The Effect of Quenching and Partitioning (Q&P) Heat Treatment on the Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of High Boron Steel
High boron steel is prone to brittle failure due to the boride distributed in it with net-like or fishbone morphology, which limit its applications. The Quenching and Partitioning (Q&P) heat treatment is a promising process to produce martensitic steel with excellent mechanical properties, espec...
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MDPI AG
2021-03-01
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| Series: | Materials |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/14/6/1556 |
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| author | Zhao Li Run Wu Mingwei Li Song-Sheng Zeng Yu Wang Tian Xie Teng Wu |
| author_facet | Zhao Li Run Wu Mingwei Li Song-Sheng Zeng Yu Wang Tian Xie Teng Wu |
| author_sort | Zhao Li |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | High boron steel is prone to brittle failure due to the boride distributed in it with net-like or fishbone morphology, which limit its applications. The Quenching and Partitioning (Q&P) heat treatment is a promising process to produce martensitic steel with excellent mechanical properties, especially high toughness by increasing the volume fraction of retained austensite (RA) in the martensitic matrix. In this work, the Q&P heat treatment is used to improve the inherent defect of insufficient toughness of high boron steel, and the effect mechanism of this process on microstructure transformation and the change of mechanical properties of the steel has also been investigated. The high boron steel as-casted is composed of martensite, retained austensite (RA) and eutectic borides. A proper quenching and partitioning heat treatment leads to a significant change of the microstructure and mechanical properties of the steel. The net-like and fishbone-like boride is partially broken and spheroidized. The volume fraction of RA increases from 10% in the as-cast condition to 19%, and its morphology also changes from blocky to film-like. Although the macro-hardness has slightly reduced, the toughness is significantly increased up to 7.5 J·cm<sup>−2</sup>, and the wear resistance is also improved. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T13:00:48Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-3f8abf48bc1c449bb8deaf76a76b1e8b |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1996-1944 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T13:00:48Z |
| publishDate | 2021-03-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Materials |
| spelling | doaj.art-3f8abf48bc1c449bb8deaf76a76b1e8b2023-11-21T11:31:52ZengMDPI AGMaterials1996-19442021-03-01146155610.3390/ma14061556The Effect of Quenching and Partitioning (Q&P) Heat Treatment on the Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of High Boron SteelZhao Li0Run Wu1Mingwei Li2Song-Sheng Zeng3Yu Wang4Tian Xie5Teng Wu6Key Laboratory for Ferrous Metallurgy and Resources Utilization of Ministry of Education, Wuhan University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430081, ChinaKey Laboratory for Ferrous Metallurgy and Resources Utilization of Ministry of Education, Wuhan University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430081, ChinaKey Laboratory for Ferrous Metallurgy and Resources Utilization of Ministry of Education, Wuhan University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430081, ChinaValin ArcelorMittal Automotive Steel Co., Ltd., Loudi 417009, ChinaMark Wainwright Analytical Centre, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW 2052, AustraliaKey Laboratory for Ferrous Metallurgy and Resources Utilization of Ministry of Education, Wuhan University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430081, ChinaKey Laboratory for Ferrous Metallurgy and Resources Utilization of Ministry of Education, Wuhan University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430081, ChinaHigh boron steel is prone to brittle failure due to the boride distributed in it with net-like or fishbone morphology, which limit its applications. The Quenching and Partitioning (Q&P) heat treatment is a promising process to produce martensitic steel with excellent mechanical properties, especially high toughness by increasing the volume fraction of retained austensite (RA) in the martensitic matrix. In this work, the Q&P heat treatment is used to improve the inherent defect of insufficient toughness of high boron steel, and the effect mechanism of this process on microstructure transformation and the change of mechanical properties of the steel has also been investigated. The high boron steel as-casted is composed of martensite, retained austensite (RA) and eutectic borides. A proper quenching and partitioning heat treatment leads to a significant change of the microstructure and mechanical properties of the steel. The net-like and fishbone-like boride is partially broken and spheroidized. The volume fraction of RA increases from 10% in the as-cast condition to 19%, and its morphology also changes from blocky to film-like. Although the macro-hardness has slightly reduced, the toughness is significantly increased up to 7.5 J·cm<sup>−2</sup>, and the wear resistance is also improved.https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/14/6/1556high boron steelQ&P heat treatmentretained austeniteTRIP effectwear resistance |
| spellingShingle | Zhao Li Run Wu Mingwei Li Song-Sheng Zeng Yu Wang Tian Xie Teng Wu The Effect of Quenching and Partitioning (Q&P) Heat Treatment on the Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of High Boron Steel Materials high boron steel Q& P heat treatment retained austenite TRIP effect wear resistance |
| title | The Effect of Quenching and Partitioning (Q&P) Heat Treatment on the Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of High Boron Steel |
| title_full | The Effect of Quenching and Partitioning (Q&P) Heat Treatment on the Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of High Boron Steel |
| title_fullStr | The Effect of Quenching and Partitioning (Q&P) Heat Treatment on the Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of High Boron Steel |
| title_full_unstemmed | The Effect of Quenching and Partitioning (Q&P) Heat Treatment on the Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of High Boron Steel |
| title_short | The Effect of Quenching and Partitioning (Q&P) Heat Treatment on the Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of High Boron Steel |
| title_sort | effect of quenching and partitioning q p heat treatment on the microstructure and mechanical properties of high boron steel |
| topic | high boron steel Q& P heat treatment retained austenite TRIP effect wear resistance |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/14/6/1556 |
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