The properties of carbides, such as morphology, size, and type, in H13 hot work die steel were studied with optical microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, electron diffraction, and energy dispersive X-ray analysis; their size distribution and quantity after tempering, at different positions within the ingot, were analyzed using Image-Pro Plus software. Thermodynamic calculations were also performed for these carbides. The microstructures near the ingot surface were homogeneous and had slender martensite laths. Two kinds of carbide precipitates have been detected in H13: (1) MC and M₆C, generally smaller than 200 nm; and (2) M₂₃C₆, usually larger than 200 nm. MC and M₆C play the key role in precipitation hardening. These are the most frequent carbides precipitating at the halfway point from the center of the ingot, and the least frequent at the surface. From the center of the ingot to its surface, the size and volume fraction of the carbides decrease, and the toughness improves, while the contribution of the carbides to the yield strength increases.

Macroscopic surface morphology and balling mechanism of AZ61 magnesium alloy prepared by Selective laser melting (SLM) have been investigated. This article studied and analyzed the surface morphology and balling phenomenon of Mg in the laser processing from the aspects of Mg inherent metal properties and laser processing. In terms of laser processing, the results show that, in the direction of increasing scanning speed, the energy density decreases, and the phenomenon of balling and porosity on the surface of the magnesium alloy is serious. When the energy density is 133.9–187.5 J/mm³, balling particles are significantly reduced. It can be seen from the low-magnification SEM image that, even at a scanning speed of 250 mm/s (E_v is 187.5 J/mm³), there are still a few small-sized balling particles on the surface. Therefore, in terms of inherent metal properties, the wettability, capillary instability, thermodynamic, and kinetic analysis of the balling behavior of Mg and other metal (Al, Fe, Cu, Ni, Ti) droplets in the SLM process has been carried out, and the dynamic model of magnesium droplet spreading/solidification was established basic on the result of experiment and metal inherent properties. The results show that SLMed magnesium alloy is a competitive process of melt diffusion and solidification. The final result depends on the intrinsic properties of the magnesium alloy and the applied laser processing parameters. The spreading process of Mg melt is very fast. Although the solidification time of Mg melts changes slowly with the increase of metal droplet temperature, the spreading speed is still very fast due to the low melt density, so the balling phenomenon of SLMed Mg can be controlled to a certain extent. Theoretically calculated, the solidification time of Mg melt droplet is longer than the wetting time at 1173 K (900 °C), so the spreading process is dominant, which can minimize the balling and realize the densification of SLMed Mg. The dynamic spreading of molten pool, the analysis of wetting and solidification process, and the establishment of SLM balling model can provide reference for the design of the SLM forming parameters of Mg and other different metals.

The microstructure, alloying elements segregation and characteristics of primary carbides in AISI H13 steel that solidified at different cooling rate were investigated by optical microscope (OM), field emission scanning electron microscope (FE-SEM), electro-probe microanalyzer (EPMA) and automated inclusion analyzer ASPEX. The microstructure of H13 steel samples become more refined with increased cooling rate. The equation of relationship between cooling rate (RC) and secondary dendrite arm spacing (λ) for H13 steel could be expressed as λ = 175.4RC-0.322. Primary carbides are located in interdendritic region, where existed obvious Cr, Mo, V and C segregation. Higher cooling rate promoted higher alloying elements segregation and facilitated earlier precipitation of primary carbides during solidification process. The number, size, amount and mean area of primary carbides decreased significantly with the increased cooling rate, however the shape of the primary carbides were insensitive to cooling rate. Thermodynamic calculation indicated that V-rich primary carbides precipitated at solid fraction larger than 0.94, Mo-rich primary carbides precipitated at solid fraction larger than 0.99 in the cooling rate range investigated. Lower cooling rate suppressed alloying elements segregation, but the precipitation of primary carbides could not be avoided in the cooling rate range.