Effect of phosphorus on the mechanical properties of normalized 0.1 pct C, 1.0 pct Mn steels

The effect of phosphorus, in amounts up to 0.2 pct, on the stress-strain characteristics and strain-rate sensitivity of a series of laboratory-produced 0.1C–1.0Mn steels has been determined on normalized 10 mm-thick (0.38 in.) plate at temperatures from −196 to 400°C (−321 to 752°F). It was found that 0.05 pct phosphorus increased the yield strength of the 0.1C–1.0Mn steel about 24 MPa (3.5 ksi) at 22°C (72°F) and above without significantly affecting the Charpy V-notch shelf energy or fracture-appearance transition temperature. Additions of 0.1 and 0.2 pct phosphorus caused a greater increase in the yield strength (48 and 93 MPa or 7 and 13.5 ksi) but also increased the transition temperature. The strengthening effect of phosphorus in these steels is much the same as that found previously for phosphorus in iron, and analysis of the strain-rate-sensitivity data shows that the same deformation models are applicable. Strong elastic interactions between phosphorus atoms and dislocations are believed to be responsible for the observed deformation behavior. Comparison of the present results with those obtained previously on Fe−P alloys and with data in the literature indicates that the strengthening resulting from phosphorus additions to steel is expected to be additive to other strengthening mechanisms.