Abstract
Low-cost, fast-transforming carbide-free nano-bainitic steel has been produced with tensile strengths up to 2140 MPa and elongation values of around 10%. An alloying concept of combining low Mn (0.29 wt.%) and moderate Al (~ 1 wt.%) additions enabled full transformation in 10 min to less than 2 h at austempering temperatures ranging from 235 to 310 °C. Dilatometric experiments and thermodynamic simulation via ThermoCalc software were employed to design the heat treatment procedure. The resulting structures were investigated using scanning electron microscopy and synchrotron x-ray diffraction. Mechanical characterization was performed via hardness, tensile, and impact testing at room temperature. The strain-aging response for the alloy system was also investigated.
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