Abstract
The purpose of this study is to enhance the hardenability and the mechanical properties by the addition of alloying elements such as Ni, Cr, Mo and B for the development of Cr-Mo plastic mold steel with uniform hardness and microstructure. The ingots were prepared by vacuum induction melting and forged to ${\Phi}35mm$ round bar. Forged bars were quenched and tempered at $200{\sim}600^{\circ}C$ for 1.5 hour. Jominy test, boron distribution observation, microstructual observation, tensile test and charpy impact test were conducted. It was confirmed that the hardenablity of these steels was improved by increasing of alloying elements and further promoted by the addition of boron. The critical rate of cooling required to obtain the bainitic structure for 0.27C-1.23Cr-0.28Mo-B steel was $0.5^{\circ}C/sec$. Hardness and strength of Cr-Mo steels decreased with increasing tempering temperature, but elongation and reduction of area increased with increasing tempering temperature. However, impact energy tempered at $400^{\circ}C$ showed the lowest value in the range $200{\sim}600^{\circ}C$ due to the temper embrittlement.