Influence of grain boundary carbides on mechanical properties of high nitrogen austenitic stainless steel

Precipitation behavior of grain boundary carbides and its influence on mechanical properties and fracture mechanism of the high nitrogen austenitic stainless steel produced by different processing methods were studied. The simulation software Thermo-calc was applied to analyze the effects of element content on precipitation of carbides. The results show that hot-rolled plate has higher strength, but solution-treated one followed by water quenching has excellent combination of strength and ductility (toughness). M₂₃C₆ is the main precipitate and deteriorates the toughness of the steel obviously when it precipitates along grain boundaries. In this case, intergranular fracture is the predominant failure mechanism and the fracture surface is characterized by the shape of rock candy. The toughness at −40 °C is decreased by 53% when small amount of carbides precipitates during sand cooling process after solution treatment. The simulation results exhibit that with the decrease of C content, both the precipitation quantity and precipitation temperature of M₂₃C₆ decrease. Cr and N have no influence on precipitation quantity of M₂₃C₆, but the precipitation temperature will increase with the increase of Cr and the decrease of N.     

Relation of transformation temperature to the fracture toughness of transformation-toughened ceramics

The stress induced tetragonal to monoclinic ZrO₂ martensitic transformation contribution to fracture toughness is described in terms of the required external strain energy and the thermo-dynamic stability of the constrained tetragonal phase. The strain energy, derived from an externally applied stress acting on the main crack, required to achieve transformation toughening is shown to be a function of the term (T - M _s) whereT is the test temperature andM _s is the martensite start temperature for the case ofT > M _s. Thus for a givenT (T > M _s), the transformation toughening component increases asM _s approachesT and for a fixedM _s, the toughness decreases asT increases. Experimental data for partially stabilized zirconia ceramics confirm these results and show that increasing tetragonal precipitate size is the primary feature which affects an increase inM _s. In the case ofT M _s, autotransformation occurs, resulting in decreasing toughness with decrease inT due to a continuous loss in the tetragonal phase content. A temperature region is thus obtained over which transformation toughening exhibits a maximum in its contribution. The temperatures over which this occurs then is shown to be dependent on theM _s temperature of the material.     

High temperature flexural strength and fracture toughness of AlN with Y<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>3</Subscript> ceramic

The effects of temperature on the fast fracture behavior of aluminum nitride with 5 wt% Y₂O₃ ceramic were investigated. Four-point flexural strength and fracture toughness were measured in air at several temperatures (30–1,300 °C). The flexural strength gradually decreased with the increase of temperature up to 1,000 °C due to the change in the fracture mode from transgranular to intergranular, and then became almost constant up to 1,300 °C. Two main flaw types as fracture origin were identified: small surface flaw and large pores. The volume fraction of the large pores was only 0.01%; however, they limited the strength on about 50% of the specimens. The fracture toughness decreased slightly up to 800 °C controlled by the elastic modulus change, and then decreased significantly at 1,000 °C due to the decrease in the grain-boundary toughness. Above 1,000 °C, the fracture toughness increased significantly, and at 1,300 °C, its value was close to that measured at room temperature.     

A study of microstructure and performance of cast Fe–8Cr–2B alloy

The effects of quenching temperature on microstructure and hardness of cast Fe–8Cr–2B alloy containing 0.3 wt% C, 2.0 wt% B, 8.0 wt% Cr, 0.6 wt% Si, and 0.8 wt% Mn were investigated by optical microscopy (OM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X‐ray diffraction (XRD), Rockwell hardness and Vickers microhardness testers. The experimental results indicate that the as‐cast microstructure of cast Fe–8Cr–2B alloy consists of M₂B (M = Fe, Cr), M₇(C, B)₃, α‐Fe, and γ‐Fe. The dendritic matrix composed of lath martensite mixed with a small amount of retained austenite, and the netlike boride M₂B distribute in the grain boundary. After quenching between 950 °C and 1100 °C, the netlike eutectic boride are broken up and a new phase‐M₂₃(C, B)₆ which is distributed in the shape of sphere or short rod‐like are precipitated from the matrix. Both the macrohardness and microhardness of specimens increase with the increasing quenching temperature. At about 1050 °C, the hardness reaches the maximum value. However, when the temperature exceeds 1050 °C, the hardness will decrease slightly. With the increase of tempering temperature, the hardness of cast Fe–8Cr–2B alloy quenching from 1050 °C decreases gradually and its impact toughness increases slightly. Crusher hammer made of cast Fe–8Cr–2B alloy quenching from 1050 °C and tempering from 300 °C has good application effect, and its service life improves by 150–180% than that of high manganese steel hammer.     

