Martensite Fraction Research Articles

Impact of Partitioning Temperature Parameters during the Quenching and Partitioning Process on Medium Carbon Steels with Two Different Alloying Strategies

Quenching and partitioning (Q&P) heat treatments have recently gained attention as promising methods for the third generation of advanced high‐strength steels, particularly in industrial applications like automotive. This study investigates the microstructural evolution during Q&P in two medium‐carbon high‐silicon and aluminum‐alloyed steels, exploring potential additional phase transformations controlling the final structure. The choice to focus on Si and Al‐ medium‐carbon steel is linked to the lower cost of these elements compared to commonly alloying elements like Ti, Cr, Mo, and V, while still achieving high mechanical properties through Q&P. The Q&P process is analyzed by varying the volume fraction of primary martensite (M1) at 0.25, 0.50, and 0.75, with partitioning temperatures ranging from 350 to 550 °C for 30 min. At 350 °C, a significant volume fraction of stabilized austenite (up to 0.3) is observed. However, concurrent reactions such as nanostructured bainite and martensite formation lead to deviations from the theoretical constrained carbon equilibrium (CCE). At higher temperatures (450–550 °C), tempering reactions, including cementite precipitation and pearlite formation, reduced the austenite final fraction. The study highlights that heat treatment design, particularly partitioning temperature, must be tailored to the specific steel composition due to the varying effects of Si and Al.

Linear friction welding of T-Joints in low carbon steel: Effect of welding parameters on joint quality

Linear friction welding (LFW) is a well-established solid-state joining technique. However, its application in T-joint configurations remains unexplored. This study investigated the effects of welding parameters, such as oscillation direction, upset, and applied pressure after oscillation, on linear friction welded (LFWed) T-joints using low-carbon steel SM490A. The flash ejection behavior, flash profiles, microhardness, microstructure at the welding interface, and tensile properties of the joints were evaluated under various welding conditions. The results indicated that flash symmetry was lower along the oscillation direction and higher perpendicular to it. Short-side oscillation produced more homogeneous flash ejection compared to long-side oscillation. No distinct softening zones were observed in the hardness profiles of the LFWed T-joints. The microstructure at the welding interface consisted of martensite, bainite, and ferrite, indicating that the weld region reached temperatures above the A1 temperature. The martensite fraction and hardness increased with higher upset and applied pressure after oscillation. Tensile tests revealed 100 % joint efficiency across all welding conditions, with ductile fracture occurring in the base metal due to the absence of welding defects and increased hardness at the interface.

The Effects of Super-Fast Heating Rate and Holding Time on the Microstructure and Properties of DP Fe-0.16C-1.4Mn Sheet Steel.

This study investigates the influence of super-fast heating rate and holding time on the microstructure and mechanical properties of dual-phase (DP) Fe-0.16C-1.4Mn sheet steel. Super-fast heating and cooling rates were achieved via induction heating and gas quenching. The results were also compared with those for a conventional low-speed heat treatment. The microstructures were characterized in detail using X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, electron backscatter diffraction, and electron probe microanalysis. The results showed that the layered structure of the DP Fe-0.16C-1.4Mn steel after super-fast heating was mainly composed of recrystallized ferrite, martensite clusters, and a small amount of residual austenite. Compared with the conventional method, super-fast heating significantly refined the grains and improved yield and tensile strength, but it slightly reduced the elongation. The fraction of martensite, which depends on the nucleation and growth behavior of austenite, was significantly affected by the heating rate and holding time. The DP structure of Fe-0.16C-1.4Mn steel had an atypical layered heterogeneous structure, with an uneven plastic strain between the two phases occurring during the deformation process, which is something that can improve fracture elongation.

