Control of M23C6 carbides in 0.45C–13Cr martensitic stainless steel by means of three representative heat treatment parameters

Heat treatment parameters closely control the amount of carbides in steels. In this study, the influence of three parameters (heating temperature, heating rate and cooling rate) on the area percentage of M23C6-type carbides in the quenching microstructures of 0.45C–13Cr martensitic stainless steel has been studied. The experimental results obtained in this study demonstrate that the amount of carbides in the quenching microstructures of this steel can be severely modified through the heating and cooling conditions of the heat treatment.