Investigation of the Microstructures and Mechanical Properties of Nano- and Sub-Micron Composite Low Carbon Alloy Steel

Abstract

The low carbon alloy steel was single face treated by a special hot diffusion method, and thus the gradual composite steel was produced. The microstructures of composite steel were very different from the matrix steel, white layer speared near the treated surface, and nano- and sub-micron particles were existed in the white layer. The results of ramon spectrum test indicated that the nano- and sub-micron particles can transfer several millimeters, several centimeters or even more. The mechanical properties changed sharply compared with the matrix steel. The hardness and the tensile strength near the treated surface were much higher than the matrix steel, and decreased gradually with the increase of distance to the treated surface. The composite steel has high strength, high hardness, high wear-resistance, high corrosion-resistance and etc. From the engineering application point of view, this technique can be used to produce super high qualities alloy steels, which can be used to the field as: metallurgy, mine, automobile, manufacture, energy sources, and etc.