AbstractIn this research the effects of partitioning temperature and time in quenching and partitioning (Q&P) heat treatment was studied by applying the two‐step quenching and partitioning on a novel low‐alloy medium carbon steel. Partitioning was carried out at 250 °C and 300 °C for various times to obtain different amount of retained austenite and carbide precipitation. Microstructural studies revealed that after 3000 s at 250 °C same as 500 s at 300 °C, the matrix transformed from martensite to tempered martensite and lower bainite. The increase in partitioning time, due to carbide precipitation led to yield strength improvement, while it caused the reduction in elongation. The tensile test results showed that all quenching and partitioning specimens had tensile strengths higher than 1500 MPa and yield strengths over 1000 MPa.