In this study, Cu–25WC, Ni–25WC, and Fe–25WC (all in wt%) composite powders were produced via mechanical alloying (MA) and characterized for their potential utilization in particulate materials based technologies. The changes in the crystallite size (D) and lattice strain (ε) during the production of WC particle reinforced Cu, Fe, and Ni composite powders via MA were investigated. The Williamson–Hall (W–H) plot analysis and fundamental parameters approach (FPA) applied with Lorentzian function were used to evaluate ε and D of matrix phases from XRD results. With increasing MA, ε values of all matrix phases showed an increase whereas D values showed a decrease. In addition to that, lattice parameters a_Cu and a_Ni changed linearly with time, and a_Fe displayed a slight decrease. The XRD peak belonging to the Cu (111) plane shifted towards larger 2-theta angles in the same direction. Contrary to Cu, the Fe (110) peak shifted to lower angles with MA time. However, the XRD peak belonging to the Ni (111) plane changed alternately. Similar results were obtained from both W–H plot analysis and the FPA calculations. Minimum crystallite size and maximum internal strain rates were estimated for 8 h MA’ed Cu25WC, Fe25WC, and Ni25WC composite powders as 14.63 nm and 1.39%, 7.60 nm and 1.23%, and 17.65 nm and 1.13%, respectively. Transmission electron microscope observations were found in good agreement with the crystallite size of XRD calculations.

In this work, a highly alloyed cold work tool steel, Uddeholm Vanadis 4 Extra, was manufactured via the electron beam melting (EBM) technique. The corresponding material microstructure and carbide precipitation behavior as well as the microstructural changes after heat treatment were characterized, and key mechanical properties were investigated. In the as-built condition, the microstructure consists of a discontinuous network of very fine primary Mo- and V-rich carbides dispersed in an auto-tempered martensite matrix together with ≈15% of retained austenite. Adjusted heat treatment procedures allowed optimizing the microstructure by the elimination of Mo-rich carbides and the precipitation of fine and different sized V-rich carbides, along with a decrease in the retained austenite content below 2%. Hardness response, compressive strength, and abrasive wear properties of the EBM-manufactured material are similar or superior to its as-HIP forged counterparts manufactured using traditional powder metallurgy route. In the material as built by EBM, an impact toughness of 16–17 J was achieved. Hot isostatic pressing (HIP) was applied in order to further increase ductility and to investigate its impact upon the microstructure and properties of the material. After HIPing with optimized protocols, the ductility increased over 20 J.

In the present study, Uddeholm Vancron SuperClean cold work tool steel was investigated concerning wear resistance and fatigue strength, using laboratory and semi-industrial tests. The Uddeholm Vancron SuperClean was designed with the help of ThermoCalc calculations to contain a high amount of a carbonitride phase, which was suggested to improve tribological performance of this tool steel. In order to investigate the tested steel, galling tests with a slider-on flat-surface tribotester and semi-industrial punching tests were performed on an advanced high-strength steel, CP1180HD. Uddeholm Vanadis 8 SuperClean containing only a carbide phase and Uddeholm Vancron 40 containing a mixture of carbides and carbonitrides were also tested to compare the performance of the tool steels. The microstructure and wear mechanisms were characterized with scanning electron microscopy. It was found that the carbonitrides presented in Uddeholm Vancron SuperClean improved its resistance to material transfer and galling. Semi-industrial punching tests also confirmed that Uddeholm Vancron SuperClean cold work tool steel also possesses enhanced resistance to chipping and fatigue crack nucleation, which confirms the beneficial role of the carbonitride phase in wear resistance of cold work tool steel.