Stabilization of retained austenite due to partial martensitic transformations

The stabilization effect of retained austenite has been studied using FeNiC alloys with M_s temperatures below 0°C via a two-step cooling procedure, i.e. the samples were first cooled to a temperature (T_a) below M_s temperature and then heated to room temperature (RT), after being held at RT for a while, the samples were recooled to low temperatures (23 or 82 K) and then heated to RT. It was found that, during the second step of cooling, the martensitic transformation occurred at a temperature of M_s′ which was lower than T_a. With increasing the amount of martensite formed during the first cooling, the difference in the martensitic transformation starting temperatures, ΔM_s = M_s − M_s′, increased. The mechanism of the stabilization of retained austenite during the second step of cooling is proposed to be mainly due to the inhibition effect produced by the previously formed martensite. The aging processes, which retard the growth of the previously formed martensite plates and reduce the number of the available nucleation sites, are the necessary conditions for the above mechanism to operate. By simplifying the internal resisting stress acting on the retained austenite due to the existence of martensite phase as a hydrostatic compressive stress, which increases with increasing the amount of martensite, the change in ΔM_s is discussed from a thermodynamic point of view.     

Effect of thermomechanical processing on the retained austenite content in a Si-Mn transformation-induced-plasticity steel

The influence of hot deformation on the microstructure of a hot-rolled Si-Mn transformation-induced-plasticity (TRIP) steel was evaluated in an effort to better control retained austenite content. In this study, axial compressive strains varying in amounts from 0 to 60 pct were imposed in the austenite phase field, and effects on the formation of polygonal ferrite, bainite, and retained austenite were determined. In addition, modifications in simulated coiling temperature from 420 °C to 480 °C and cooling rates from the rolling temperature, between 10 °C/s and 35 °C/s, were assessed. Fast cooling rates, low coiling temperatures, and low degrees of hot deformation were generally found to decrease the amount of polygonal ferrite and increase retained austenite fraction. Unexpectedly, a sharp increase in polygonal ferrite content and decrease in retained austenite content occurred when the fastest cooling rate, 35 °C/s, was coupled with extensive hot deformation and high coiling temperatures. This effect is believed to be due to insufficient time for full recovery and recrystallization of the deformed austenite, even in the absence of intentional microalloying additions to control recrystallization kinetics. The resultant decrease in hardenability allowed the ferrite transformation to continue into the holding time at high (simulated) coiling temperatures.     

An acoustic emission study of martensitic transformation of retained austenite in intercritically annealed HSLA steels

The martensitic transformation of retained austenite particles in an intercritically annealed high-strength low-alloy steel has been studied using the acoustic emission technique. It was found that the stability of austenite particles was mainly dependent on the particle size and to a lesser extent on the enrichment of austenite by carbon and manganese. We have demonstrated that a substantial fraction of the retained austenite particles in the as-annealed condition already contains martensite embryos which can initiate martensitic transformation during cooling below 300 K. The martensite embryos are believed to form from a suitable group of dislocations. Those austenite particles which do not contain such dislocations will not transform by supercooling alone. The particle size stabilization effect is viewed as a decreasing probability of finding dislocations in a particle with decreasing particle volume. Plastic deformation can bring about the transformation by introducing dislocations in the austenite particles. The transformation of the retained austenite particles is shown to enhance the ductility of the HSLA steel.     

残留奥氏体对中碳双相钢冲击性能的影响

采用不同的热处理工艺研究了残留奥氏体对中碳双相钢冲击韧性的影响。利用金相显微镜、扫描电镜、透射电镜和摆锤式冲击试验机,对不同试样的显微组织与冲击韧性进行观察、检测和分析。试验结果表明：中碳贝氏体钢的冲击性能显著高于Q/P马氏体钢（室温冲击功是57J对应15J,-40℃冲击功是33J对应9J）,可能的原因是贝氏体钢中薄膜状残留奥氏体,对裂纹扩展的阻止效应更显著。     