High strain rate superplasticity in powder metallurgy aluminium alloy 6061 + 20 vol.-%SiCpcomposite with relatively large particle size

Abstract

The possibility of high strain rate superplasticity (HSRS) was examined over a wide range of temperatures in a powder metallurgy aluminium alloy 6061/SiC_p composite with a relatively large SiC particle size of ~8 μm. A maximum tensile elongation of 350% was obtained at 600°C and 10^-2 s^-1. Tensile elongations over 200% were obtained in a narrow temperature range between 590 and 610°C at high strain rates of 10^-2 and 10^-1 s^-1. The current testing temperature range could be divided into two regions depending on the rate-controlling deformation mechanism. Region I is in the lower temperature range from 430 to 490°C, where lattice diffusion controlled dislocation climb creep (n = 5) is the rate-controlling deformation process, and region II is in the higher temperature range from 520 to 610°C, where lattice diffusion controlled grain boundary sliding controls the plastic flow. An abnormally large increase in activation energy was noted at temperatures above 590°C, where large tensile elonga tions over 200% were obtained at high strain rates. This increase in activation energy and high tensile ductility may be explained in terms of presence of a liquid phase created by partial melting, but such evidence could not be provided by the current differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) test. This may be because the DSC is not sensitive enough to detect the small amount of liquid phase.     

Formation of ultrafine grained ferrite during thermomechanical treatment in microalloyed steel

Abstract

In the present work, the formation of ultrafine grained ferrite has been studied by applying suitable thermomechanical treatment. A high amount of deformation (～80%) at varying strain rates (0·01–10 s^?1) was applied in the temperature range of Ar₃ to Ac₃ followed by water quenching. This treatment resulted in a two-phase ferrite–martensite microstructure as compared to fully martensite structure after quenching without deformation. The formation of ultrafine ferrite (?3 μm) during deformation was favourable at a lower temperature and a slower strain rate. A maximum ～50% ferrite formed during deformation at 780°C with a strain rate of 0·01 s^?1. Experimental rolling with a high strain (～1·3) with finish rolling temperature just above Ar₃ (～750°C) resulted in fine ferrite–pearlite of ?3 μm, and the properties showed a high value of strength as compared to steels rolled in a conventional way. Dual phase microstructure (ferrite and martensite) was produced after partial austenisation to 780°C followed by quenching in water, and this resulted in an excellent combination of properties (high ultimate tensile strength, low yield strength/ultimate tensile strength, high elongation and high n values).     

Impact of Particle Size on Room Temperature Ferrimagnetism of SrFe<Subscript>12</Subscript>O<Subscript>19</Subscript>

In this paper, we report the control of important hysteresis parameters, which are useful for memory devices, viz. M _s , H _c and M _r /M _s , by changing the particle size/calcination temperature. An investigation of SrFe₁₂O₁₉ nanopowder from the structural and magnetic aspect is performed using X-ray diffraction (XRD), High Resolution Transmission Electron Microscopy (HRTEM), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and Vibrating Sample Magnetometer (VSM). The average particle size (APS) of SrFe₁₂O₁₉(nanopowder) increases from 26 to 600 nm with calcination temperatures of 400 and 1100 °C in air, respectively. With the increase in calcination temperature, saturation magnetization (M _s ) increases with the decrease in coercivity for the respective sample. The change in saturation magnetization and coercive field are explained on the basis of transition from single domain structure to multi-domain geometry with an increase in the heating temperature. The sample heated at 1000 °C shows a minimum coercive field (2.71 kOe) and an appropriate squareness ratio (M _r /M _s ) compared to other calcined samples.     

