Experimental Study on the Effect of Retained Austenite on the Impact Toughness of a Low-Carbon Martensite Steel

Abstract:

Effect of various heat treatment processes on the impact property of a low-carbon steel was investigated. Its microstructure and morphology were also observed and characterized. Fraction of retained austenite of the tested steel varied with the change of temperature and holding time of quenching, carbon partitioning and tempering process. After Q&P treatment, the impact property of the tested steel improved with increasing volume fraction of retained austenite. After tempering, the impact property of the tested steel further improved despite the decrease of the fraction of the retained austenite. Experimental results show that the stabilization and fraction of the retained austenite from which the transformation induced plasticity (TRIP) effect originated control the toughness of the tested steel. It should be noted that the common tempering theory is insufficient to explain the current observations for the impact energy increment. Instead, it may be explained by the decomposition of the block-like retained austenite that is generally harmful to the toughness of the steel.

• Periodical: Advanced Materials Research (Volume 1095)
• Pages: 119-123
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.4028/www.scientific.net/AMR.1095.119
• Online since: March 2015
• Authors: Liang Gui Peng*, Wei Jie Liu, Xianghua Liu, Ying Zhi
• Keywords: Impact Property, Quenching and Partitioning(Q&P), Retained Austenite, Tempering

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