Fraction Of High Angle Grain Boundaries Research Articles

Effect of texture, grain boundary constitution, and molybdenum partitioning on corrosion and hydrogen permeation behavior of pulse electrodeposited Ni-Mo coatings

Microstructural evolution, electrochemical corrosion and hydrogen permeation in pulse electrodeposited Ni-Mo coatings (2, 4, 8, and 11wt% Mo) were investigated. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and potentiodynamic polarization measurements revealed improved corrosion resistance at an optimum Mo content. The corrosion current density icorr and polarization resistance Rp values obtained were 13.8 μA/cm2 and 1745 Ωcm2 respectively for pure Ni coating while the icorr and Rp values obtained were 1.7 μA/cm2 and 5406 Ωcm2 respectively for Ni-4wt% Mo coating. Further, increase in the Mo content beyond 4 wt% increased the corrosion rate. Nevertheless, corrosion resistance of Ni-Mo coatings was found to be higher than the pure Ni coating. Ni-Mo coatings contained relatively Mo-enriched clusters in a solid solution matrix. The highest corrosion resistance of Ni-4wt% Mo coating was due to lower energy (001) and (111) textures, lower energy grain boundary constitution, and low coating strain. In Ni-4wt% Mo coating, Mo-enriched Ni-Mo nanoclusters inhibited hydrogen passage by providing a torturous path. In contrast, a high fraction of high-angle grain boundaries (compared to pure Ni coating) facilitated hydrogen permeation leading to a similar extent of hydrogen permeation through pure Ni and Ni-4wt% Mo coatings.

Superplastic behavior and deformation mechanisms of Al-Mg-based alloy processed by isothermal multidirectional forging

The evolutions of microstructure and superplastic deformation mechanisms for Al-Mg-based alloy with L12-nanoprecipitates and recrystallized 1.8 µm grains processed by multidirectional forging were studied. The alloy exhibiting excellent superplastic properties at 460 °C high strain rates of (1–6) × 10−2s−1. Due to a high fraction of high-angle grain boundaries and grain size stability, grain boundary sliding contributed ∼50 % to the total strain and it was accommodated by both dislocation slip/creep and diffusional creep mechanisms. The dislocation slip/creep contribution increased with increasing strain rate.

Influence of strain rate on the tensile properties, misorientation distribution, and texture evolution of automotive-grade TRIP-assisted advanced high-strength steel

This study investigates the influence of strain rate on the tensile properties, misorientation distribution, and texture evolution of annealed Fe-3.46Al-7.52Mn-0.92Si-0.22C (wt.%) steel. Tensile tests are performed on the annealed sample at room temperature with strain rates of 3.3 × 10-4 (SR-1), 1.65 × 10-3 (SR-2), and 3.3 × 10-3 s−1 (SR-3). At higher strain rates, a higher amount of austenite is retained and higher weighted average kernel average misorientation (KAM) is observed. SR-1 exhibits a superior ductility (40 %) compared to SR-2 and SR-3 (28 and 18 %, respectively) due to the combined effect of a higher amount of austenite (29.2 %) transformed to martensite, a higher fraction of low-angle grain boundaries, and strong Ms-brass {011} < 211 > texture. However, SR-2 and SR-3 show better tensile strength compared to SR-1 due to higher fraction of high-angle grain boundaries and evolution of higher intensity α-fiber RD // <110 > .

Crystallographic orientation and slip behavior of powder metallurgy Ti–6Al–4V via multi-directional forging

In this study, we present a microstructural and mechanical analysis of Ti–6Al–4V alloys processed by low-temperature multi-directional forging at 900 °C, achieving near-theoretical density (99.9%), with a tensile strength of 1070 MPa and elongation of 14.9%. The microstructure is defined by both continuous and discontinuous dynamic recrystallization occurring simultaneously, related to an increase in dislocation density. Significantly, this study reveals the interaction between crystallographic orientation and spheroidization during the forging process. Specifically, changes in crystallographic orientation include the asynchronous formation of new subgrains/grains, the disruption of the Burgers orientation relationship, and rotation around the <11 2‾ 0>axis, which not only increases the orientation differences between α lamellae but also enhances the spheroidization process. Moreover, our findings demonstrate that during deformation, the activation of basal and pyramidal slip systems is favored over prismatic slip, indicating that the forging process has enhanced slip activity. The average misorientation angle and the fraction of high-angle grain boundaries are quantified, providing a detailed characterization of the evolved microstructure. This study adopts a new perspective to examine the microstructural evolution during the multidirectional forging process in powder metallurgy, presenting findings that elucidate how multidirectional forging effectively controls.

