Study on microstructure and hardness uniformity of non-quenched prehardened steel for large section plastic mould

Microstructures throughout a 460 mm × 800 mm cross-section of non-quenched prehardened (NQP) steel for plastic mould were characterized by optical microscopy, scanning electronic microscopy and transmission electronic microscopy. Strength and hardness of the NQP steel block was also tested. It is found that mechanical properties at core are close to that at surface and hardness distributes between 37 and 40 HRC through the whole section. Grains at core are coarser and deformation bands are observed at surface, while microstructures both at core and at surface are composed of bainitic ferrite laths with high dislocation density and interlath cementite and/or residual austensite. Considering continuous cooling transformation of the NQP steel, the small variation in hardness throughout the section is caused by the main microstructure bainite which possesses high hardenability. Moreover, the differences of the lath widths and dislocation density in baintic ferrite lath make hardness at surface a little higher than that at core.