Determining the physical-chemical characteristics of the carbon-thermal reduction of scale of tungsten high-speed steels

We determined that scale of the high-speed steel R18 is composed of the phases of Fe 3 O 4 , Fe 2 O 3 , FeO, with the presence of alloying elements as the replacement atoms. The microstructure is disordered and non-uniform. In the examined area, in addition to Fe, we revealed the presence of, % by weight: W – 16.34, Cr – 2.68, V – 1.82, and others. The content of O was 15.32 %. It was established that the reduction of scale at 1,523 K proceeds with the formation of α-Fe and carbides Fe 3 W 3 C, (Fe, Cr) 7 C 3 , W 2 C, V 2 C, Fe 3 C, Fe 2 C. Manifestation of carbides of alloying elements decreased with an increase in the degree of reduction. The microstructure of reduction products is heterogeneous, containing particles with a different content of alloying elements and has a spongy structure. The conditions are provided for the absence of phases subject to sublimation. We conducted experimental-industrial tests of using the metallized scale while smelting high-speed steel with a degree of disposal of alloying elements at the level of 92‒94 %. Improvement of environmental safety was implemented by the replacement of reduction melting with the newest methods of powder metallurgy employing the solid-phase reduction.