Effect of microstructure on the stability of retained austenite in transformation-induced-plasticity steels

Two Fe-0.2C-1.55Mn-1.5Si (in wt pct) steels, with and without the addition of 0.039Nb (in wt pct), were studied using laboratory rolling-mill simulations of controlled thermomechanical processing. The microstructures of all samples were characterized by optical metallography, X-ray diffraction (XRD), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The microstructural behavior of phases under applied strain was studied using a heat-tinting technique. Despite the similarity in the microstructures of the two steels (equal amounts of polygonal ferrite, carbide-free bainite, and retained austenite), the mechanical properties were different. The mechanical properties of these transformation-induced-plasticity (TRIP) steels depended not only on the individual behavior of all these phases, but also on the interaction between the phases during deformation. The polygonal ferrite and bainite of the C-Mn-Si steel contributed to the elongation more than these phases in the C-Mn-Si-Nb-steel. The stability of retained austenite depends on its location within the microstructure, the morphology of the bainite, and its interaction with other phases during straining. Granular bainite was the bainite morphology that provided the optimum stability of the retained austenite.     

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Forming limit diagram (FLD) of cold- rolled TRIP steel was established by experiments. The microstructures of samples before and after deformation were examined by metalloscopy and scanning electron microscopy and at the same time the contents of retained austenite after different strain ratios were measured by X- ray diffraction. The results show that the ultimate strain under plane strain state(FLD0) is 0. 397. With the strain ratio increasing, strain path changes from uniaxial stretching to plane strain and then biaxial stretching and the transformation amount of residual austenite increases gradually. Compared with dual- phase steel, the higher FLD0of TRIP steel is ascribed to TRIP effect and necking area is wider during deformation.     

Effect of retained austenite on the yielding and deformation behavior of a dual phase steel

Tensile tests were conducted on a vanadium containing dual phase steel at temperatures between −53 and + 187°C to determine the effect of retained austenite stability on tensile properties. The transformation of retained austenite to martensite with stress/strain was shown to be a contributing factor in the yielding and strain hardening behavior of the dual phase steel. Increasing the stability of the austenite, by increasing the test temperature, caused the expected shift in the austenite to martensite strain transformation to higher strains. This led to a lower initial strain hardening exponent which increased with strain, compared to the ambient and sub-zero temperature deformation where the initial strain hardening exponent was higher but decreased with strain. The former behavior, which accentuated the strain hardening ability at higher strains, led to an increase in the uniform and total elongations, suggesting that the ductility of dual phase steels can be further improved by optimizing the stability of the retained austenite.     

热处理工艺对超级马氏体钢逆变奥氏体的影响

 试验采用光学显微镜、X射线衍射仪（XRD）、透射电镜（TEM）及能谱分析（EDS）等手段,研究不同铬含量的超级马氏体不锈钢在相同热处理工艺下逆变奥氏体含量、组织形貌及生长规律的异同。结果表明,13Cr和15Cr两试验钢经淬火＋回火后的显微组织为回火马氏体和逆变奥氏体,两试验钢中逆变奥氏体含量及尺寸均随着回火温度升高先增加再减小,且在650～700 ℃时达到最大。两试验钢内的逆变奥氏体在回溶过程中会对基体组织产生细化作用。通过对比发现,15Cr钢中的逆变奥氏体含量更多,尺寸更大,回溶时对基体的细化作用更明显。     

Recrystallization and formation of austenite in deformed lath martensitic structure of low carbon steels

The effect of prior deformation on the processes of tempering and austenitizing of lath martensite was studied by using low carbon steels. The recrystallization of as-quenched lath martensite was not observed on tempering while the deformed lath martensite easily recrystallized. The behavior of austenite formation in deformed specimens was different from that in as-quenched specimens because of the recrystallization of deformed lath martensite. The austenitizing behavior (and thus the austenite grain size) in deformed specimens was controlled by the competition of austenite formation with the recrystallization of lath martensite. In the case of as-quenched (non-deformed) lath martensite, the austenite particles were formed preferentially at prior austenite grain boundaries and then formed within the austenite grains mainly along the packet, block, and lath boundaries. On the other hand, in the case of lightly deformed (30 to 50 pct) lath martensite, the recrystallization of the matrix rapidly progressed prior to the formation of austenite, and the austenite particles were formed mainly at the boundaries of fairly fine recrystallized ferrite grains. When the lath martensite was heavily deformed (75 to 84 pct), the austenite formation proceeded almost simultaneously with the recrystallization of lath martensite. In such a situation, very fine austenite grain structure was obtained most effectively.     

