Effect of Austempering Parameters on Microstructure and Tensile/Impact Behaviours of Micro-Alloyed TRIP-Assisted Steel

Abstract:

The article is aimed at studying the effect of austempering temperature below and above Ms temperature on the phase-structural state and mechanical properties of 0.2 wt.% C TRIP-assisted steel micro-added with Nb, V, Mo, Cr. The samples were austenitized at a temperature close to the Ac₃ point (900 °C) and held at 300 °C (below M_s), 350 °C (close to M_s) and 400 °C (above M_s) for 5-20 min. The work was performed using optical microscopy (OM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction, and tensile/impact testing. It was found that austempering at the aforementioned modes ensures the multiphase structure consisting of carbide-free bainite, tempered martensite, ferrite and retained austenite (in different combinations). The optimal was austempering at a temperature close to Ms which provided an advanced complex of tensile properties (PSE of 23.9 GPa×%) and V-notched impact toughness (95 J/cm²). TRIP-effect contributed to these properties while the strain hardening process tended to be prolonged with increasing the austempering temperature.

• Periodical: Materials Science Forum (Volume 1098)
• Pages: 3-12
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.4028/p-xgXbj9
• Online since: September 2023
• Authors: Vadym Zurnadzhy*, Vasily Efremenko, Hossam Halfa, Bohdan Efremenko, Alexander Azarkhov, Yuliia Chabak, Natalia Zaichuk
• Keywords: Bainite, Fracture, Mechanical Properties, Retained Austenite, TRIP-Assisted Steel

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