Abstract
The present study was undertaken to investigate the effect of thermo-mechanical treatment (TMT) on the microstructure and mechanical behaviour of low alloy steel. Hot forging is carried out at 1200°C using mechanical press of 500 and 800 ton. The effect of hot forging reduction ratios (1.11 and 1.29) on the hardness and mechanical properties are studied. TMT samples are given different heat treatment i.e. annealing (A), normalizing (N), hardening (H), hardening and tempering (H/T) and their corresponding impact toughness are obtained. Selected heat treatment (normalizing and annealing) are given to tensile test samples and their corresponding strength and ductility are obtained. Ultimate tensile, 0.2% offset yield strength and percent elongation are measured. Hardness and impact toughness measurements were carried out for all alloy conditions. Hardness (HV), ultimate tensile stress (UTS-MPa) and 0.2% offset yield stress (MPa) increases with increasing reduction ratio. TMT leads to a sharp rise in alloy hardness and strength. Normalizing and annealing following TMT revealed a low hardness values compared to those observed in the TMT condition. Annealing reduces hardness and strength but increases ductility and impact toughness. This could be attributed to the recovery and coarsening effect. Pro-eutectoid ferrite phase are observed along the grain boundaries of low alloy steel in the TMT conditions regardless of the reduction ratios. Normalized samples show a refined pearlitic microstructure while coarse pearlite is observed in the annealed one. Good mechanical properties can be obtained by a combination of plastic deformation and thermal treatment. Heat treatment is one of the major factors used to enhance the mechanical properties of low alloy steel. An understanding of the combined effect of TMT and subsequent heat treatment on the structure and mechanical properties of low alloy steel would help in selecting conditions required to achieve the optimum mechanical properties and alloy high strength to weight ratio. This may be achieved by measuring hardness, impact toughness, strength and ductility resulting from different heat treatment following TMT.
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