Microstructure and mechanical properties of a high-carbon bainitic steel containing Si/Al by different heat treatment processes

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (11) ◽  
pp. 1932-1940
Author(s):  
Sufyan Naseem ◽  
Enzuo Liu ◽  
Xuefei Huang ◽  
Weigang Huang

The present study aims to investigate the microstructure and mechanical properties of 0.79 C wt% bainitic steel containing Si and Al by three heat treatment processes: austempering and tempering (B-T), two-step austempering (2S-A) and the austempering-quenching-partitioning (AQP). The optical microscope (OM), scanning electron microscope (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscope (TEM) and electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD) were employed to analyze the microstructure of samples. The results demonstrate that the sample subjected to the AQP process exhibited a multiphase microstructure with martensite, filmy retained austenite (RA) and fine bainitic laths. The AQP sample evidenced a high tensile strength of 1705 MPa, yield strength of 1254 MPa, a better total elongation of 16.6%, product of strength and elongation (PSE) of 28 GPa% and the impact toughness of 33 J among all heat treatment processes. The higher strength and toughness could be ascribed to the fine bainitic ferrite as well as an appropriate amount of filmy retained austenite. A fraction of martensite that was formed during the quenching step at 110 °C possibly divided the untransformed austenite into small areas, which could refine the microstructure. EBSD analysis showed that the AQP sample exhibited a higher proportion (64%) of boundary misorientation angle greater than 15° than that of the 2S-A. These high angle boundaries can improve the toughness of steel.

2018 ◽  
Vol 941 ◽  
pp. 329-333 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jiang Ying Meng ◽  
Lei Jie Zhao ◽  
Fan Huang ◽  
Fu Cheng Zhang ◽  
Li He Qian

In the present study, the effects of ausforming on the bainitic transformation, microstructure and mechanical properties of a low-carbon rich-silicon carbide-free bainitic steel have been investigated. Results show that prior ausforming shortens both the incubation period and finishing time of bainitic transformation during isothermal treatment at a temperature slightly above the Mspoint. The thicknesses of bainitic ferrite laths are reduced appreciably by ausforming; however, ausforming increases the amount of large blocks of retained austenite/martenisite and decreases the volume fraction of retained austenite. And accordingly, ausforming gives rise to significant increases in both yield and tensile strengths, but causes noticeable decreases in ductility and impact toughness.


Materials ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 12 (3) ◽  
pp. 527 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hui Guo ◽  
Xianying Feng ◽  
Aimin Zhao ◽  
Qiang Li ◽  
Jun Ma

A multiphase microstructure comprising of different volume fractions of prior martensite and ultra-fine bainite (bainitic ferrite and retained austenite) was obtained by quenching to certain temperatures, followed by isothermal bainitic transformation. The effect of the prior martensite transformation on the bainitic transformation behavior, microstructures, and mechanical properties were discussed. The results showed that the prior martensite accelerated the subsequent low-temperature bainite transformation, and the incubation period and completion time of the bainite reaction were significantly shortened. This phenomenon was attributed to the enhanced nucleation ratio caused by the introduced strain in austenite, due to the formation of prior martensite and a carbon partitioning between the prior martensite and retained austenite. Moreover, the prior martensite could influence the crystal growth direction of bainite ferrite, refine bainitic ferrite plates, and reduce the dimension of blocky retained austenite, all of which were responsible for improving the mechanical properties of the ultra-fine bainitic steel. When the content of the prior martensite reached 15%, the investigated steels had the best performance, which were 1800 MPa and 21% for the tensile strength and elongation, respectively. Unfortunately, the increased content of the prior martensite could lead to a worsening of the impact toughness.


2012 ◽  
Vol 531-532 ◽  
pp. 596-599
Author(s):  
Kai Zhang ◽  
Shang Wen Lu ◽  
Yao Hui Ou ◽  
Xiao Dong Wang ◽  
Ning Zhong

The recently developed “quenching and partitioning” heat treatment and “quenching-partitioning-tempering” heat treatment are novel processing technologies, which are designed for achieving advanced high strength steels (AHSS) with combination of high strength and adequate ductility. In present study, a medium carbon steel containing Nb was subjected to the Q-P-T process, and both the microstructure and mechanical properties was studied. The experimental results show that the Nb-microalloyed steel demonstrates high tensile strength and relatively high elongation. The microstructure of the steel was investigated in terms of scanning electron microscope and transmission electron microscope, and the results indicate that the Q-P-T steel consist of fine martensite laths with dispersive carbide precipitates and the film-like interlath retained austenite. The orientation relationships between martensite and retained austenite is as well-known Kurdjurmov-Sachs relationship and Nishiyama-Wasserman relationship.