残留奥氏体对微纳贝氏体钢塑韧性的影响

采用高碳和中碳低温贝氏体转变工艺（095C钢为200℃等温10d,030C钢为320℃等温1d）研究了残留奥氏体对微纳结构钢塑韧性的影响,对不同试样的显微组织、各相体积分数、伸长率和冲击韧性进行观察、检测和分析。试验结果表明,中碳钢贝氏体转变的塑韧性明显高于高碳钢贝氏体转变,主要原因是中碳钢贝氏体转变中存在一定的亚微米级薄膜状残留奥氏体,在拉伸或冲击过程中引起的残留奥氏体的塑性变形,使断裂的能量增加,可以显著提高样品的塑韧性。     

Effect of phosphorus on the formation of retained austenite and mechanical properties in Si-containing low-carbon steel sheet

The effect of phosphorus and silicon on the formation of retained austenite has been investigated in a low-carbon steel cold rolled, intercritically annealed, and isothermally held in a temperature range of bainitic transformation followed by air cooling. The steel sheet containing phosphorus after final heat-treatment consisted of ferrite, retained austenite, and bainite or martensite. Phosphorus, especially in the presence of silicon, in steel was useful to assist the formation of retained austenite. Mechanical properties, such as tensile strength, uniform elongation, and the combination of tensile strength/ductility, were improved when phosphorus was increased up to 0.07 pct in 0.5 pct Si steel. This could be attributed to the strain-induced transformation of retained austenite during tensile deformation. Furthermore, two types of retained austenite were observed in P-containing steel. One is larger than about 1 μm in size and usually exists adjacent to bainite; the other one is of submicron size and usually exists in a ferrite matrix. High phosphorus content promotes the formation of stable (small size) austenites which are considered to be stabilized mainly by their small size effect and have a different formation mechanism from the coarser retained austenite in the lower P steels. The retained austenites of submicron size showed mechanical stability even after 10 pct deformation, suggesting that these small austenites have little effect on ductility. The 0.07 pct P-0.5 pct Si-1.5 pct Mn-0.12 pct C steel showed a high strength of 730 MPa and a total elongation of 36 pct.     

Effect of bainite transformation and retained austenite on mechanical properties of austempered spheroidal graphite cast steel

Austempered ductile iron (ADI) has excellent mechanical properties, but its Young's modulus is low. Austempered spheroidal graphite cast steel (AGS) has been developed in order to obtain a new material with superior mechanical properties to ADI. Its carbon content (approximately 1.0 pct) is almost one-third that of a standard ADI; thus, the volume of graphite is also less. Young's modulus of AGS is 195 to 200 GPa and is comparable to that of steel. Austempered spheroidal graphite cast steel has an approximately 200 MPa higher tensile strength than ADI and twice the Charpy absorbed energy of ADI. The impact properties and the elongation are enhanced with increasing volume fraction of carbon-enriched retained austenite. At the austempering temperature of 650 K, the volume fraction of austenite is approximately 40 pct for 120 minutes in the 2.4 pct Si alloy, although it decreases rapidly in the 1.4 pct Si alloy. The X-ray diffraction analysis shows that appropriate quantity of silicon retards the decomposition of the carbon-enriched retained austenite. For austempering at 570 K, the amount of the carbon-enriched austenite decreases and the ferrite is supersaturated with carbon, resulting in high tensile strength but low toughness. This article is based on a presentation made during TMS/ASM Materials Week in the symposium entitled “Atomistic Mechanisms of Nucleation and Growth in Solids,” organized in honor of H.I. Aaronson’s 70th Anniversary and given October 3–5, 1994, in Rosemont, Illinois.     