Assessing strength of ferrite and martensite in five dual phase and two martensitic steels via high throughput nanoindentation to elucidate origins of strength

This paper describes the main findings from an experimental investigation into overall and local strength of four dual-phase (DP) steels classified based on their tensile strength (TS) levels from DP590, to 780, to 980, to 1180, a martensitic steel (MS) 1700, and a high-strength low-alloy (HSLA) steel in rolled and additively manufactured (AM) conditions. The DP steels and the MS steel consist of ferrite and martensite, while the HSLA steel is solely martensitic. High throughput nanoindentation mapping is employed to measure the mechanical hardness of individual phases contributing to strength of the steels. A clustering methodology for correlating measured hardness and phase maps is conceived to infer hardness per phase. With increasing fractions of martensite, the hardness values of both ferrite and martensite are found to increase with more rapid increase in the hardness of ferrite than martensite. The phases increasingly dislocate with the fraction of martensite as rationalized by crystal plasticity modeling of strength of the steels. Initial slip resistances and a set of hardening parameters associated with the slip in ferrite and martensite are established to model the flow stress behavior of the steels. In modeling the co-dependent nature of crystallographic slip in ferrite and martensite, the initial dislocation densities are inferred and correlated with the measured hardness values. The hardness of martensite in the rolled HSLA steel is comparable to the hardness of martensite in the MS steel, while martensite in the AM HSLA steel is softer owing to the tempering occurring during the AM process.

Effects of solution treatment on microstructure and properties of Ti-5.7Al-3.9Sn-0.91Mo-3.4Zr-0.40Si-0.38Nb-0.95Ta titanium alloy

This study investigated the effects of solution treatments under various conditions on the matrix and silicides microstructure and their impact on the mechanical properties of high-temperature Ti60 (Ti-5.7Al-3.9Sn-0.91Mo-3.4Zr-0.40Si-0.38Nb-0.95Ta) titanium alloy. The microstructure evolution during solution treatments was characterized, and the tensile properties at 600 °C and room temperature (RT) were investigated. The results show that the fraction and grain size of martensite and silicides can be tailored through solution treatments. With increasing solution temperature, the fraction of primary α (αp) phase and silicides decreases, while that of the transformed β (βt) microstructure increases. After solution treatment at 1025 °C, the yield strength (YS) and ultimate tensile strength (UTS) reach 685.0 MPa and 900.8 MPa, respectively, at 600 °C, increasing by 18.0% and 27.0%, respectively, compared to the initial state. The elongation (EL) remains at 16.2%. The strengthening mechanisms of Ti60 alloy include grain boundary strengthening of the αp phase and martensite formed during rapid cooling, as well as precipitation strengthening of the silicides. With increasing solution temperature from 950 °C to 1025 °C, the fraction of martensite strengthening increases from 38.4% to 89.3%, while the fraction of precipitation strengthening of silicides decreases from 3.63% to 1.17%.

Influence of phase transformation coefficient on thermomechanical modeling of laser powder bed fusion for maraging 300 steel

Manufacturing maraging steel components using laser-based powder bed fusion (LPBF) presents an attractive proposition for industries due to the material's combination of mechanical properties such as hardness, wear resistance, toughness and the capability to produce parts with complex geometries and high precision. Despite these advantages, the LPBF process induces defects such as distortion and residual stress associated with the complex thermal cycles, compromising final part quality. Numerical simulations have been developed to predict these defects. However, LPBF simulations remain challenging due to the complexity of the process and the substantial computational resources required. For maraging steel, for example, the occurrence of phase transformation promotes compressive stress that interferes in results and makes simulations inaccurate. This research aims to simulate a geometry with a circular inner channel and investigate distortion, volume fraction of martensite and equivalent stress results. Modeling was performed by varying phase transformation rate parameters to assess the impact of transformations on simulation outcomes. Results showed minimal impact of these parameters on distortions and equivalent stress. Equivalent stress results were compared with literature findings, while distortion results were validated against experimental data to validate the accuracy of the model.

Development of Material Sensors Made of Metastable Austenitic Stainless Steel for Load Monitoring

AbstractMetastable stainless steels can be used as a load-sensitive sensor. In combination with an eddy current testing system, mechanical overloads of a component can be detected directly during operation. Material sensors were prepared by shot peening fatigue specimen of metastable austenitic steel to obtain a martensitic surface layer and a local heating by a laser beam to obtain an austenitic area in the layer. In order to investigate the response of the material sensor to overload and achieve different trigger thresholds, the thermal energy applied to create the sensor material and the geometry of the material sensors were varied. It is shown that the austenitized volume and the martensite fraction in the material sensor correlate with the phase of the eddy current signals. Starting from the martensitic surface layer, the phase decreases as the austenitized volume increases. If martensite formation takes place due to an overload, the phase increases as a result. To determine the threshold stress needed to trigger the material sensor, cyclic rotating bending tests were carried out on austenitic stainless steel 1.4301 (AISI 304). In step tests, the bending stress was gradually increased and subsequently ex-situ eddy current testing was carried out. The potential for predicting and classifying an overload is significantly greater with a higher applied thermal energy. Three different sensor geometries (rhombus, cross and ring) were employed in tests. In comparison, the rhombus-shaped material sensor provided the greatest potential for load history interpretation due to the significant phase change.

