The　effects　of　austenitising　temperature　and　temper　treatment　on　the　microstructure,　hardness　and　abrasive　wear　resistance　of　a　high　carbon　high　vanadium　high　speed　steel　roll　of　composition　2.2-2.4C,　5.5-6.5V,　4.5-5.5Cr,　14.0-16.0(W+2Mo),　1.0-1.4Ni　and　1.2-1.5Nb　(wt-%)　were　investigated　by　light　optical　microscopy,　scanning　electron　microscopy,　backscattered　electron　image,　X-ray　diffraction　and　hardness　and　wear　testing.　It　was　found　that　the　hardness　increases　as　the　austenitising　temperature　increases　to　a　maximum　of　1050　degrees　C,　and　then　begins　to　decrease　because　of　the　increase　in　retained　austenite.　Moreover,　retained　austenite　begins　to　transform　into　martensite　with　increasing　tempering　temperature.　The　retained　austenite　in　the　quenched　structure　leads　to　the　temper　hardening　of　the　rolls,　which　promotes　improved　abrasive　wear　resistance.　The　roll　life　of　high　carbon　high　vanadium　high　speed　steel　compound　rolls　austenitised　at　1050-1080　degrees　C　and　tempered　at　540-560　degrees　C　increased　by　400%　(single　groove　trials)　compared　to　high　nickel-chromium　white　cast　iron　rolls　when　the　rolls　were　used　in　a　K1　mill　housing　of　a　bar　mill.