Effect of pre-quenching on martensite-bainitic microstructure and mechanical properties of GCr15 bearing steel

In order to improve the strength and toughness of steel GCr15 (52100), the effect of different amounts of pre-transformed martensite on the kinetics of isothermal bainitic transformation and the strength and toughness of martensite-bainitic (MB) duplex microstructure has been studied by using pre-quenching after conventional 850°C heating to different temperatures (220, 200, 180°C) below M _s and then isothermal treatment at 240°C. The experimental results show that the accelerating effect of pre-quenched martensite on isothermal bainitic transformation principally depends upon the pre-quenching temperature (the amount of pre-quenched martensite). The MB duplex microstructure with 33% pre-transformed martensite has the optimum combination of strength and toughness.     

Effect of tempering temperature on the microstructure and properties of ultrahigh-strength stainless steel

The microstructure, precipitation and mechanical properties of Ferrium S53 steel, a secondary hardening ultrahigh-strength stainless steel with 10% Cr developed by QuesTek Innovations LLC, upon tempering were studied by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and tensile and impact tests. Based on these results, the influence of the tempering temperature on the microstructure and properties was discussed. The results show that decomposition occurred when the retained austenite was tempered above 440 °C and that the hardening peak at 482 °C was caused by the joint strengthening of the precipitates and martensite transformation. Due to the high Cr content, the trigonal M₇C₃ carbide precipitated when the steel was tempered at 400 °C, and M₇C₃ and M₂C (5–10 nm in size) coexisted when it was tempered at 482 °C. When the steel was tempered at 630 °C, M₂C and M₂₃C₆ carbides precipitated, and the sizes were greater than 50 nm and 500 nm, respectively, but no M₇C₃ carbide formed. When the tempering temperature was above 540 °C, austenitization and large-size precipitates were the main factors affecting the strength and toughness.     

X-ray diffraction and magnetic characterization of the retained austenite in a chromium alloyed high carbon steel

In the present work the amount of retained austenite present in quenched and tempered high carbon–chromium alloyed steel was quantified by X-ray diffraction and magnetization saturation measurements. The steel was forged and directly quenched. The retained austenite partially transformed into martensite on cooling down to −196 °C. The M_f temperature of about −150 °C was found by thermomagnetic analysis. Tempering at low temperatures (220 °C and 270 °C) promoted the stabilization effect of austenite. The intrinsic magnetization of the ferromagnetic martensite used in the phase quantification was 206.4 A² m/kg. The increase of the tempering temperature above 320 °C slightly decreases the m _s value of the martensite due to tempering reactions.     

Structure and properties of solid state diffusion bonding of 17-4PH stainless steel and titanium

Abstract

Solid state diffusion bonded joint between titanium and 17-4 precipitation hardening stainless steel was carried out in the temperature range of 800–1050°C in steps of 50°C for 30 min and also at 950°C for 30–180 min in steps of 30 min under a uniaxial pressure of 3·5 MPa in vacuum. Bonded samples were characterised using light microscopy, field emission scanning electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction technique. Up to 850°C for 30 min, FeTi phase was formed at the diffusion interface; however, α-Fe+λ, χ, Fe₂Ti and FeTi phases and phase mixtures were formed above 850°C for 30 min and at 950°C for all bonding times. Maximum tensile strength of ～326 MPa, shear strength of ～254 MPa and impact toughness of ～24 J were obtained for the diffusion couple processed at 1000°C for 30 min and 30–180 min time interval at 950°C, and maximum tensile strength ～323 MPa, shear strength ～243 MPa and impact toughness of ～22 J were achieved when bonding was processed for 120 min. The residual stress of the bonded joints increases with the increase in bonding temperatures and times.     

A study of heat treatment of high‐boron high‐speed steel roll

High‐boron high‐speed steel (HSS) is a cheap roll material. In the paper, the authors research the effect of heat treatment on the microstructure and properties of high‐boron high‐speed steel HSS roll containing 0.54% C, 1.96% B, 3.82% W, 7.06% Mo, 5.23% Cr and 2.62% Al by means of the optical microscopy (OM), the scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X‐ray diffraction (XRD) and hardness test. The results showed that as‐cast structure of boron‐bearing high‐speed steel HSS consisted of martensite, pearlite, M₂(B, C), M₃(B, C) and M₂₃(B, C)₆ type borocarbides. After quenching, the matrix transformed into the lath martensite, and M₃(B, C) dissolved into the matrix. When quenching temperature is lower than 1050°C, the hardness is increased with the increase of quenching temperature under oil cooling, while quenching temperature excels 1100°C, the hardness will decrease with the increase of quenching temperature. Under the condition of salt bath and air cooling, the effect of quenching temperature on the hardness is similar to the above law, but the quenching temperature obtaining the highest hardness is higher than that of oil cooling. The highest hardness is obtained while tempering at 525°C. The hardness of high‐boron high‐speed steel HSS roll is 66.5 HRC, and its impact toughness excels 13.1 J/cm². Using in pre‐finishing stands of high‐speed hot wire‐rod rolling mill, the wear rate of high‐boron HSS rolls is 0.26 mm/one thousand tons steel. However the manufacturing cost of high‐boron HSS rolls is obviously lower than that of powder metallurgy hard alloy rolls, it is only 28% of that of powder metallurgy (PM) hard alloy rolls.     

