Correlations between microstructure and surface properties in a high nitrogen martensitic stainless steel

Nitrided and tempered AISI 410S stainless steel was tested under corrosion–erosion conditions and compared to conventional AISI 420 martensitic stainless steel. The corrosion–erosion resistance of the nitrided specimens was higher than that of the AISI 420 steel when tempered at 200 °C, but it decreased with tempering temperature in the range between 200 and 600 °C. The higher corrosion–erosion resistance of the high-nitrogen steel was credited to a more homogeneous distribution of chromium in martensite and a lower number of coarse second-phase particles, especially for tempering temperatures below 550 °C. The hexagonal ϵ-nitride was identified in specimens tempered at 200 °C, while finely distributed cubic CrN nitrides were observed in specimens tempered between 400 and 600 °C. Hexagonal Cr₂N nitrides were observed at 550 and 600 °C. These coarse, high-chromium precipitates were responsible for the drop in corrosion resistance of the nitrided specimens.     

冷却工艺对贝氏体钢拉杆组织和性能的影响

研究了热处理冷却工艺对贝氏体钢拉杆组织及力学性能的影响。试验结果表明,ø70 mm贝氏体钢拉杆材料经920 ℃空冷+300 ℃回火、920 ℃水冷30 s后出水空冷+300 ℃回火后,杆体的组织为贝氏体铁素体和残留奥氏体;经920 ℃水冷+200 ℃回火后,杆体的组织为回火板条马氏体和残留奥氏体。920 ℃水冷+200 ℃回火时棒料1/2半径处的R_m为1513 MPa、KV₂为73.2 J、硬度为46.5 HRC;920 ℃水冷30 s后空冷+300 ℃回火时棒料1/2半径处的R_m为1254 MPa、KV₂为76.0 J、硬度为42.0 HRC;920 ℃空冷+300 ℃回火时棒料1/2半径处的R_m为1226 MPa、KV₂为75.5 J、硬度为41.9 HRC。ø70 mm贝氏体钢拉杆热处理先水冷后空冷可以提高其冲击性能。     

Effect of Quenching Process on Microstructures and Mechanical Properties of Fe-0.9Mn-0.5Cr-2.4Ni-0.5Mo-C Steel

To develop an appropriate quenching process to produce Fe-0.9Mn-0.5Cr-2.4Ni-0.5Mo-C steel, the microstructures and mechanical properties of this steel were investigated under the direct quenching and tempering (DQT) and the direct quenching, reheated quenching and tempering (DQQT) heat treatment processes. The microstructure of the DQQT specimen was basically tempered sorbite with spherical precipitates, while quite a bit of tempered martensite was in the DQT specimen with dispersive nanoscaled precipitates. The yield strengths of the DQT and DQQT specimens were 1154 and 955 MPa, respectively. The yield strength of the DQT specimen was higher than that of the DQQT specimen because of its finer grain size, higher density of dislocations and dispersed precipitates. The DQQT specimen had spherical precipitates, which hindered the propagation of the crack. Moreover, the high-angle grain boundaries in the DQQT specimen took a higher proportion. Therefore, the Charpy impact values of DQT and DQQT specimens at ? 60 °C were 38 and 75 J, respectively. Consequently, the mechanical properties of the Fe-0.9Mn-0.5Cr-2.4Ni-0.5Mo-C steel, which met the standard of 1000 MPa grade steel plate for hydropower station, were acquired by the DQQT process.     

