A new surface modification technology-high current pulsed electron beam treatment method was applied to the surface of die steel to improve its properties. It has been shown that as a result of the HCPEB treatment, the most pronounced changes of the structure-phase state occur in the near-surface layers quenched from the liquid state, where the crystallization front velocity reaches its maximum. In these layers partial or complete dissolving of second phases and formation of over saturated solid solutions a...