Mechanisms of microstructure formations in M50 steel melted layer by high current pulsed electron beam

In the present paper, surface melting of the M50 steel was carried out by high current pulsed electron beam (HCPEB). The microstructure evolution in the melted layer was observed using TEM. It is confirmed that the dissolution of the carbides and the diffusion of alloy elements play a determining role on the microstructure evolution. After one pulse irradiation, a mixture of twinned martensite and irregular cellular domains of austenite is observed in the melted layer due to the insufficient diffusion of alloy elements around initial carbides. The zone around initial carbides with high alloy elements content keeps as residual austenite, the zone with low alloy elements content transform into twinned martensite. When the irradiation number increases to 30 pulses, the alloy elements will diffuse into the whole melted layer. And the melted layer consists completely of cellular austenite grains with a diameter of about 150 nm. The boundary between austenite grains is amorphous structure with little higher alloy elements content.

► M50 steel was irradiated by high energy current pulsed electron beam.
► Micro-twin martensite and cellular austenite forms in the remelted layer.
► Formation of the microstructure is due to the redistribution of the metallic elements.