Some effects of retained austenite on the fatigue resistance of carburized steel

Cyclic deformation properties have been measured for high carbon steels that simulate the surface layers on carburized AISI 4027 steel. The influence of retained austenite is manifested in cyclic hardening and the development of mean compressive stresses. These responses, which are found to vary in direct proportion to the initial retained austenite content, are attributable to deformation-induced transformation. The importance of such cyclic changes is demonstrated by strain-life relations for carburized 4027; specimens with large amounts of retained austenite in the surface layers possess superior fatigue resistance to otherwise identical specimens that are more completely transformed. It is also shown that the benefits of retained austenite diminish as the intrinsic ductility of the fully transformed material increases.     

The effect of retained austenite on the fracture toughness of high-speed steels

The aim of this work was to find the quantitative dependences between fracture toughness K_lc and the volume fraction of retained austenite in the matrix of quenched high-speed steels. The tests were carried out on three model alloys of a different content quotient of Mo: W which, after quenching, were gradually supercooled up to ? 196°C and then tempered at 450°C. Also the measurements of the content of retained austenite in the vicinity of the surface of a sample fracture were carried out. It was determined that after tempering at 450°C the fracture toughness of the matrix of high-speed steels is directly proportional to the content of retained austenite in it. Every 1 % by volume of retained austenite increases the fracture toughness K_lc of the matrix by about 5%, despite the fact that most probably it is completely transformed into fresh martensite in front of a propagating crack. Higher fracture toughness of the matrix of high-speed steels rich in molybdenum should be explained exlusively by a larger content of retained austenite. Transformations in the martensitic part of the matrix of the alloys richer in molybdenum clearly reduce the advantageous effect of retained austenite on this steel feature.     

Transformation of retained austenite in carburized 4320 steel

A systematic study of stress-induced and thermal-induced transformation of retained austenite in carburized 4320 steel with an initial retained austenite of 35 pct has been conducted. The transformation was monitored by recording the change in volume of smooth fatigue specimens. Stress-induced transformation was studied by conducting monotonic and cyclic tests at temperatures in the range from 22 °C to 150 °C. The volumetric transformation strain was as large as 0.006 at 22 °C. The anisotropy of the transformation was such that the axial transformation strain component exceeded the diametral transformation strain component by a factor of 1.4. Thermal-induced transformation was investigated with temperature stepup tests in the range from 150 °C to 255 °C at constant stress (-500 MPa, 0 MPa, and 500 MPa) and with static tests where temperature was held constant at zero load. The maximum thermal-induced volumetric transformation strain of 0.006 was independent of stress. However, the anisotropy of the transformation strain components was dependent on stress direction and magnitude. An axial tensile stress increased the axial transformation strain relative to the diametral transformation strain. The influence of low-temperature creep(T = 150 °C) on the anisotropy of strains is noted. The differences between stress-induced and thermal-induced transformation mechanisms are discussed. Thermal-induced transformation primarily occurred at temperatures between 100 °C and 200 °C, with the rate of transformation increasing with temperature, while the stress-induced transformation primarily occurred at 22 °C, with the rate of transformation decreasing with increasing temperature. There was no stress-induced transformation above 60 °C.     

低碳钢中铌含量对奥氏体再结晶的影响

为了弄清铌含量对奥氏体再结晶的影响,以低碳钢为研究对象,借助热模拟试验机与金相等分析手段对其进行试验研究与讨论。结果表明,在铌含量一定的条件下,发生动态再结晶的临界应变随着应变速率的增加而提高,随着变形温度的升高而降低;当铌质量分数增至0.05%时,其阻碍动态再结晶的作用更为明显;此外,降低变形量,减少道次间隔时间,提高铌含量,均会使静态再结晶体积分数下降,阻碍静态再结晶的发生。