Investigation of the Microstructural Changes and Hardness Variations of Sub-Zero Treated Cr-V Ledeburitic Tool Steel Due to the Tempering Treatment

The microstructure and tempering response of Cr-V ledeburitic steel Vanadis 6 subjected to sub-zero treatment at ??196 °C for 4 h have been examined with reference to the same steel after conventional heat treatment. The obtained experimental results infer that sub-zero treatment significantly reduces the retained austenite amount, makes an overall refinement of microstructure, and induces a significant increase in the number and population density of small globular carbides with a size 100-500 nm. At low tempering temperatures, the transient M₃C-carbides precipitated, whereas their number was enhanced by sub-zero treatment. The presence of chromium-based M₇C₃ precipitates was evidenced after tempering at the temperature of normal secondary hardening; this phase was detected along with the M₃C. Tempering above 470 °C converts almost all the retained austenite in conventionally quenched specimens while the transformation of retained austenite is rather accelerated in sub-zero treated material. As a result of tempering, a decrease in the population density of small globular carbides was recorded; however, the number of these particles retained much higher in sub-zero treated steel. Elevated hardness of sub-zero treated steel can be referred to more completed martensitic transformation and enhanced number of small globular carbides; this state is retained up to a tempering temperature of around 500 °C in certain extent. Correspondingly, lower as-tempered hardness of sub-zero treated steel tempered above 500 °C is referred to much lower contribution of the transformation of retained austenite, and to an expectedly lower amount of precipitated alloy carbides.     

Rapid Tempering of Martensitic Stainless Steel AISI420: Microstructure,Mechanical and Corrosion Properties

In this research, the effect of rapid tempering on the microstructure, mechanical properties and corrosion resistance of AISI 420 martensitic stainless steel has been investigated. At first, all test specimens were austenitized at 1050 °C for 1 h and tempered at 200 °C for 1 h. Then, the samples were rapidly reheated by a salt bath furnace in a temperature range from 300 to 1050 °C for 2 min and cooled in air. The tensile tests, impact, hardness and electrochemical corrosion were carried out on the reheated samples. Scanning electron microscopy was used to study the microstructure and fracture surface. To investigate carbides, transmission electron microscopy and also scanning electron microscopy were used. X-ray diffraction was used for determination of the retained austenite. The results showed that the minimum properties such as the tensile strength, impact energy, hardness and corrosion resistance were obtained at reheating temperature of 700 °C. Semi-continuous carbides in the grain boundaries were seen in this temperature. Secondary hardening phenomenon was occurred at reheating temperature of 500 °C.     

Effect of hydrogen environment on the notched tensile properties of T-250 maraging steel annealed by laser treatment

In the present work, slow displacement rate tensile tests were performed to find out the influence of ageing condition and hydrogen-charging on the notched tensile strength and fracture characteristics of T-250 maraging steel aged at various conditions. The influence of embrittling species in the environment on the notched tensile strength was accessed by comparing the measured properties in air, gaseous hydrogen and H₂S-saturated solution. The hydrogen diffusivity, permeation flux and apparent solubility of various specimens determined by electrochemical permeation method, were correlated well with the microstructures and mechanical property. The results indicated that the peak-aged (H900) specimen was highly sensitive to hydrogen embrittlement even in gaseous hydrogen. In contrast, the microstructures of over-aged (H1100) specimen comprising of reverted austenite and incoherent precipitates could trap large amount of hydrogen atoms, resulting in decreased hydrogen permeability and hydrogen embrittlement susceptibility. The solution-annealed specimen had the highest diffusion coefficient and the lowest quantity of trapped hydrogen among the specimens, showing high susceptibility to sulfide stress corrosion cracking. In the presence of notches, hydrogen atoms were prone to segregate and trap at grain boundaries, resulting in the formation of intergranular fracture.     

