On the Presence of Eta Carbide in the Cryogenically Treated High Speed Steel

The research in the cryogenic treatment of tool steels and other alloy steels is important as it causes substantial increase in the wear characteristics of alloy and tool steels. The present day research of this technology indicates precipitation of submicroscopic carbides referred to as eta carbides. This work comprises of reviewing the carbide types that form during heat treatment of high speed steels and presenting the results of the experiment for finding eta carbide in the cryogenically treated AISI T42 high speed steels using advanced microscopy. The results of this work indicate the contribution from the other secondary carbides (other than eta carbides) in the enhancement of wear characteristics in high speed steels.