Effect of different microstructural design on properties for quenching and partitioning steel with tensile strength of 980MPa

Abstract

Three different quenching and partitioning processes (Q&P) processes were applied to a commercial Q&P steel. Three different microstructural constitutes were designed to achieve the strength level of 980MPa. Consequently, various yield strengths, ductility and hole expansion rates were attained, and indicated that different microstructural constitutes contributed to the various performances. An optimized microstructural constitute design (composed of ferrite, tempered martensite, bainite and retained austenite) was proposed, which would contribute to an excellent mechanical combination of yield strength, ductility and hole expansion rate.