Effect of Tempering Temperature on the Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of a 0.1C Steel with High Strength and Low Yield Ratio

Abstract

The influence of tempering temperature on the microstructure and mechanical properties of low carbon low alloy steel was investigated. The results show that tempering temperature has considerable influence on both yield strength and tensile strength. With the increase in tempering temperature, the yield strength increases first and then decreases after it reaches the highest point at 600°C with a strength of 843MPa, while the tensile strength decreases fastly from 550°C to 650°C and keeps stable after increasing drastically at 720°C. The yield ratio is about 0.60 except at 600°C and 650°C with a high yield ratio of 0.90, while the total elongation has little change. It is concluded that the major change of mechanical properties after tempering has a connection with the decomposition of M/A(martensite/austenite) islands, the recovery of dislocations and the precipitation of alloy elements.