An Approach to Micro Segregation Level and Presence of Quench Cracks in Medium Carbon Low Alloy Steels
Abstract Samples from forged and heat-treated steel products with known quench crack histories have been mapped in order to study a possible relation between banding segregation and quench cracking. The steels were medium carbon low alloy steels, ingot and continuous cast, as well as vacuum arc remelt D6AC. EDS X-ray mapping was applied to characterize the banding segregation pattern from casting i.e. gradient of chemical composition that creates direction dependent properties. Trends for segregation ratios followed the expectations: the segregation ratios were higher for the quench sensitive steels.34CrNiMo6, ingot- and continuous cast, was then supplied for testing. Segregation level was pre-checked for decision for heat treatment and testing of as quenched tensile properties. There is an indication of 90 % reduction of the difference between Rm and Rp0.2, the work hardening, for the steel with lowest quality.