Features of technology for manufacturing cast toolbills from rapid-cutting steel R6M5

The article presents the results of computer simulation of the crystallization of castings from high-speed steel R6M5, intended for the manufacture of cutters and gear shaping tools in the conditions of OJSC “Minsk Gear Plant”. The use of modeling made it possible to optimize the gating system, reduce this volume of the profitable part by 30–35 % and increase the yield of suitable casting, which made it possible to reduce the consumption of expensive alloying elements introduced into the melt to compensate for burnout during melting and casting.

Influence of Hot Deformation and Precipitates on the Recrystallization of Nb-V-Ti Free-Cutting Steel

Nb, V, and Ti were added to free-cutting steel to improve its mechanical properties by means of precipitation strengthening and fine grain strengthening. The process parameters during the hot deformation of Nb-V-Ti free-cutting steel were studied at strain rates of 0.01–10 s−1 and temperatures of 850–1250 °C. The isothermal compression test results showed that the temperature rise at low deformation temperature and high strain rate has a great influence on the softening of the steel. The processing maps at strains of 0.3–0.6 were established based on a dynamic material model (DMM). When the strain was 0.6, the optimum hot-working window was at a temperature in the range of 1150–1250 °C and at a strain rate in the range of 0.01–0.1 s−1. The instable regions were mainly located at low temperature and high strain rate. The instable characteristics included the mixed grains around the MnS phase, flow localization, and intense deformation. In general, the existence of MnS leads to a decrease in the toughness of the steel. The MnS phase was easy to be broken when the compression tested at a lower temperature, e.g., 850 °C and at a higher strain rate, e.g., 10 s−1; its morphology changed from a long-rod shape to a discontinuous shape, and then, to a dot-like shape with the decrease in temperature from 1250 to 850 °C and the increase in strain rate from 0.01 to 10 s−1. The nucleation mechanism of this steel was grain boundary bulging. The size of fine (Nb,Ti) (C,N) precipitates is less than 10 nm, inhibiting austenite recrystallization and leading to austenite strengthening during hot deformation at 850 °C. Moreover, the dislocation motion and grain boundary migration were greatly inhibited by the Ti-rich(C,N) and MnS throughout the entire hot deformation process.

Influence of technology parameters of free-cutting steel continuous casting on the billet internal structure

Free-cutting steel gains specific working properties thanks to the high content of sulfur and phosphorus. These elements, especially sulfur, have a rather high tendency to segregation. Therefore, segregation defects in free-cutting steel continuously cast billets can be significantly developed. The aim of the work was to study the influence of the chemical composition of freecutting steel and casting technological parameters on the quality of the macrostructure of continuously cast billets. A metallographic assessment of the internal structure of cast metal made of free-cutting steel and data processing by application of correlation and regression analysis were the research methods. The array of production data of 43 heats of free-cutting steel of grade A12 was studied. Steel casting on a five-strand radial type continuous casting machine was carried out by various methods of metal pouring from tundish into the molds. Metal of 19 heats was poured with an open stream, and 24 heats – by a closed stream through submerged nozzles with a vertical hole. High-quality billets had a cross-sectional size of 150×150 mm. The macrostructure of high-quality square billets made of free-cutting steel of A12 grade is characterized by the presence of central porosity, axial segregation and peripheral point contamination, the degree of development of which was in the range from 1.5 to 2.0 points, segregation cracks and strips – about 1.0 points. In the course of casting with an open stream, almost all of these defects are more developed comparing with the casting by a closed stream. As a result of correlation and regression analysis, linear dependences of the development degree of segregation cracks and strips both axial and angular on the sulfur content in steel and on the ratio of manganese content to sulfur content were established. The degree of these defects development increases with growing of sulfur content in steel of A12 grade. These defects had especially strong development when sulfur content in steel was of more than 0.10%. To improve the quality of cast metal, it is necessary to have the ratio of the manganese content to the sulfur content in the metal more than eight.