Investigation on microstructure, mechanical properties, and tribological behaviors of spray-formed high-vanadium high-speed steel after heat treatment

Abstract A spray-formed high-vanadium high-speed steel (HVHSS) was subjected to various heat treatment procedures, and the resulting microstructural evolution and mechanical properties were thoroughly investigated. Additionally, the influence of applied loads on the tribological behavior of HVHSS was examined. The experimental results showed that the microhardness and bending strength of HVHSS initially increased and then decreased with rising quenching temperatures, reaching their maximum values at 1150 °C. In contrast, impact toughness exhibited a steady decline. Wear tests indicated that higher applied loads resulted in larger wear volumes and specific wear rates, although the coefficient of friction decreased. Using time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (ToF–SIMS), the wear mechanisms of HVHSS were identified as abrasive wear, adhesive wear, and mild oxidative wear. These findings provide valuable insights into the composition design, post-heat treatment processes, and anti-wear behavior mechanisms of spray-formed HVHSS.