Effect of laser shock peening on tribological properties of 55SiMoVA bearing steel

Wear is an important factor limiting the service life of 55SiMoVA bearing steel. In this work, laser shock peening (LSP) technology is used to improve the tribological properties of 55SiMoVA bearing steel, and the corresponding underlying mechanism is systematically discussed. After LSP, the kurtosis (Sku) of surface roughness asperities reduced from 10.355 to 5.488, and no new phase was generated. Electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) analysis suggested LSP induced the generation of dislocation structures and deformation twins, leading to a decrease in the average grain size and an increase in the fraction of high-angle grain boundaries. Due to the work-hardening and fine-grain strengthening, the microhardness increased by 16.6 %, the maximum residual compressive stress amounted to −793.1 MPa, and the coefficient of friction (COF) and wear volume were significantly reduced. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) results indicated that the wear mechanism of 55SiMoVA bearing steel before and after LSP was not transformed. However, the abrasive wear and delamination wear of the LSPed specimens were significantly improved, which was mainly attributed to grain refinement, increasing microhardness and constructing a residual compressive stress layer in the subsurface layer of 55SiMoVA bearing steel. During the sliding process, the increase in microhardness limits micro-plowing on the wear surface, and the residual compressive stress inhibits the crack formation and expansion, improving the wear resistance of 55SiMoVA bearing steel.

The Influence of Microstructure Evolution on the Mechanical and Electrochemical Properties of Dissimilar Welds from Aluminum Alloys Manufactured Via Friction Stir Welding

The present study investigated a new configuration of friction stir welded joints from two aluminum alloys. Dissimilar welds AA6082/AA1350 were examined, whereas, for AA1350, two states were investigated—coarse-grained (CG) and ultrafine-grained (UFG). Changes in the mechanical and electrochemical properties regarding the microstructure evolution across the welds were discussed. The average grain size in the stir zone (SZ) for all materials equaled 4 to 5 µm with a fraction of high-angle grain boundaries of about 77 pct, indicating the occurrence of continuous dynamic recrystallization. Changes in the microhardness across the welds were connected with differences in grain size (AA1350) and dissolution of β″ precipitates in the SZ of AA6082. As a result, the tensile strength of the welds decreased compared to base materials AA6082 and AA1350 UFG; however, there was an increase when compared to the base material AA1350 CG. Electrochemical experiments revealed that pitting corrosion occurred for AA1350, while for AA6082, it was a combination of pitting and intergranular corrosion. The depth of corrosion attack was higher for AA1350, with a maximum value of ~ 70 µm for base materials, while in the SZ, a depth decreased to 50 µm. For the AA6082, the maximum depth was measured in the SZ and did not exceed 30 µm.

Intercritically Annealed Medium-Manganese Steel: Insights into Microstructural and Microtextural Evolution, Strain Distribution, and Grain Boundary Characteristics.

Aluminum-incorporated medium-manganese steel (MMnS) has potential for lightweight transport applications owing to its impressive mechanical properties. Increasing the austenite volume fraction and making microstructural changes are key to manufacturing MMnS. However, the grain boundary character and strain distribution of intercritically annealed low-density MMnS have not been extensively scrutinized, and the effects of crystallographic texture orientation on tensile properties remain ambiguous. Therefore, in this study, the microstructure, microtexture, strain distribution, and grain boundary characteristics of a hot-rolled medium-Mn steel (Fe-0.2 C-4.3 Al-9.4 Mn (wt%)) were investigated after intercritical annealing (IA) at 750, 800, or 850 °C for 1 h. The results show that the 800 °C annealed sample exhibited the highest austenite volume fraction among the specimens (60%). The duplex microstructure comprised lath-type γ-austenite, fine α-ferrite, and coarse δ-ferrite. As the IA temperature increased, the body-centered cubic phase orientation shifted from <001> to <111>. At higher temperatures, the face-centered cubic phase was oriented in directions ranging from <101> to <111>, and the sums of the fractions of high-angle grain boundaries and coincidence-site-lattice special boundaries were significantly increased. The 800 °C annealed sample with a high austenite content and strong γ-fiber {111}//RD orientation demonstrated a noteworthy tensile strength (1095 MPa) and tensile elongation (30%).