Phase transformations in some TiAl-based alloys

Samples of a range of TiAl-based alloys have been cooled directly to room temperature at rates between 0.1 and 500 °C s⁻¹ in order to define the transformation behaviour during continuous cooling (CCT). In addition other samples have been cooled rapidly to predetermined temperatures where they have been held for times up to 18,000 s before cooling rapidly to room temperature in order to determine their time-temperature-transformation (TTT) behaviour. It has been found that the massive transformation occurs at the highest cooling rates used (500 °C s⁻¹) in all the alloys studied apart from Ti–44Al–4Nb–4Zr–0.2Si–1B. In this alloy the high-temperature beta phase partially transformed during rapid cooling to lenticular alpha which, together with the remaining beta, was retained at room temperature. The effects of holding at selected temperatures were as anticipated from the CCT curves and the equilibrium diagrams. In all cases the room temperature tensile properties were improved for the finest microstructures—i.e. for the fastest cooling rates used, although with alloys with B addition (i.e. grain-refined alloys) the effect of cooling rate was less important. The changes in microstructure and changes in the tensile properties and hardness of samples which have been tempered after quenching have also been determined. Appropriate tempering of samples which had been cooled at a rate which caused them to transform massively gives rise to fine microstructures of intimately mixed equilibrium phases. In the case of Ti–48Al–2Nb–2Cr this leads to a mixture of convoluted alpha and gamma grains of about 50 μm (even although it contains no B and is therefore not grain-refined) and to a plastic elongation of 1.3% which is significantly better than the 0.5% found in coarse-grained air-cooled or furnace-cooled samples of this alloy.     

冷却工艺对40CrMoNbVTi钢组织和性能的影响

研究了冷却工艺对40CrMoNbVTi钢组织和性能的影响。结果表明,780 ℃淬火油冷、550 ℃回火后试样具有较高的抗拉强度和冲击吸收能量,分别为1250 MPa和78.63 J;20%聚乙二醇商用淬火液冷却后的抗拉强度为1140 MPa,冲击吸收能量为80.7 J;油冷及20%聚乙二醇淬火液冷却后组织为索氏体组织和少量的铁素体。860 ℃淬火雾冷/空冷+550 ℃回火后试样的抗拉强度分别为1010 MPa和945 MPa,冲击吸收能量分别为35.7 J及38.4 J,组织为回火索氏体或粒状贝氏体。780 ℃淬火油冷/商用淬火液冷却是较为合适的淬火冷却工艺。780 ℃淬火油冷/20%聚乙二醇淬火液冷却+550 ℃回火后冲击断裂机制为韧性断裂,860 ℃淬火雾冷/空冷550 ℃回火后冲击断裂机制为脆性断裂,增加淬火冷却速度可以改善冲击断口形貌。     

Relative Dimensional Change Evaluation of Vacuum Heat-Treated JIS SKD61 Hot-Work Tool Steels

JIS SKD61 hot-work steel is usually used as precision mold material for die casting; hence, it demands a higher level of dimensional stability during the hardening process, especially for fairly large sections. This study investigates the microstructural evolution and measures the relative dimensional changes in various tempering states. The results show that the retained austenitic contents of all quenched and tempered SKD61 steel specimens were less than 2%. When the tempering temperature reached 500 °C, the retained austenitic content decreased from 1.35 to 0.45%. TEM investigations revealed that a large number of secondary carbides, molybdenum-rich M₂C and vanadium-rich MC carbides, precipitated near the dislocations when the tempering temperature reached 525 °C. A secondary hardening phenomenon and evident expansion phenomenon occurred as the tempering temperature exceeded 500 °C. These phenomena were mainly contributed by the precipitation of secondary carbides in hot-work steels. The reason is that only 0.9% of the retained austenite transformed into martensite as the tempering temperature reached 500 °C, allowing the hardness and dimensional change to be neglected.     

Notch tensile properties of laser-surface-annealed 17-4 PH stainless steel in hydrogen-related environments

