Spark Plasma co-Sintering of hot work and high speed steel powders for fabrication of a novel tool steel with composite microstructure

► AISI H13 and AISI M3:2 spark plasma co-sintered to obtain a hybrid tool steel. ► Densification occurs at lower temperature in H13 than M3:2. ► Co-sintering is made difficult by the different densification kinetics of H13 and M3:2. ► A reduced particle size promotes more efficient co-sintering (higher density). ► Properties of hybrid tool steel can be modulated by changing composition.