Correlation between individual phase constitutive properties and plastic heterogeneities in advanced-high strength dual-phase steels

The present study comprehensively investigates the individual phase constitutive properties and plastic heterogeneities in advanced high-strength steels (AHSS), particularly DP590 and DP780 dual-phase (DP) steels. A machine learning-based model is implemented to identify the ferrite and martensite phases in the microstructures of DP590 and DP780. Then, the constitutive properties of ferrite and martensite phases are successfully obtained through a hybrid approach of in-situ neutron diffraction coupled with the crystal plasticity finite element method (CPFEM). The distinct microstructures between DP590 and DP780 result in different macroscopic and microscopic properties among the two materials. Owing to different martensite volume fractions (Vm) in DP590 (Vm = 8.3 %) and DP780 (Vm = 35.4 %), a noticeable dependency of plastic heterogeneities during deformation on martensite fraction and its spatial distribution is revealed. Compared to DP590, the deformed microstructure of DP780 exhibits a more heterogeneous distribution of stress and strain fields, along with significant formation of plastic strain localization leading to a remarkable increase in strain partitioning index. It shows that a lower fraction of martensite with its discrete distribution decreases martensite ability to hinder the ferrite deformation, thus strain localization is primarily concentrated within the ferrite phase as the predominant failure mode in DP590. In contrast, a higher martensite fraction in DP780 causes more pronounced strain localization which occurs in the ferrite and at the ferrite/martensite interface. In addition, interconnect distribution between martensite islands enhances the inhibition of martensite to ferrite deformation, thereby high strain gradient at their interface leads to prevalence of ferrite/martensite interface decohesion in DP780.

Effects of resistance spot welding parameters on microstructure and mechanical properties of the dissimilar welded joint of quenching and partitioning steels

Abstract In this study, the effect of welding currents and welding times on the microstructure and mechanical properties of the dissimilar welded joints of Q&P980 and Q&P1180 steel was investigated. The macrostructure and microstructure of the dissimilar welded joints were characterized and the relationship between the welding parameters and the mechanical performance was analyzed using confocal laser scanning microscope, scanning electron microscope, and mechanical properties testers. Results show that with the increasing welding current and welding time, the nugget diameter, indentation rate, and maximum shear force of the dissimilar joint increase. The absorption energy of the dissimilar joint increases when the welding current rises, while it increases first and then decreases with elevating welding time. All the hardness distributions of the dissimilar Q&P980/Q&P1180 joints exhibit the highest hardness value in the fusion zone and a gradually decreasing hardness value in the heat-affected zone. Moreover, with increasing current and time, much higher hardness occurs at the FZ/HAZ boundary. The microstructure characterization illustrates the martensite fraction in the intercritical heat-affected zone of the Q&P1180 side is higher than that of the Q&P980 side after the welding process. With the increase of welding current and time, the lath martensite in the fusion zone gradually coarsens. The coarsening martensite and the nugget diameter are responsible for the change in the shear force and energy absorption of the dissimilar Q&P980/Q&P1180 joints.

Phase field study on the grain size dependent electrical resistivity-strain response in superelastic nanocrystalline NiTi alloys

The superelastic NiTi alloy's electrical resistivity exhibits significant variations in response to deformation, making it a highly attractive material for sensing applications. However, there exists a lack of comprehensive knowledge of the effects of grain size (GS) on the electrical properties of NiTi alloy. To address this gap, a novel electro-mechanical coupled phase field simulation model is developed, with crucial parameters determined through experimental investigations. The results demonstrate a notable change in the relationship between electrical resistivity and strain, transitioning from a quasi-linear pattern to a piecewise nonlinear one as the GS increases. The observed modification is found to be primarily influenced by the martensitic transformation, characterized by a transition from a uniform mode to a localized mode. As the GS increases, there is an initial drop in the total change of electrical resistivity at peak strain, followed by a subsequent stabilization. This is because the GS, through the stress and the degree of phase transformation, exerts two opposing effects on the variation of electrical resistivity. Furthermore, the combined influence of hysteresis and hysteresis in the martensite fraction contributes to a consistent decrease in resistivity hysteresis as the GS diminishes. This study improves the understanding of how GS affects NiTi alloy's electrical resistivity-strain response and lays the foundation for future sensing performance regulation, expanding its multi-functionality as an intelligent material.