Slow displacement rate tensile tests were performed to determine the notched tensile strength (NTS) of 17-4 PH stainless steel with various microstructures in hydrogen-related environments. Solution-annealed (SA), peak-aged (H900), over-aged (H1025), and laser-annealed (LA) specimens were included in the study. Based on the results of NTS in air, the NTS loss in both gaseous hydrogen and H₂S-saturated solution was used to access the detrimental effects of hydrogen in 17-4 PH steel subjected to different treatments. Electrochemical permeation tests were also employed to determine the hydrogen permeation characteristics of the 17-4 PH steel plate with various microstructures. The result indicates that all the specimens have low NTS loss in gaseous hydrogen but significantly suffer from sulfide stress corrosion cracking (SCC), especially for the soft SA specimen. It was deduced that high hydrogen diffusivity and less trapped hydrogen atoms in the SA matrix provided rapid transport of massive hydrogen atoms into highly stressed region, and deteriorated the NTS tested in the saturated sulfide solution. On the other hand, H1025 specimen consists of the blocky austenite together with Cu-rich precipitates uniformly distributed in the grain interior; dense and coarse precipitates are also observed along prior austenite grain boundaries. Hydrogen atoms tend to be trapped along grain boundaries, and lead to the formation of intergranular fracture for H1025 specimen tested in the H₂S solution. Fine and homogeneously distributed precipitates in the H900 matrix result in uniformly trapping of hydrogen atoms, so it behaves superior properties than other specimens. The decohesion of precipitate/matrix interfaces induces quasi-cleavage fracture of the H900 specimen tested in H₂S solution. Finally, the application of laser-annealing treatment on the H900 specimen cannot improve its resistance to sulfide SCC, because the laser-annealed zone is susceptible to hydrogen embrittlement in the H₂S solution.     

Microstructure characterization and charpy toughness of P91 weldment for as-welded,post-weld heat treatment and normalizing & tempering heat treatment

The effect of weld groove design and heat treatment on microstructure evolution and Charpy toughness of P91 pipe weldments was studied. The P91 pipe weldments were subjected to subcritical post weld heat treatment (760 °C-2 h) and normalizing/tempering conditions (normalized-1040 °C/40 min, air cooled; tempered 760 °C/2 h, air cooled) were employed. The influence of subsequent PWHT and N&T treatment on the microstructure of various zone of P91 pipe weldments were also investigated. The present investigation also described the effect of PWHT and N&T treatment on hardness, grain size, precipitate size, inter-particle spacing and fraction area of precipitates present in each zone of P91 pipe weldments. The result indicated great impact of heat treatment on the Charpy toughness and microstructure evolution of P91 weldments. The N&T treatment was found to be more effective heat treatment compared to subsequent PWHT. Charpy toughness value was found to be higher for narrow-groove design as compared to conventional V-groove design.     

Effect of cooling rate on microstructure and tensile properties of powder metallurgy Ni-based superalloy

The effects of size distribution, morphology and volume fraction of γ′ phase and grain size on tensile properties of powder processed Ni-based superalloy were investigated by using two different quenching methods. Oil quenching and air cooling were adopted with cooling rate of 183 °C/s and 4–15 °C/s, respectively. The experimental results show that the average size of the secondary γ′ after oil quenching is 24.5 nm compared with 49.8 nm under air cooling, and corresponding volume fractions of γ′ are 29% and 34%, respectively. Meanwhile, the average grain size remains nearly equivalent from both oil-quenching and air-cooling specimens. The tensile strength at room temperature is higher for the oil-quenched specimen than the equivalent from the air-cooled specimen, but the difference approaches each other as the temperature increases to 650 °C. The fractography clearly demonstrates that transgranular fracture governs the failure process at ambient temperature, in contrast to the intergranular fracture at 650 °C or even higher temperature. These two mechanical responses indicate the strengthening effects of γ′ precipitates and grain boundary for polycrystalline Ni-based superalloys at different temperatures.     

The characteristics of high temperature Gas Nitriding heat treatment and tempering in 0.8Mo added 17Cr-1Ni-0.5C

The effect of the High Temperature Gas Nitriding (HTGN) and tempering treatment of 17Cr-1Ni-0.5C-0.8Mo (CNMo) steel was experimentally investigated. The HTGN was carried out at 1050 °C for 1 h in a gaseous atmosphere containing 98.07 kPa of nitrogen. Chromium nitrides in the austenite and martensite phase appeared at the nitrogen-permeated surface layer after the HTGN treatment. The hardness of the outmost surface of the HTGN treated specimen measured 708 Hv. When it was tempered at 500 °C for 1 h, the hardness of the outmost surface was 763 Hv as a result of the precipitation of mostly micro Cr₂N, which was densely packed with a small amount of Cr₂₃C₆ and the secondary hardening effect. In addition, an improvement in the corrosion resistance was observed in the tempered specimen.     

