electron microscopy. The performance of the material was evaluated based on the hardness achieved and the abrasive wear resistance of the material processed through EBM when compared with that of the conventionally produced state.