Preparation of bainite phase microstructure by laser-electromagnetic induction hybrid solid-state phase transformation

Increasing the proportion of bainite and martensite phases is one of the effective ways to enhance the toughness of medium-carbon low-alloy steel(42CrMo). In this paper, the surface heat treatment of 42CrMo steel is carried out by using a laser heat source to achieve complete austenitization, then with electromagnetic induction heating for several times to implement insulation, and eventually to promote bainite phase transformation. In conjunction with the temperature history curves, OM, SEM, and EBSD are used to characterize the bainite morphology and percentage of bainite via different parameters of the hybrid process. The results demonstrate that the hybrid process combined with twice electromagnetic induction heating can yield a considerable proportion of bainite phase in 42CrMo steel. The resulting duplex structure, consisting of bainite and a minor fraction of martensite, exhibits a significant increase (81.1%) in tensile strength, while maintaining similar impact toughness. The elongation after fracture only has a slight reduction of 5.5% compared to that of the substrate. This innovative process provides a practical alternative to traditional bainite isothermal treatment method which must perform in a heat treatment furnace. Therefore, it is presented as a promising solution for enhancing the mechanical properties of medium-carbon low-alloy high strength steels.

On the use of thermomechanical processing to enhance the strength-ductility-toughness balance of plain low-carbon steel

This study aimed to fabricate a dual-phase (DP) steel with a combination of high strength-ductility-toughness by thermomechanical processing for industrial applications. Accordingly, the effects of 40 % cold deformation and intercritical annealing temperature on the microstructural evolution and tensile properties of low-carbon steel were studied. The microstructure of dual-phase steels consisted of ferrite (α) and martensite (α'), however, the morphology of martensite was different. With increasing the intercritical annealing temperature, the martensite fraction increased gradually from 0.41 at 770 °C to 0.51 at 860 °C. Also, the increase of martensite fraction from 0.41 to 0.51 caused a decrease in the martensite carbon concentration from 0.174 to 0.142 wt%. All dual-phase steels had a larger hardness than the as-received steel. When the temperature of annealing increased from 770 °C to 860 °C, the yield strength enhanced from 370.4 to 496.3 MPa, the ultimate tensile strength improved from 642.0 to 809.2 MPa, the total elongation decreased slightly from 31.8 % to 29.8 %, and the energy absorption increased from 190.0 to 217.6 J/cm3. The work hardening rate of all DP samples was considerably higher than other samples. Unlike initial, quenched, and rolled samples, the DP steels exhibited three-stage strain hardening behavior with increasing the true strain. For all dual-phase steels, a perfect ductile fracture was observed, with numerous uniform deep and coarse dimples. The dominant mechanism in the fabricated dual-phase steels was interface decohesion.

Using Poisson’s ratio and acoustic anisotropy parameter to assess damage and accumulated plastic strain during fatigue loading of austenitic steel

The work investigated the effect of fatigue failure on the elastic characteristics of metastable austenitic steel AISI 321: Poisson’s ratio and acoustic anisotropy parameter. The elastic characteristics were calculated using ultrasonic measurements of the propagation time of longitudinal and shear elastic waves. The volume fraction of strain-induced martensite was determined by the eddy current method. Theoretical studies have shown that the main factors influencing Poisson’s ratio are the accumulation of microdamages and changes in phase composition. The change in the acoustic anisotropy parameter is associated with the influence of cyclic deformation on the crystallographic texture of the material matrix and the formation of oriented crystals of strain-induced martensite. Based on the analysis of experimental results, expressions were obtained for calculating damage and relative accumulated plastic deformation based on acoustic measurement data, which are widely used in engineering practice to determine the fatigue life of structural materials.

