Research on Morphology and Distribution of Vanadium Carbide in High Vanadium High Speed Steel

Under the conditions of 5%～10% vanadium and 17%～32% carbon content, the morphology and distribution of vanadium carbide in the high speed steel with much vanadium content were studied and named. The results show that the elementary morphology of vanadium carbide in the high speed steel with much vanadium has six kinds. That is spherical, lumpy, variolated, strip, short rod shaped, and vermicular. The vanadium carbides in the high speed steel with much vanadium have three kinds of distributions, including intercrystalline distribution, chrysanthemum distribution and even distribution. When the alloys are hypoeutectic alloys, the vanadium carbides are along intercrystalline distribution. When the alloys are eutectic alloys, the vanadium carbides take on chrysanthemum distribution. When the alloys are hypereutectic alloys, the vanadium carbides are even distribution. Modification can improve the morphology of primary vanadium carbides. But the effect of modification on the morphology of eutectic vanadium carbides is inconspicuous.