Hot deformation behavior of a new type of M3∶ 2 high speed steel with niobium addition made by spray forming was investigated based on compression tests in the temperature range of 950-1 150 ℃ and strain rate of 0. 001-10 s^（-1）. A comprehensive constitutive equation was obtained,which could be used to predict the flow stress at different strains. Processing map was developed on the basis of the flow stress data using the principles of dynamic material model. The results showed that the flow curves were in fair agreement with the dynamic recrystallization model. The flow stresses,which were calculated by the comprehensive constitutive equation,agreed well with the test data at low strain rates（ ≤1 s^（-1））. The material constant（ α）,stress exponent（ n） and the hot deformation activation energy（ Q_（HW）） of the new steel were 0. 006 15 MPa^（-1）,4. 81 and 546 kJ·mol^（-1）,respectively. Analysis of the processing map with an observation of microstructures revealed that hot working processes of the steel could be carried out safely in the domain（ T = 1 050-1 150 ℃,ε = 0. 01- 0. 1 s^（-1））with about 33% peak efficiency of power dissipation（ η）. Cracks was expected in two domains at either lower temperatures（ 〈 1 000 ℃） or low strain rates（ 0. 001 s^（-1）） with different cracking mechanisms. Flow localization occurred when the strain rates exceeded 1 s^（-1） at all testing temperatures.
Lin LULong-gang HOUHua CUIJin-feng HUANGYong-an ZHANGJi-shan ZHANG
