Assessment of Mechanical Behavior in H13 Tool Steel Synthesized through Electron Beam Melting and Selective Laser Melting Techniques

Abstract

This study investigates H13 tool steel's microstructure and mechanical properties using selective laser melting (SLM) and electron beam melting (EBM). SLMed‐H13 steel has fine martensite, residual austenite, dense low‐angle grain boundaries (LAGBs), and nanoscale carbides, whereas EBMed‐H13 predominantly shows lamellar ferrite–bainite, needle‐like lower bainite (Blower), and spongy upper bainite (Bupper), with fewer LAGBs and larger carbides. SLMed‐H13 exhibits higher hardness (617.4 HV0.5) than EBM (532.17 HV0.5), with a yield strength (YS) of 1241.1 MPa, ultimate tensile strength (UTS) of 1412.2 MPa, and elongation (El) of 5.36%, versus EBM's 765.8 MPa YS, 1252.7 MPa UTS, and 6.89% El. SLM shows superior mechanical performance and wear resistance, with a coefficient of friction (COF) of 0.81, wear depth of 0.86 μm, wear track of 448.4 μm, and wear rate of 5.5 × 10−6 mm3 N−1 m−1, compared to EBM's 0.68 COF, 2.2 μm wear depth, 508 μm wear track, and wear rate of 6.5 × 10−6 mm3 N−1 m−1. Confocal microscopy highlights SLM's uniform wear tracks versus EBM's distinct microcutting, illustrating the impact of manufacturing techniques on material properties and wear performance.