The structural, phase, and elemental compositions, hardness, and Young’s modulus of transition layer of a “plasma-enhanced molybdenum high-speed steel coating—steel substrate” system subjected to pulsed electron beam irradiation were studied. It was found that coating formation is accompanied by the creation of an extended transition layer containing α- and γ-phases, as well as carbides of complex composition. A lamellar structure with particles of cementite and M6C-type carbide was revealed within the transition layer volume after irradiation. The substrate contact zone, immediately adjacent to the coating, contains grains of residual austenite strengthened by nanosized M6C-type carbides. It was revealed that electron beam processing of the “plasma-enhanced molybdenum high-speed steel coating—steel substrate” system leads to a decrease in the hardness and Young’s modulus of transition layer. Physically substantiated ideas are put forward regarding the causes of the decrease in hardness and Young’s modulus of transition layer.
Gromov et al. (Mon,) studied this question.