Study on dislocation density,microstructure, and mechanical properties of P92 steel for different heat treatment conditions

The impact of various heat treatment procedures on microstructure, dislocation density, hardness, tensile characteristics, and impact toughness of P92 steel was examined in the current experiment. The martensitic microstructure and average microhardness of 463 HV 0.2±8 HV 0.2 of the normalized steel were prevalent. A tempering procedure was carried out at 760 °C for a range of 2 hours to 6 hours. Additionally, an X-ray diffraction examination was carried out, and the results were used to determine the dislocation density. The normalized sample was characterized by a high dislocation density. The dislocation density was decreased by tempering of normalized samples. With an increase in tempering time, the effect of the treatment coarsened the grains, precipitates, and decreased the area fraction of precipitates. After tempering, MX, M₂₃C₆, and M₇C₃ types precipitates were found to have precipitated, according to energy dispersive spectroscopy and x-ray diffraction research. The ideal tempering period was determined to be 4 hours at a tempering temperature of 760 °C based on the microstructure and mechanical characteristics. Steel that was tempered at 760 °C for 4 hours had a yield strength of 472 MPa, an ultimate tensile strength of 668.02 MPa, and an elongation of 26.05 %, respectively.     

Magnetic measurement of strain-induced martensite formation in Fe–30Ni steel

This investigation focuses on deformation-induced plasticity in Invar-type steel alloys. The effect is being studied in an austenitic model alloy, containing 30 wt-% of nickel. Its temperature dependent mechanical properties are being presented. Furthermore, the martensitic phase content has been determined by magnetic means in an alloy with two ferromagnetic phases for the first time. The results show that the α′-martensite formation within the austenitic phase with primarily wavy glide mechanism allows an increase in ductility of around 10% at the M_sσ temperature of ?5°C. This is the point of maximum uniform elongation. Near the M_s temperature, a microstructure of 70 vol.-% deformation-induced α′-martensite can be achieved.     

Effect of annealing parameters on the magnetic properties of NiZn ferrite thin films

Ni_0.5Zn_0.5Fe_2.0O_4.0 thin films (NZFs) were deposited on Si (100) substrate by a sol–gel method, and the effects of annealing parameters on the structure and magnetic properties of the proposed films were investigated. Moderate heating rate was beneficial to the nucleation of NZFs. When the heating rate was 2 °C/min the saturation magnetization (M _s) achieved its maximum and the coercivity (H _c) reached its minimum. Both the crystallization and M _s of NZFs enhanced with increasing annealing time; however, H _c changed contrarily. High quenching temperature produced a large stress and consequently deteriorated magnetic properties. The optimal annealing parameters of NZFs were annealed at 700 °C, heating rate 2 °C/min, annealing time 1 h, and gradually cooled to room temperature. Finally, NZFs showed a high magnetization of 320 emu/cm³ and low coercivity of 86 Oe.     

High-temperature strength and toughness behaviors for reaction-bonded SiC ceramics below 1400 °C

High-temperature strength and toughness behaviors of reaction-bonded SiC ceramics with 12 and 26 vol.% of free Si were investigated. The flexural strength and fracture toughness started to increase at 1000 °C and reached a maximum at 1300° and 1330 °C before a sharp drop, respectively. The transition from transgranular to intergranular fracture is considered to lead to the slight increase of strength and toughness from room temperature to 1000 °C, while the plastic deformation of free Si contributes to the great increase above 1000 °C. However, too high a temperature will result in the extreme softening of free Si and therefore decrease strength and toughness.     

