Bainite

About: Bainite is a research topic. Over the lifetime, 9520 publications have been published within this topic receiving 145305 citations.

Development of New High-Strength Carbide-Free Bainitic Steels

Abstract: An attempt was made to optimize the mechanical properties by tailoring the process parameters for two newly developed high-strength carbide-free bainitic steels with the nominal compositions of 0.47 pct C, 1.22 pct Si, 1.07 pct Mn, 0.7 pct Cr (S1), and 0.30 pct C, 1.76 pct Si, 1.57 pct Mn, and 0.144 pct Cr (S2) (wt pct), respectively. Heat treatment was carried out via two different routes: (1) isothermal transformation and (2) quenching followed by isothermal tempering. The results for the two different processes were compared. The bainitic steels developed by isothermal heat treatment were found to show better mechanical properties than those of the quenched and subsequently tempered ones. The effect of the fraction of the phases, influence of the transformation temperatures, the holding time, and the stability of retained austenite on the mechanical properties of these two steels was critically analyzed with the help of X-ray diffraction, optical metallography, scanning electron microscopy, and atomic force microscopy. Finally, a remarkable combination of yield strength of the level of 1557 MPa with a total elongation of 15.5 pct was obtained.

Austenite reversion in 18 Ni Co-free maraging steel

Abstract: The mechanism of austenite reversion in 18 Ni Co-free maraging steel (250 grade) has been established by conducting extensive X-ray diffraction (XRD) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) under differently aged conditions. It has been proposed that contrary to the precipitate dissolution mechanism suggested for the initiation of austenite reversion in 18Ni-8Co-5Mo type maraging steels, the initiation of transformation of martensite to austenite in this type of maraging steel is due to the diffusion of Ni from matrix to the dislocations and other defect structures on prolonged/high temperature ageing. This results in local enrichment of Ni which lowers both A s and M s temperatures of the region. Lowering of these transformation temperatures is responsible for the early reversion of martensite to Ni-enriched stable austenite which, on subsequent cooling to room temperature, does not transform back to martensite.

Microstructure–hardness relationship in the fusion zone of TRIP steel welds

Abstract: Fusion zone of three TRIP steels, categorized as AT: C–Mn–Al, AST: C–Mn–Al–Si and ST: C–Mn–Si, in resistance spot welding was characterized with respect to microstructure, phase analysis, and hardness. The fusion zone microstructure was found to depend on chemistry: (i) AT steel contained ferrite phase surrounded by bainite and martensite regions, (ii) AST steel showed a bainite structures along with martensite laths and interlath retained austenite, whereas (iii) ST steel constituted single phase martensite laths with interlath austenite. X-ray diffraction study indicated that retained austenite fraction in the fusion zone increases with increase in Si content in it. The AST fusion zone hardness lies between those of the AT and ST steels; the ST fusion zone hardness was higher than that of AT steel because of the single phase martensite microstructure. Comparison of fusion zone microstructure and hardness to earlier study on laser welding of the TRIP steels with similar chemistries revealed that higher cooling rate in resistance spot welding led to higher fusion zone hardness compared to laser welding; which was attributed either to decrease in softer ferrite phase (AT steel) in the microstructure or refinement of martensite laths (ST steel).

Precipitation of Nb in Ferrite After Austenite Conditioning. Part II: Strengthening Contribution in High-Strength Low-Alloy (HSLA) Steels

Abstract: Often, Nb contributes to the strength of a microalloyed steel beyond the expected level because of the grain size strengthening resulting from thermomechanical processing Two different mechanisms are behind this phenomenon, and both of them have to do with the amount of Nb remaining in solution after hot rolling The first of them is the increase of the hardenability of the steel as a result of Nb, and the second one is the fine precipitation of NbC in ferrite Three Nb microalloyed steels were thermomechanically processed in the laboratory and coiled at different temperatures to investigate the effect of Nb content on the tensile properties The extra strength was linearly related to the Nb remaining in solution after the hot working The maximum contribution from Nb was reached for a coiling temperature of 873 K (600 °C)

Microstructural Refinement during Annealing of Plastically Deformed Austenitic Stainless Steels

Abstract: The phenomena of strain hardening, strain induced martensite formation, recovery, martensite reversion and recrystallization have been studied in austenitic stainless steels of the AISI 304L and 316L types, after solution annealing, followed by rolling at different temperatures (-196, 25, 100 and 200°C) and subsequent annealing of the worked samples. Strain hardening and the percentage of α’ martensite formed showed strong dependency with the deformation temperature and with the austenite chemical composition. As expected, both strain hardening as well as the amount of the martensite formed was higher in the 304L steel and for lower temperatures. Reversion temperature of the α’ martensite was close to 550°C for both steels, independent of the amount of martensite. The 316L steel presented a higher resistance to recrystallization when compared to the 304L steel. The recrystallization temperature of both steels was about 150°C higher than the α’ phase reversion temperature. Rolling temperature did not influence significantly the recrystallization temperature. Proper thermal and mechanical treatments lead to interesting combinations of mechanical properties in both steels with values such as yield strength YS of about 1000 MPa, with an elongation around 10%.