Thermokinetics driven microstructure and phase evolution in laser-based additive manufacturing of Ti-25wt.%Nb and its performance in physiological solution

A bio-compatible Ti-25 wt% Nb alloy fabricated from a blend of pure elemental powders using laser powder bed fusion additive manufacturing technique. The present work investigated the effects of processing conditions on the evolution of microstructures and its consequential material attributes, such as mechanical properties and corrosion performance. Thermal management strategies comprising laser powers of 200 W and 300 W in complement with a shorter scan length (1 mm) and substrate preheating above β-transus temperature (1123 K) were considered to achieve complete dissolution of niobium particles. The microstructure in the 200 W sample showed thin α′′ martensite needles in β matrix while martensite laths in the 300 W condition appear coarse and were twice the area fraction compared to that in 200 W build. On the other hand, microstructures in the heated substrate sample exhibited the evolution of α and β phases. A multi-scale finite element method based thermo-kinetic model spanning from melt pool scale to the component scale was incorporated to understand the mechanism of the evolution of microstructures during liquid–solid and solid–solid state transformation. Electrochemical performance in the simulated body fluid of the printed alloys was found to be significantly affected by the presence of martensite fractions. Both mechanical and corrosion behaviors were favorably influenced by adoption of the substrate preheating during additive manufacturing due to promotion of diffusional transformation of β to α at the expense of martensitic transformation.

The modified Swift constitutive model of 304L stainless steel at the cryogenic temperature based on the Olson–Cohen model

The nonlinear behavior of austenitic stainless steel (ASS) is significantly affected by the temperature and strain during plastic deformation. However, the conventional constitutive model is often inadequate to accurately describe its mechanical properties, particularly at cryogenic temperatures. Therefore, the development of a constitutive model for ASS at cryogenic temperatures is of paramount importance in order to fully understanding the performance of liquefied natural gas (LNG) membrane tank structures under such conditions. In this study, we have derived a modified constitutive model using 304L stainless steel that incorporates a phase transition model through theoretical derivations. First, the stress and strain data for 304L stainless steel within the range of 108–293 K have obtained from quasi-static tensile experiments. Subsequently, the XRD test results are utilized to calculate the volume fraction of martensite across various temperatures and strains. Next, a modified constitutive model is proposed by combining the Olson–Cohen phase transition model and the Swift constitutive model. Finally, the accuracy of the modified Swift constitutive model is verified through experimental data. The results demonstrate that the modified Swift constitutive model is precise for characterizing the properties of 304L stainless steel across a wide range of temperatures. Furthermore, multiple case studies have proven the feasibility of using the modified Swift constitutive model to predict the properties of various austenitic materials. By incorporating the Olson-Cohen phase transition model, the modified Swift constitutive model showcases its wide applicability and potential in designing and assessing the safety of ASS structures.

Quantification of δ-ferrite and austenite retention in laser-deposited martensitic stainless steel

Type 420 martensitic stainless-steel powder was clad onto a CF3M austenitic stainless steel substrate using laser direct-energy-deposition (L-DED). Through comprehensive characterization and numerical simulation, the evolution of microstructures, particularly the retention of δ-ferrite and austenite, was investigated. In the clad fusion zone, the primary phase to solidify was δ-ferrite, followed by austenite resulting from the peritectic reaction. The segregation patterns developed during rapid solidification from the L-DED process exerted a significant effect on the stability of the austenite in the room temperature microstructures. Due to the fast cooling rate in the solid state, the time available for transformation of the δ-ferrite to austenite regarding the segregation patterns was limited, and the transformation was incomplete. The room temperature microstructure was therefore comprised of δ-ferrite distributed in the dendrite core regions, surrounded by martensite, which was further surrounded by a small fraction of retained austenite in the interdendritic regions. The retained austenite region was enriched with segregated alloying elements, which pushed the martensite start temperature Ms below room temperature. The retention of both δ-ferrite and interdendritic austenite was proved to have caused a softened fusion zone with a lowered martensite fraction.