Influence of scanning speed on microstructures and mechanical properties of SLM produced Hastelloy X: as-built and solution-treated

Hastelloy X (HX) alloys with ideal strength and ductility match can be obtained by selective laser melting (SLM) and a proper follow-up heat treatment. This work studies the influence of scanning speed on grain size, grain boundary distribution, recrystallization and mechanical properties of as-built HX. These influences are reevaluated after a solution treatment at 1175 °C for 4h. The results reveal that the average grain size decreases, while the aspect ratio, texture intensity and the proportion of high-angle grain boundaries (HAGBs) increases with the increase of scanning speed. A small amount of recrystallization has occurred in the as-built alloys due to the cyclic thermal effect of SLM scanning. The finer grains and larger aspect ratio imply the higher energy storage during SLM, which will increase the recrystallizing nucleation rate. Solution treatment eliminates the fiber texture of 〈100〉//BD, significantly increases the HAGBs fraction and recrystallization fraction, reduces the grain aspect ratio, and coarsens the grains. With the increase of scanning speed, the strength of the Hastelloy X increases and the elongation decreases. The decrease of grain size is the main reason for the increase of yield strength.

Microstructure and corrosion behavior of a hot-rolled pure Mg after annealing at various temperatures

The microstructure and corrosion behavior of a hot-rolled pure Mg in the rolled state and after annealing at various temperatures was studied in this paper. It was found that the hot-rolled pure Mg after annealing at 250 °C, 350 °C, 400 °C, 500 °C and 550 °C showed homogeneous microstructures and the presence of a partially recrystallised tissue in hot rolled pure Mg. Corrosion of annealed Mg mainly occurred at grain boundaries, which stemmed from the relatively higher energy and chemical activation on the grain boundaries. Initial corrosion sites were provided by different proportions of High angle grain boundaries (HAGBs). The corrosion rate tends to increase and then decrease with increasing grain size. The Mg annealed at 450 °C showed a non-uniformed microstructure, with a lower fraction of the recrystallization grains and higher fraction of HAGBs, leaving to the severe localized corrosion and the highest corrosion rates. Corrosion rate measurement indicated that there existed a curvilinear relationship between the corrosion rate and grain size.

Simulation and Study of Influencing Factors on the Solidification Microstructure of Hazelett Continuous Casting Slabs Using CAFE Model.

The Hazelett continuous casting and rolling process represents a leading-edge production method for cold-rolled aluminum sheet and strip billets in the world. Its solidification microstructure significantly influences the quality of billets produced for cold rolling of aluminum sheets and strips. In this study, employing the CAFE (Cellular Automaton-Finite Element) method, we developed a coupled computational model to simulate the solidification microstructure in the Hazelett continuous casting process. We investigated the impact of nucleation parameters, casting temperature, and continuous casting speed on the microstructural evolution of the continuous casting billet. Through integrated metallographic analyses, we aimed to elucidate the controlling mechanisms underlying the Hazelett continuous casting process and its resultant microstructure. The results demonstrate that the equiaxed rate of grains increases with an increase in nucleation density, and the grain size decreases under constant cooling strength. With other nucleation parameters held constant, the grain size decreases as undercooling increases, and the columnar crystal zone expands. The nucleation density of the Hazelett continuous casting aluminum alloy has been determined to range between 1011 m-3 and 1013 m-3, and the undercooling ranges between 1 °C and 2.5 °C. The solidified grain structure can be controlled between 35 μm and 72 μm. The grain size of the continuous casting billet increases with an increase in pouring temperature and decreases as the casting speed increases. Elevating the pouring temperature positively impacts the fraction of high-angle grain boundaries and promotes the dendritic to equiaxed grain transition. Moreover, there exists potential for further optimization of continuous casting process parameters.

Synergistic integration of laser shock peening and heat treatment for refined microstructure and enhanced mechanical properties in additively manufactured 17–4PH stainless steel

This study explores the combined effects of laser shock peening (LSP) and heat treatment (HT) on the microstructure, residual stress, and mechanical behaviour of selective laser-melted 17–4 precipitation-hardened (PH) stainless steel. Subsequently, laser shock peening (LSP) was performed on both as-printed (AP) and heat-treated (HT) sample surfaces, and their microstructure, residual stress, and mechanical behaviour were evaluated. The severe plastic deformation (SPD) resulted in significant compressive residual stresses (CRS) in the surface layer of the AP+LSP (-879 MPa) and AP+HT+LSP (-850 MPa) samples. Laser peening caused dislocation accumulation and micro-level grain refinement in the sample's deformed layers, improving its mechanical properties. The AP+HT+LSP sample shows significant improvements over the as-printed (AP) sample. The fraction of high-angle grain boundaries (HAGBs) and high misorientation angles were higher in the AP+HT+LSP sample, and its effect is revealed in the microhardness data. The collective contribution of precipitation strengthening, Hall-Petch, CRS, dislocation strengthening, and increased fraction of HAGBs is observed in mechanical and microstructural aspects of laser shock peened specimens.

