45 steel and 40CrMn experimental steel were quenched and tempered at serial temperatures,and then the hardness and impact toughness of 45 steel and 40CrMn steel were measured.Combined with the observations of metallographic microstructure,the effects of tempering temperature on the microstructure and properties of the two steels were discussed.The results show that the precipitation of carbides and the recrystallization of matrix in 40CrMn steel are slowed down due to the addition of more alloying elements,and the typical tempered sorbite can be obtained only after tempering at 650℃,the same effect can be obtained for 45 steel after tempering at 600℃.Tempered at 650℃,the carbide in 45 steel is coarsened and the toughness of steel decreases.At the same time,the results also show that higher alloying elements also lead to the embrittlement of 40CrMn steel at 550℃.