Effect of Different Production Technologies on Microstructure and Properties of Tungsten–Molybdenum High‐Speed Steel

Three high‐speed steels (HSSs) with similar compositions are analyzed to investigate the influence of different production technologies on microstructure and properties. Bending tests, scanning electron microscopy, and transmission electron microscopy analyses are conducted. The carbides in powder metallurgy HSSs are the smallest and uniformly dispersed, while those in spray‐formed HSSs exhibit small‐scale segregation. In electroslag remelted HSSs, the carbides are distinctly banded. In regions where carbide aggregations are present, the atomic arrangement at the interfaces is disordered. Under bending loads, microcracks primarily initiate around large carbides and carbide aggregations, and then propagate along the paths where carbides are aggregated. Consequently, the flexural strength of powder metallurgy HSSs is higher than that of spray‐formed and electroslag remelted HSSs.