Discrete model for discontinuous dynamic recrystallisation applied to grain structure evolution inside adiabatic shear bands

Discontinuous dynamic recrystallisation (DDRX) is a well-known phenomenon playing a significant role in the high-temperature processing of metals, including industrial forming and severe plastic deformations. The ongoing discussion on the Zener–Hollomon (Z–H) parameter as a descriptor of materials’ propensity to DDRX and a measure of microstructure homogeneity leaves more questions than answers and prevents its practical application. Most of the existing DDRX models are continuous, and so the geometry and topology of real grain microstructures cannot be considered. The present study uses a fully discrete representation of polycrystalline aluminium alloys as 2D/3D Voronoi space tessellations corresponding to EBSD maps. Such tessellations are geometric realisations of combinatorial structures referred to as polytopal cell complexes. Combining discrete models with FEM LS-Dyna simulations of shock-wave propagation in AA1050 and AW5083 aluminium alloys makes it possible to estimate for the first time the contribution of DDRX to the final material microstructure inside adiabatic shear bands. It is shown that the increase of the initial fraction of high-angle grain boundaries, caused by preliminary deformation, significantly increases the spatial homogeneity and decreases the clustering of DDRX grains. The obtained results contradict the conventional assumption that the microstructures obtained by severe plastic deformation under quasi-static and dynamic deformation conditions are similar due to the similar value of the Z–H parameter: competition between the two recrystallisation mechanisms leads to almost unpredictable final grain structures inside share bands that require further comprehensive experimental studies. This agrees with experimental evidence for high material sensitivity to the Z–H parameter.

Investigation on microstructural evolution and local mechanical performance of friction stir lap welded AA6061-T6/ AA7075-T6 joints

The current study uses the friction stir lap welding (FSLW) technique to successfully fabricate two layered dissimilar AA6061/AA7075 joints. A defect-free joint with superior interfacial properties was obtained at the optimized process parameters (tool rotational speed / transverse speed) of 850 RPM/ 55 mm/min. The detailed investigations of microstructure evolution, crystallographic texture, and strength correlation were performed using the field emission scanning electron microscope (FE-SEM), optical microscope (OM), electron backscattered diffraction (EBSD), Vickers microhardness, nano-indentation, and miniature tensile tests. EBSD analysis reveals the presence of a significant grain refinement at the bottom (3.65 µm), middle (4.58 µm), and top region (6.34 µm) of stir zone (SZ) compared to AA6061 (42.56 µm) and AA7075 (34 µm) base metals. An increasing trend in the fraction of high angle grain boundary (FHAGBs) and recrystallization fraction was noticed from top to bottom of the build within the SZ. Continuous dynamic recrystallization (CDRX) with the gradient in strain, strain rate, and temperature leads to these microstructural variations within the SZ. The microhardness study shows a decrease in microhardness in the SZ due to thermal softening and precipitate dissolution at higher temperatures. Appreciable interfacial material mixing leads to remarkable strength, ductility, and strain-hardening behaviour within the SZ, especially at the interface section. Pole figures (PF) reveal the presence of major shear texture components (B/B̅, and C) with some minor presence of A1*/A2*and A/A̅ that confirms the presence of higher strains within the SZ. The dominant presence of recrystallization textures components (like cube {001} 〈110〉, Goss {011} 〈100〉, and P {011} 〈122〉 ) within the SZ confirms the presence of the CDRX mechanism.

Statistics of grain microstructure evolution under anisotropic grain boundary energies and mobilities using threshold-dynamics

This paper investigates the statistics of two-dimensional grain microstructures during grain growth under anisotropic grain boundary (GB) energies and mobilities. We employ the threshold dynamics method, which allows for unparalleled computational speed, to simulate the full-field curvature motion of grain boundaries in a large polycrystal ensemble. Two sets of numerical experiments are performed to explore the effect of GB anisotropy on the evolution of microstructure features. In the first experiment, we focus on abnormal grain growth and find that GB anisotropy introduces a statistical preference for certain grain orientations. This leads to changes in the overall grain size distribution from the isotropic case. In the second experiment, we examine the development of texture and the growth of twin boundaries for different initial microstructures. We find that texture development and twin growth are more pronounced when the initial microstructure has a dominant fraction of high-angle grain boundaries. Our results suggest effective GB engineering strategies for improving material properties.