The Kinetics of Phase Transformations During Tempering in Laser Melted High Chromium Cast Steel

The precipitation of secondary carbides in the laser melted high chromium cast steels during tempering at 300-650?°C for 2?h in air furnace was characterized and the present phases was identified, by using transmission electron microscopy. Laser melted high chromium cast steel consists of austenitic dendrites and interdendritic M₂₃C₆ carbides. The austenite has such a strong tempering stability that it remains unchanged at temperature below 400?°C and the secondary hardening phenomenon starts from 450?°C to the maximum value of 672 HV at 560?°C. After tempering at 450?°C fine M₂₃C₆ carbides precipitate from the supersaturated austenite preferentially. In addition, the dislocation lines and slip bands still exist inside the austenite. While tempering at temperature below 560?°C, the secondary hardening simultaneously results from the martensite phase transformation and the precipitation of carbides as well as dislocation strengthening within a refined microstructure. Moreover, the formation of the ferrite matrix and large quality of coarse lamellar M₃C carbides when the samples were tempered at 650?°C contributes to the decrease of hardness.     

回火工艺对1Cr17Ni2不锈钢锻后回火硬度的影响

采用正交试验等研究了回火温度、回火时间、回火次数及冷却方式对1Cr17Ni2不锈钢锻后回火硬度的影响。结果表明,本试验中在回火温度630~730 ℃,回火时间120~360 min,回火1~3次以及冷却方式分别为空冷、堆冷、砂冷的条件下,对1Cr17Ni2钢锻后回火硬度影响因素的主次排序为:回火次数＞回火温度＞回火时间＞冷却方式,其中随着回火次数增加,硬度逐步下降,其余参数在试验参数范围内与硬度无明显正相关关系。在保温时间为240 min时,将回火温度升高至720 ℃,或在680 ℃下,将保温时间延长至720 min,进行一次回火,回火后空冷,硬度均高于3.5 HBS。在加热温度为680 ℃、回火时间为180~210 min,回火后空冷,回火3次可将硬度降低至3.6 HBS以下。     

Characterization of γ′ precipitates in a nickel base superalloy quenching from aging temperature at different rates

The characteristics of γ′ precipitates in a superalloy quenched from 1050°C at different rates were investigated using field emission scanning electron microscope(FESEM).When quenched from 1050°C, the size of primary aging γ′ precipitates has a small increase in the specimens that experienced iced-brine-quenching, oil-quenching, and air-cooling-quenching conditions and a drastic increase in the specimen that experienced a furnace-cooling-quenching condition.The cooling γ′ precipitates have unimodal distributions after quenching at the air-cooling rate and bimodal distributions after quenching at the furnace-cooling rate, but there are not these distributions in the specimens that experienced iced-brine-quenching and oil-quenching conditions.When aging at 760°C, the size of primary aging γ′ precipitates appears unaffected in the specimens that experienced iced-brine-quenching, oil-quenching, and air-cooling-quenching conditions.However, it has a drastic increase in the specimen that experienced a furnace-cooling-quenching condition, and it is interesting that the bigger cooling γ′ precipitates have a coalescence and octodendritic shape.The microhardness study indicates that the hardness has no variation in the specimens that experienced iced-brine-quenching, oil-quenching, and air-cooling-quenching conditions and has a drastic decrease in the specimens that experienced a furnace-cooling-quenching condition and obtains the minimum microhardness value 390.8 HV.     