Effect of repeated-tempering induced martensite on the microstructural evolution in 17–7 PH stainless steel

Single long-time tempering and triple tempering processes have been applied to 17–7 PH stainless steel (chemical composition: Fe-0.09C-16.4Cr-7.7Ni-0.9Al, wt%) to investigate the effects of the stability of austenite on subsequent martensitic transformation and aging hardening. The as-received steel was composed of 0.55 austenite and 0.45 martensite (volume fraction). Scanning electron microscopy images showed that the volume fraction of martensite (up to 0.98) in triple-tempered specimens ((0.5 h @ 760 °C) × 3) was about 0.15 higher than that (0.83) in single-tempered ones ((1.5 h @ 760 °C) × 1). The results clearly indicate the effectiveness of the triple-tempering process in progressively improving martensitic transformation. Direct observation of the austenite/martensite interface has provided evidence that the preceding martensitic transformation induces accommodation strain into the adjacent austenite, which brings about the mechanical stabilization of austenite but will facilitate the succeeding martensitic transformation after three consecutive tempering operations. The relevant microstructural evolution has been explored and discussed. Furthermore, subsequent aging at 565 °C led to precipitation hardening associated with the formation of NiAl nanoparticles. The triple-tempered specimen yielded the higher peak hardness value (424 HV) in 20 min, significantly faster than the single-tempered specimen, which took 90 min to reach the lower one (357 HV). The corresponding number density of NiAl nano-precipitates and dislocation densities of martensite at various aging times have been examined by transmission electron microscopy to elucidate the benefits of the triple tempering process for precipitation strengthening.

Monitoring the phase evolution and fracture behavior of advanced multiphase QP steel using EBSD technique and digital image correlation

A novel multiphase 0.17C-5Mn-0.88Si-0.76Al-0.22Mo-0.06Nb steel was subjected to complex thermomechanical processing schedules to produce quenching and partitioning (Q&P) microstructures. The tests were performed in the Gleeble 3800 simulator applying multiple deformations in a plane state of strain and final deformation was applied at 850 °C. The samples were controlled cooled to 240 °C and 260 °C to produce some martensite fraction and subsequently partitioned at a temperature of 450 °C to enrich austenite in carbon from the supersaturated martensite. Different primary/secondary martensite microstructures containing retained austenite were produced, which were subjected to detailed microstructural and fracture studies using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD). The mechanical behaviour of the samples was investigated in static tensile tests using sub-sized flat samples. Digital image correlation (DIC) measurements were performed to monitor the strain distribution in a micro scale. Relationships between processing conditions and fracture behaviour were assessed in fractographic tests.

Simultaneously promoting strength and ductility by regulating TRIP effect in TiZrCuBeO bulk metallic glass composite

In this study, a novel series of Ti-based bulk metallic glass composites has been developed, exhibiting high specific strength and significant ductility (fracture strain exceeding 11 %). The TRIP effect of these composites was promoted by oxygen microalloying, ensuring uniform deformation under tensile loading. The outstanding mechanical properties could be attributed to the well-controlled metastability of the β phase, as well as the increased volume fraction and variants of martensite, effectively coordinating the micro-strain. It demonstrates that well-designed composition could significantly enhance the TRIP effect and ductility of bulk metallic glass composites, and prevent premature failure while preserving strength.

Enhancing strength-ductility synergy in 316L stainless steel through pre-straining at 4.2K

In this study, we introduce a novel approach to enhance the strength of face-centered cubic (FCC)-structured 316L austenitic stainless steel (ASS) while preserving its tensile ductility. The proposed method involves subjecting the 316L ASS to a pre-strain of 3.5 % at a cryogenic temperature of 4.2 K, resulting in the formation of multiple-fine-defects, including mechanical twins, stacking faults, hexagonal close-packed phases, and body-centered cubic (BCC) phases, which act as BCC martensite seeds. The formation of multiple-fine-defects in 316L ASS through pre-straining at 4.2 K leads to a substantial increase in the yield strength of approximately 45 %, while also maintaining tensile ductility during the subsequent tensile testing at room temperature. Moreover, these pre-existing defects can effectively suppress cross-slip, resulting in a high fraction of planar BCC martensite, which lead to a higher strain-hardening ability than that of the as-annealed 316L ASS. These findings suggest that the mechanical properties of metastable FCC alloys with low to medium stacking fault energies can be effectively enhanced by facilitating martensite seeds via pre-straining at cryogenic temperatures.