Abstract

A novel heat treatment process, that is, quenching-partitioning-tempering (Q-P-T) process, has been developed as a new way to obtain ultrahigh strength martensitic structural steel containing retained austenite and alloying carbide. In order to display merit of the Q-P-T process, a medium carbon Nb-microalloyed steel is treated by Q-P-T 1-step process and Q-P-T 2-step process, as well as treated by the transformation induced plasticity heat treatment process and quenching and tempering process, respectively. The results show that Q-P-T samples possess better mechanical properties than those treated by other heat treatment processes. The origin of the good mechanical properties is analyzed based on the phase and microstructure characterization using X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy.

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