Effect of tempering temperature on the microstructure,corrosion resistance,and antibacterial properties of Cu-bearing martensitic stainless steel

In this study, the effects of tempering temperature on the microstructure, hardness, antibacterial performance and corrosion resistance of Cu-bearing 5Cr15MoV martensitic stainless steel (5Cr15MoV-Cu MSS) were investigated using an optical microscope, a scanning electron microscope, X-ray diffraction, a transmission electron microscope, an antibacterial test, electrochemical measurements, and the salt spray test. The results showed that the hardness curve had a saddle shape and its values reached the peak value after tempering at 500°C, due to the secondary hardening effect by the precipitation of tiny secondary carbides and Cu-rich precipitates. In addition, the antibacterial results also showed excellent antibacterial performance against Escherichia coli at 500°C because of the formation of Cu-rich precipitates. Results of corrosion tests indicated that the corrosion resistance decreased gradually with an increase of the tempering temperature. In particular, the passivation did not occur when the tempering temperature was above 500°C, which may be related to the Cu-rich precipitates and Cr depletion.     

Embrittlement of T-200 maraging steel in a hydrogen sulfide solution

Slow displacement rate tensile tests were carried out to investigate the effect of hydrogen embrittlement (HE) on notched tensile strength (NTS) and fracture characteristics of aged T-200 maraging steel. Hydrogen diffusivity, permeation flux and apparent hydrogen solubility were determined by an electrochemical permeation method, and correlated with the HE susceptibility and microstructures of the specimens. The results indicated that all aged specimens were susceptible to HE in the saturated H₂S solution, to different degrees. The susceptibility in the decreasing order of severity was observed to be under-aged, peak-aged, and over-aged conditions. The main trend was that the specimen with the highest diffusivity and permeation flux of hydrogen had the greatest NTS loss. Reverted austenite, if present in the microstructure, acted as irreversible traps for hydrogen and hence, improved the HE resistance. At similar strength and hydrogen solubility level, the more reverted austenite the less susceptibility to HE of specimens was resulted. The detailed microstructures of distinct specimens and their performances in hydrogen-containing environments are discussed.     

Hydrogen embrittlement susceptibility and permeability of two ultra-high strength steels

Slow displacement rate tensile tests were carried out in a saturated H₂S solution to investigate the effect of hydrogen embrittlement on notched tensile strength (NTS) and fracture characteristics of two ultra-high strength steels (PH 13-8 Mo stainless steel and T-200 maraging steel). Hydrogen permeation properties were determined by an electrochemical permeation method. The results of permeation tests indicated that over-aged specimens showed a lower diffusivity/hydrogen flux and higher solubility than those solution-annealed. The great increase in reverted austenite (irreversible hydrogen traps) together with numerous precipitates at the expense of dislocations (reversible) in the over-aged specimen led to such a change in permeability. Ordinary tensile tests indicated that four tested specimens had roughly the same yield strength level. Hence, the hydrogen embrittlement susceptibility of the material could be related to their permeation properties. The uniform distribution of strong hydrogen traps in over-aged specimens instead of weak traps in the solution-annealed impeded the hydrogen transport toward the strained region, thus, the resistance to sulfide stress corrosion cracking was improved in over-aged specimens.     

Accessing the full spectrum of corrosion behaviour of tempered type 420 stainless steel

Bipolar electrochemistry produces a linear potential gradient between two feeder electrodes, providing access to the full spectrum of anodic-to-cathodic electrochemical behaviour. A type 420 martensitic stainless steel has been used to investigate microstructure evolution and corrosion behaviour with application of different tempering heat treatments. Tempering treatments at 250°C, 400°C and 700°C revealed the occurrence of pitting corrosion, with treatments at 550°C resulting in general and intergranular corrosion. Cr₂₃C₆ was present in all tempering conditions, with Cr₇C₃ and CrC only observed for tempering at 550°C. The 250°C tempering treatment had the highest corrosion resistance with a hardness value much higher than 500 HV.