2017 ◽  
Vol 62 (4) ◽  
pp. 2147-2151 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Parzych

Abstract This work deals with the effect of heat treatment on a microstructure and mechanical properties of a selected cast steel assigned as a material used for frogs in railway crossovers. Materials used nowadays in the railway industry for frogs e.g. Hadfield cast steel (GX120Mn13) or wrougth pearlitic steel (eg. R260) do not fulfil all exploitation requirements indicated in the UIC (International Union of Railways) Decision No. 1692/96 in terms of train speed that should be reached on railways. One of the possible solution is using a cast steel with bainitic or bainitic-martensitic microstructure that allows to gain high strength properties the ultimate tensile strength (UTS) of 1400 MPa, the tensile yield strength (TYS) of 900 MPa and the hardness of up to 400 BHN. The tested material is considered as an alternative to Hadfield cast steel that is currently used for railway frogs. Results of an experimental analysis of the effect of conducted heat treatment on a microstructure, the volume fraction of retained austenite and mechanical properties of bainitic steel, are shown in this paper. It was found that, the heat treatment leads to a stabilization of retained austenite in grain boundaries area of the primary austenite. Additionally, the heat treatment according to the variant #3 results with an almost 3-times higher impact toughness to that exhibited by material subjected to the other treatments.


2011 ◽  
Vol 299-300 ◽  
pp. 57-60
Author(s):  
De Qiang Wei ◽  
Ke Liu

The low alloyed bainite ductile iron is obtained by alloying and austempering in room-temperature machine oil. The microstructure is investigated. The mechanical properties are discussed. In general, the number of white-bright zones and segregation is increasing with the increasing in the content of Mn, but the impact toughness is decreased. Therefore, the content of Mn is no more than 0.5 wt.%. The microstructure of bainite, martensite and a little retained austenite in the matrix of the ductile iron was investigated by scanning electron microscope (SEM). The hardness and impact toughness of the ductile iron subjected to heat-treatment are 54~56 HRC and 14.2 J/cm2, respectively. The substitution of 0.3~0.5wt.% Mo by 0.7~1.0 wt.% Mn can be realized in the bainite ductile iron.


2016 ◽  
Vol 35 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-7 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zhiyuan Liang ◽  
Wanhua Sha ◽  
Qinxin Zhao ◽  
Chongbin Wang ◽  
Jianyong Wang ◽  
...  

AbstractThe effect of aging heat treatment on the microstructure and mechanical properties of 10Cr20Ni25Mo1.5NbN austenitic steel was investigated in this article. The microstructure was characterized by scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive spectrometry and transmission electron microscopy. Results show that the microstructure of 10Cr20Ni25Mo1.5NbN austenitic is composed of austenite. This steel was strengthened by precipitates of secondary phases that were mainly M23C6 carbides and NbCrN nitrides. As aging treatment time increased, the tensile strength first rose (0–3,000 h) and then fell (3,000–5,000 h) due to the decrease of high density of dislocations. The impact absorbed energy decreased sharply, causing the sulfides to precipitate at the grain boundary. Therefore, the content of sulfur should be strictly controlled in the steelmaking process.


Crystals ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (7) ◽  
pp. 573
Author(s):  
Jing Zhao ◽  
Dezheng Liu ◽  
Yan Li ◽  
Yongsheng Yang ◽  
Tiansheng Wang ◽  
...  

The microstructures and mechanical properties of ausrolled nanobainite steel, after being tempered at temperatures in the range of 200−400 °C, were investigated in this study. After being tempered, bainitic ferrite is coarsened and the volume fraction of retained austenite is reduced. The hardness and ultimate tensile strength decrease sharply. The impact energy, yield strength, and elongation increase with elevated tempered temperature at 200–300 °C but decrease with elevated tempered temperature when the samples are tempered at 350 °C and 400 °C. The fracture appearance of all the samples after impact tests is a brittle fracture. The variation of the mechanical properties may be due to partial recovery and recrystallization.


2012 ◽  
Vol 557-559 ◽  
pp. 34-37
Author(s):  
Jing Qiang Zhang ◽  
Jie Min Du ◽  
Ji Wei Guo ◽  
Shou Fan Rong ◽  
Guang Zhou Wang

The influences of Mn and heat-treatment technology on microstructure and mechanical properties of medium-carbon-low-alloy wear-resistant cast steel were investigated. The results show that the hardness first increases and then drops down with the increase of Mn content, and the best hardness is 54HRC with Mn content 1.5%. The impact toughness first increases and then drops down with the increase of Mn content. The hardness and impact toughness first increase and then drop down with the increases of quenching temperature. The optimal impact toughness can be obtaind by quenching at 920°C and tempering at 200°C. Part of lower bainite and residual austenite and mass of tempered martensite are obtaind after tempering.


2015 ◽  
Vol 740 ◽  
pp. 36-42
Author(s):  
Chuan Xiao Peng ◽  
Wen Chao Cui ◽  
Xiao Yan Yang ◽  
Li Wang

The effect of destabilization at (960°C,1000°C,1050°C) followed by sub-critical heat treatment (SCHT) at (260°C, 450°C, 550°C) on microstructure and mechanical properties of a hypereutectic chromium cast iron containing 31 wt.% Cr was investigated. The response of the microstructure of the specimens differed significantly to heat treatment. With increasing destabilization temperature, the amount of retained austenite increased and it became more stable during following SCHT. The peak values of bulk hardness deceased with increasing destabilization temperature, while higher SCHT was needed to reach the hardness maximum. The hardness and erosion wear property of the specimens destabilization at 960°C or 1000°C deteriorated after SCHT at 550°C due to the formation of ferrite/carbide product, which was not found in the specimens destabilization at 1050°C followed by SCHT at 550°C. The specimen destabilization at 960°C + SCHT at 260°C performed best erosion wear resistance with matrix of martensite containing little austenite.


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