Abstract: The laser melted-resolidified processing on W18Cr4V high speed tool steel has been made us- ing a 1 kW CO_2 continuous wave laser device.The microstructure of the laser melted- resolidified layer has been examined by optical microscopy and transmission electron microscopy(TEM).It was characteristic of extremely fine dendrite in the laser melted- resolidified layer and δ-ferrite in bulk form in the center of dendrite.The predominant twin martensite and a little dislocation martensite existed in the dendrite.The thin plate-like M_(213)C_6 carbide precipitated coherently on the twin martensites along their twin plane.There were both austenite rich in W,V and Cr and M_6C carbide in the interdendritic regions.

Key words: high speed tool steel, laser surface modification, microstructure