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One-step quenching and partitioning treatment of a commercial low silicon boron steel

journal contribution
posted on 2017-11-07, 00:00 authored by H Kong, Qi Chao, M H Cai, E J Pavlina, Bernard RolfeBernard Rolfe, Peter HodgsonPeter Hodgson, Hossein BeladiHossein Beladi
In the current study, the microstructure evolution and mechanical behaviour in a commercial low silicon boron steel were investigated after one-step quenching and partitioning (Q & P) treatment under different isothermal temperatures in t he range 260–320 °C. This processing approach resulted in a complex microstructure consisting of a tempered martensite matrix with bainitic ferrite, fresh martensite, and retained austenite, offering a superior combination of mechanical properties compared to the directly water-quenched condition, where a fully martensitic structure was exhibited. The Q & P processed steel isothermally held at a high temperature of 320 °C showed lower work-hardening, which was mainly associated with the lower fraction of initially formed martensite and the corresponding tempering responses, compared to the steels held at lower temperatures. The phase transformation behaviour throughout the heat treatment was studied by dilatometry, regarding the martensitic transformation upon initial cooling, carbon partitioning combined with the martensite tempering and austenite decomposition during isothermal holding, as well as the fresh martensite formation on the final cooling. Additionally, the microstructure characteristics were examined using X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscope, and electron backscatter diffraction techniques.

History

Journal

Materials science and engineering A

Volume

707

Pagination

538 - 547

Publisher

Elsevier

Location

Amsterdam, The Netherlands

ISSN

0921-5093

eISSN

1873-4936

Language

eng

Publication classification

C Journal article; C1 Refereed article in a scholarly journal

Copyright notice

2017, Elsevier