# Effect of Homogenization Treatment on Microstructure, Dendritic Segregation, and Primary Carbides in H13 Steel

## TL;DR

This study examines how homogenization treatment affects the microstructure and carbides in H13 steel at different temperatures.

## Contribution

A homogenization kinetic model is developed to predict soaking times for eliminating dendritic structures in H13 steel.

## Key findings

- Dendritic structures in H13 steel disappear gradually during homogenization at 1250 °C within 600 minutes.
- Mo-rich primary carbides dissolve completely, but V-rich carbides remain even at 1250 °C.
- Reducing Ti and N content lowers the dissolution temperature of V-rich primary carbides.

## Abstract

In the current work, the dendritic structure evolution, primary carbide dissolution, and austenite grain growth during the homogenization process of H13 steel at 1150–1250 °C were investigated to achieve a balanced improvement in segregation, primary carbide, and grain size controlling. The homogenization kinetic model was established to predict the soaking time needed for eliminating the dendritic structures. The results show that dendritic structures disappear gradually during the homogenization process. The time required for eliminating the dendritic structures of the investigated H13 steel at 1250 °C is 600 min, and those at 1150 and 1200 °C are estimated to be 3.31 and 1.78 times longer than that at 1250 °C. The Mo-rich primary carbides in H13 steel decompose and dissolve completely at the investigated temperature range. However, the V-rich primary carbides could not dissolve completely even at 1250 °C. The decreases in Ti and N content in steel are beneficial for lowering the complete dissolution temperature of V-rich primary carbides. The austenite grains grow slowly at 1150 °C, and become abnormally coarser at 1200–1250 °C.