The effect of heat input on weld-bead geometry, mechanical, phase transformation temperature, and corrosion properties of autogenous double pulse TIG welded nitinol sheets

This research aims to analyze the welding of 1 mm thick NiTinol sheets using an autogenous double pulse tungsten inert gas (DPTIG) welding process. The effect of heat input (HI) on bead geometry, microstructure, hardness, tensile strength, phase transformation temperature (PTT), and corrosion behavior was studied. The lower (111.25 J/mm), and higher (120.14 J/mm) HI produced an average grain size of 26 μm and 36 μm, respectively. The microstructure of the fusion zone (FZ) had coarser columnar grains with intermetallic phases such as Ni3Ti, and TiO2. The grain size in the FZ increased with the increase in HI. Sample P (111.25 J/mm) showed a higher hardness of 280.54 HV and tensile strength of 566 MPa due to a higher proportion of austenite phase (99.4%), the smaller grain size of 26 µm, a larger fraction of high angle grain boundary (HAGB) of 75.8%, and higher kernel average misorientation (KAM) value of 4.93. Compared to base metal (BM), sample P (111.25 J/mm), and sample S (120.14 J/mm) exhibited a reduction in tensile strength of 19.14% and 32.29%, respectively. The decline in hardness and tensile strength was attributed to the formation of intermetallic phases, a decrease in the Ti/Ni ratio, coarser grain formation, and a decrease in HAGB fraction and KAM values. The fractured tensile samples showed a mixed mode of fracture with dimples and cleavage facets. Compared to BM, Sample Q (118.05 J/mm) exhibited lesser variation in temperature hysteresis values for austenite and martensite temperatures, with a deviation of 0.4°C and 3.1°C, respectively. All the welded samples had better corrosion behavior than the BM due to a higher Ti/Ni ratio.

Discrete modelling of continuous dynamic recrystallisation by modified Metropolis algorithm

Continuous dynamic recrystallisation (CDRX) is often the primary mechanism for microstructure evolution during severe plastic deformation (SPD) of polycrystalline metals. Its physically realistic simulation remains challenging for the existing modelling approaches based on continuum mathematics because they do not capture important local interactions between microstructure elements and spatial inhomogeneities in plastic strain. An effective discrete method for simulating CDRX is developed in this work. It employs algebraic topology, graph theory and statistical physics tools to represent an evolution of grain boundary networks as a sequence of conversions between low-angle grain boundaries (LAGBs) and high-angle grain boundaries (HAGBs) governed by the principle of minimal energy increase, similar to the well-known Ising model. The energy is minimised by a modified Metropolis algorithm. The model is used to predict the equilibrium fractions of HAGBs in several SPD-processed copper alloys. The analysis captures non-equilibrium features of the transitions from sub-grain structures to new HAGB-dominated grain structures and provides estimations of critical values for HAGB fractions and accumulated strain at these transitions.

Refinement mechanism of large heat-input welding CGHAZ microstructure by N addition and its effect on toughness of a V-Ti-N microalloying weathering steel

The large heat input welding performance of uncoated weathering steel remains a great challenge since their coarse grain heat-affected zones (CGHAZs) are usually occupied by coarse and brittle microstructure consisting of granular bainitic ferrite (GBF) and martensite/austenite (M/A) constituents. In this article, a V-Ti-N microalloying weathering steel suitable for large heat input welding was achieved through the N addition, and the mechanism dominating the modified microstructure and the enhanced impact toughness of CGHAZ was deeply elucidated mainly by HRTEM. The results indicated that in the simulated CGHAZ with large heat input of 80 kJ/cm, the increase of N content from 0.0030 wt% to 0.0075 wt%, and 0.0115 wt% elevated the density of nano- and submicron-sized particles of (Ti, V)(C, N) containing VN, which in turn resulted in the refinement of prior austenite grains (PAGs) by the improved grain boundary pinning effect and the enhancement in heterogeneous nucleation of intragranular ferrite (IGF) by the decreased lattice disregistry (δ) between (Ti, V)(C, N) and IGF. The fraction of high-angle grain boundaries (HAGBs) with misorientation tolerance angles (MTAs) higher than 15° was thereby increased while the mean equivalent diameter (MED) of ferritic grains with HAGBs was decreased. Simultaneously, the N addition scattered the M/A constituents, promoted the internal substructure of dislocation-type M/A at the expense of twin-type M/A, and accordingly reduced the hardness difference between the M/A constituents and the matrix. All these factors retarded brittle crack initiation and propagation, and low-temperature impact toughness of simulated CGHAZ increased from 62.8 J to 141.2 J.

