Effect of the continuous electron beam process treatment in the surface modification of T10 steel

Surface modification is an important component of improving mechanical properties in mold manufacturing. In the present work, the microstructure and properties of modification layer and the influence of the continuous electron beam process parameters on modification layer of T10 steel are investigated by using a scanning electron beam. Morphology of cross-section presents a stack shape after treatment. Meanwhile the microstructure of cross-section consists of three parts: remelted layer, heat affected zone and substrate. Microstructure of remelted layer consists of acicular and lath martensite and the grains are uniform and tiny after treatment. Surface microhardness increases before decreasing, and the microhardness of sample surface increases to 839HV from 252HV, the statistics after treatment is three times as much as that before treatment. According to the influence of continuous electron beam process on modification layer, surface microhardness increases nonlinear with the increasing beam current, surface roughness increases after decreasing with the increasing beam current, while wear resistance increases before decreasing with the increasing beam current.