Yet another L6 question

[jdm61]

A week or so ago, we were discussing L6 and its two readily available forms, Crucible Champaloy which has moly and Carpenter RDS which does not. i was reading an old thread where someone was asking about L6 that also had a pinch of vanadium. Kevin Cashen said that would have been a special smelt and probably a one off. Russ Andrews told me the other day that he had found a source of L6 and the folks told him that it had the moly AND .20% vanadium. Considering how a small amount of V effects W2, what do you metallurgical types think that it might do with L6 other than the obviously controlling of grain boundaries? Everybody in the know says that 2% is too little to form carbides, but some of us swear that W2 is a bit more abrasion resistant that 10XX steel.

 

[mete]

V amounts of up to about .25% will concentrate at the grain boundaries and slow grain growth. Further amounts will form carbide for extra wear resistance . Remember that the V will slow grain growth it will not magically shrink grain size !! Add V but watch your temperature too !

 

[jdm61]

So what in your opinion would be the effect or even the purpose to adding .20% V to L6?

V amounts of up to about .25% will concentrate at the grain boundaries and slow grain growth. Further amounts will form carbide for extra wear resistance . Remember that the V will slow grain growth it will not magically shrink grain size !! Add V but watch your temperature too !