Microstructure characterization and mechanical behaviour of laser additive manufactured ultrahigh-strength M54 steel

Abstract

Ultra high-strength M54 steel blocks were fabricated by laser metal deposition. The microstructure and mechanical behavior of the material were investigated systematically. The microstructure of the as-deposited M54 steel is anisotropic; the cross-section (XOY plane) has a cellular structure, whereas the longitudinal section (XOZ and YOZ planes) shows a mixture of alternating cellular and columnar forms. Compositional segregation is present at the cell walls (interdendritic regions) in the as-deposited state, resulting in retained austenite at the cell walls. The cross-sectional XOY plane contains 10.08% austenite, whereas the XOZ and YOZ planes contain 24.59% and 22.4% austenite, respectively. The retained austenite at the cell wall (interdendritic region) has low thermal and mechanical stability and disappears after the cryogenic treatment or is transformed into martensite during a tensile test. The as-deposited samples show anisotropic mechanical properties. The transverse samples exhibit stronger transformation-induced plasticity (TRIP) and work hardenability with a lower yield strength of 662 MPa and higher ultimate strength of 1982 MPa, corresponding to a higher amount of retained austenite in this direction. The longitudinal ultimate strength and yield strength are 1832 MPa and 997 MPa, respectively. The ductility and toughness are also largely anisotropic, and their reduction in the transverse direction is only 1/3 of that in the longitudinal direction. The Vickers hardness of the microstructure increases slightly from the bottom to the middle and upper part of the sample due to less thermal cycling in the upper part.