Hot deformation and processing maps of K310 cold work tool steel

Highlights: ► The steady state stresses are related to strain rate and temperature. ► The study led to nDRX = 3.95 and QDRX = 219.65 kJ/(mol K) and α = 1.2 × 10−2 MPa−1. ► The safe domain occurs in the region of 1000–1100 °C for a strain rate of 0.1 s−1. - Abstract: Hot working response of cold work tool steel K310 was investigated by means of compression test at temperature range of 900–1100 °C. The equivalent strain rates used in these tests were 0.01, 0.1 and 1 s−1, respectively in order to obtain the processing and stability maps of the studied material following the Dynamic Material Model. All the zones of flow instability were studied through scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The microstructure of the samples after deformation was then analyzed by light microscopy and the differences were compared together. The steady state stress obtained from the flow curves was related to strain rate (ε.) and temperature (T) by means of the well known Zener–Holloman equation. A least square analysis of the data led to n = 3.95 and QDRX = 219.65 kJ/mol and α = 1.2 × 10−2 MPa−1. Also, hardness results showed that by increasing strain from peak to steady state strain, hardness was decreased.