Opticalmicroscope,stereomicroscope,scanningelectronicmicroscope(SEM)andmechanicalpropertytestingwereusedtoresearchtheeffectsofdifferentquenchingtemperaturesonthemicrostructureandmechanicalpropertiesoftheH13mandrelsteel.Theresultsindicatethatfollowinganincreaseinthequenching,thedegreeofalloyingisenhancedduetothecarbidesdissolvinggraduallyinaustenite,whichimprovesthehardenabilityofthespecimens,aswellastheirroomandhigh-temperaturestrength.Atthesametime,thefracturetoughnessincreasesduetotheincrementofthemartensitenumberandtheinterparticledistanceofthecarbides.However,extremelycoarsegrainandmartensitecandecreasetheimpacttoughness.Optimalperformancecanbeobtainedafterquenchingat1060℃anddoubletemperingat620℃.Consequently,theservicelifeoftheH13mandrelsteelisextendedsignificantly.