Effect of arc mode on laser-arc hybrid additive manufacturing of Al–Cu alloy: Pore defects, microstructure and mechanical properties

Laser-arc hybrid additive manufacturing (LAHAM) of Al–Cu alloy was carried out to investigate the effects of different arc modes on pore formation, microstructure characteristics, and tensile properties. The introduction of high-frequency pulse current and cyclic polarity reversal in the CMT-PADV mode was found to be beneficial for reducing pores. Compared with CMT and CMT-P modes, the CMT-PADV mode exhibited a transformation from columnar grains to equiaxed grains, with the smallest grain size of 26.6 μm, the highest fraction of high-angle grain boundaries of 84.2 %, and the longest length of grain boundaries reaching 14.9 cm. Moreover, the eutectic structure along the grain boundaries was observed in the samples fabricated by CMT and CMT-P modes, while it appeared disrupted and intermittently distributed in the CMT-PADV mode. In this case, the excellent mechanical properties were obtained for CMT-PADV mode, with tensile strength and elongation 276.6 MPa and 23.82 % in horizontal directions, 262.9 MPa and 20.9 % in vertical directions, respectively.

Effect of temperature on superplastic deformation behavior of 2198 Al–Cu–Li alloy

Al–Li alloy possesses remarkable advantages such as low density, high specific strength and specific elastic modulus, making it an exceptional aerospace structural material with considerable application potential. However, Al–Li alloy suffers from poor formability, which restricts its broader engineering applications. Alternatively, superplastic forming at high temperatures is widely applied for producing such components. Temperature is a key factor affecting the thermal deformation properties of Al–Li alloy. In this study, tensile tests of 2198 Al–Cu–Li alloy were conducted at different temperatures, and dedicated characterizations were performed to reveal the underlying mechanisms responsible for the hot deformation behavior. Results reveal that three distinct stages are observed in the superplastic deformation process of this alloy. Specifically, in the initial low-temperature range (400 °C–450 °C), incomplete dynamic recrystallization (DRX), accompanied by grain rotation and elongation plays a dominant role in the hot deformation mechanism. In the middle temperature stage (450 °C–500 °C), both DRX and grain boundary sliding (GBS) occur. At the high-temperature stage (500 °C–550 °C), diffusion creep emerges as the prominent mechanism. Moreover, optimum superplasticity is achieved at 500 °C, which results from a synergistic combination of several factors, including grain refinement by DRX, an increased fraction of high-angle grain boundaries (HAGBs), reduced dislocation density and weak texture.

Influence of Heat Treatment on Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of Direct-Quenched Fe-0.06C-0.2Si-2.0Mn Steel

In this study, the effect of subsequent heat treatment applied to high-strength low-alloy steel (HSLA) on the structure–property relationships was investigated. Tempering and intercritical annealing processes are introduced to elucidate the influence of subsequent heat treatment on mechanical properties of direct-quenched Fe-0.06C-0.2Si-2.0Mn steel from a microstructural perspective. The tempering process results in a typical tempered martensite with uniformly dispersed cementite, whereas the intercritical annealing process forms a dual-phase microstructure composed of soft ferrite and hard martensite for the direct-quenched steel. In the intercritical annealed steel, a number of mobile dislocations at the interphase (martensite/ferrite) boundary significantly decrease the yield strength, and the large difference in strength between ferrite and martensite enhances work hardening. Charpy V-notch impact test results indicate that the tempering and intercritical annealing processes improved the absorbed energy by more than 100 J compared to the direct-quenched steel at room temperature, and at −50 °C, the intercritically annealed steel exhibited the highest absorbed energy of approximately 140 J. Additionally, the high fraction of high-angle grain boundaries and fine grains of the intercritically annealed steel increase the resistance to cleavage crack propagation, thereby reducing the ductile-to-brittle transition temperature.