Effects of cooling process on microstructure and hardness for 1·0C–1·5Cr bearing steel

Effects of cooling rate (V_cr) and final cooling temperature (T_ft), after hot deformation, on microstructure and hardness for 1·0C–1·5Cr bearing steel were investigated. The results show that if V_cr increases from 2 to 25°C s^?1 and T_ft remains at 650°C, pearlite colony size and grain size both decrease, hardness increases. When V_cr exceeds 8°C s^?1, carbide network can be restrained effectively. TEM micrographs indicate that there exist branches in the local region of lamellar cementite and ferrite, and a ferrite thin film is also found around the proeutectoid carbide. Under the cooling rate of 10°C s^?1, with the increase in T_ft, the microstructure changes from martensite into pearlite, carbide network becomes more serious and hardness decreases.     

Development of mechanical properties of structural high-carbon low-alloy steels through modified heat treatment

The modified heat treatment, which produces a mixed structure of martensite and lower bainite through short-term isothermal transformation at just above the martensitic transformation temperature,M _s temperature, followed by oil quenching (after conventional austenitization), has been applied to three high-carbon low-alloy steels with different levels of nickel and chromium contents at similar molybdenum levels, in which carbon was allowed to replace relatively expensive additions of nickel and chromium, for their ultra-high strength application. The significant conclusions are as follows: an ultra-high strength steel of 1900 M Pa yieldstress grade with a high toughness level can be obtained when about 60 vol % lower bainite is associated with 473 K tempered martensite of 0.60% C-1.80% Ni-0.80% Cr-0.25% Mo steel. If approximately 25 vol % lower bainite appears in 673 K tempered martensite of the steel, a 1700 M Pa yield-stress grade steel with high toughness and moderate ductility levels can be attained. However, alloying nickel is essential to some extent for development of the mechanical properties with the modified heat treatment suggested in the present work.     

Investigation of quenching effect on mechanical property and abrasive wear behaviour of high boron cast steel

Abstract

The effect of quenching temperature from 900 to 1050°C on the microstructures, mechanical properties and abrasion resistance of modified high born cast steel containing 0·3 wt-%C and 3·0 wt-%B was studied by optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction analysis, tensile tester, impact tester, hardness tester and abrasion tester. Quenching at 900°C resulted in structures containing a small amount of pearlite. The existence of pearlite led to poor hardness and wear resistance of modified high born cast steel. Quenching at temperatures between 900 and 950°C resulted in the decrease in pearlite and the increase in hardness and abrasion resistance in comparison with 900°C quenching. The metallic matrix all transformed into the martensite quenching at 1000°C; the modified high born cast steel had high hardness, tensile strength, impact toughness and excellent abrasion resistance. The hardness, tensile strength and impact toughness of modified high born cast steel had no obvious change quenching over 1000°C. The increase in quenching temperature also led to the transformation of boride from continuous shape to isolated shape and promoted the coarsening of boride.     

Fabrication and Magnetic Properties of Electrospun La0.7Sr0.3MnO3 Nanostructures

La_0.7Sr_0.3MnO₃ (abbreviated as LSMO) nanostructures were fabricated by a simple electrospinning using a solution that contained poly(vinylpyrrolidone) (PVP), lanthanum, strontium and manganese nitrates. The LSMO nanostructures were successfully obtained from calcination of the as-spun LSMO/PVP composite nanofibers at 500–900 °C in air for 7 h. The as-spun and calcined LSMO/PVP composite nanofibers were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Analysis of phase composition by XRD revealed that all the calcined samples have a single rhombohedral LSMO phase. The SEM results showed that the crystal structure and morphology of the LSMO nanofibers were affected by the calcination temperature. Crystallite size of the nanoparticles contained in nanofibers increased with an increase in calcination temperature. The specific saturation magnetization (M _s ) values were obtained to be 1.23, 28.61, and 40.52 emu/g at 10 kOe for the LSMO samples calcined respectively at 500, 700, and 900 °C. It is found that the increase of the tendency of M _s is consistent with the enhancement of crystallinity, and the values of M _s for the calcined LSMO samples were observed to increase with increasing crystallite size. This increase in M _s for the calcined LSMO samples with increasing crystallite size may be explained by considering a magnetic domain of the samples.