Comparative investigation into strength-ductility enhancement of low-carbon low-alloy automotive steels through quenching pretreatment
Source abstract
Abstract
A comparative study on microstructures and mechanical properties of low-carbon low-alloy automotive steels with and without quenching pretreatment was conducted to investigate the strength-ductility enhancement mechanisms. Pre-quenching at 900 °C and 990 °C was performed on two steels. The two steels treated by quenching and partitioning (Q&P) and bainitic austempering (BAT) were named as “QP” and “CB” steels, respectively. The pre-quenched samples obtained lamellar microstructures with higher amounts of retained austenite (RA). Both steel samples reached the highest product of ultimate tensile strength and total elongation (PSE) when pre-quenched at 900 °C, while pre-quenching at 990 °C led to the coarser microstructure and performance deterioration. The coupled transformation-induced plasticity (TRIP) effect and dislocation strengthening caused the greatly enhanced work hardening of the pre-quenched QP sample displaying the best strength-ductility combination. The enhanced strain hardening capacity of RA and the promoted deformation capability mainly attributed to the more persistent strain hardening of the pre-quenched CB sample showing relatively high uniform elongation (UEL). For the two TRIP-assisted steels, the intensive TRIP effect was found to be harmful to crack initiation fracture toughness (i.e. lower necking ratio).
Source: openalex_inverted_index · Quality: baseline
Research context
OpenAlex topics: Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of Steels · Metal Alloys Wear and Properties · High Temperature Alloys and Creep
SciVX discovery tags are terminology-based. OpenAlex topics are source-provided classifications.
References (62)
Show source-provided references
1. Transformation-induced plasticity (TRIP) in advanced steels: a review10.1016/j.msea.2020.140023 ↗
2. Fundamentals and application of solid-state phase transformations for advanced high strength steels containing metastable retained austenite10.1016/j.mser.2020.100590 ↗
3. Overview of HSS steel grades development and study of reheating condition effects on austenite grain size changes10.3390/ma14081988 ↗
4. A review of the thermal stability of metastable austenite in steels: martensite formation10.1016/j.jmst.2021.03.020 ↗
5. A comprehensive overview of high strength and toughness steels for automobile based on QP process10.1016/j.jmrt.2023.09.210 ↗
6. Carbon partitioning into austenite after martensite transformation10.1016/S1359-6454(03)00059-4 ↗
7. Retained austenite characteristics and tensile properties in a TRIP type bainitic sheet steel10.2355/isijinternational.40.902 ↗
8. Ultrafine-grained microstructures and mechanical properties of alloy steels10.1007/BF02647665 ↗
9. Mechanical properties of high-Si plate steel produced by the quenching and partitioning process10.3365/MMI.2007.12.439 ↗
10. De Moor · 2009 · 413
11. Retained austenite effects on hole expansion of ultra-high strength steels
12. Characterization of microstructures and tensile properties of TRIP-aided steels with different matrix microstructure10.1016/j.msea.2014.05.029 ↗
13. Microstructure and mechanical properties of a low C steel subjected to bainitic or quenching and partitioning heat treatments10.1016/j.msea.2018.08.026 ↗
14. Austempering vs. Q&P: comparative effects on microstructure and mechanical properties of complex-alloyed TRIP-assisted steel
15. Effect of microstructure on retained austenite stability and work hardening of TRIP steels10.1016/j.msea.2011.02.032 ↗
16. Effect of microstructure on retained austenite stability and tensile behaviour in an aluminum-alloyed TRIP steel10.1016/j.msea.2015.03.069 ↗
17. Enhancing both strength and ductility of low-alloy transformation-induced plasticity steel via hierarchical lamellar structure10.1016/j.scriptamat.2020.03.029 ↗
18. Strain-hardening behavior and mechanisms of a lamellar-structured low-alloy TRIP steel10.1016/j.msea.2021.141498 ↗
19. Achieving an excellent balance of strength, plasticity, and stretch flangeability in a 1000 MPa grade TRIP-assisted bainitic ferrite steel10.1016/j.jmrt.2024.08.070 ↗
20. Study on the relationship between the microstructure characteristics, tensile properties and impact toughness of carbide-free bainitic steel10.1016/j.matchar.2024.113991 ↗
21. Enhanced stability of retained austenite and consequent work hardening rate through pre-quenching prior to quenching and partitioning in a Q–P microalloyed steel10.1016/j.msea.2014.05.074 ↗
22. Modified quenching temperature selection method for partial austenitization quenching and partitioning steel
23. Effect of heat treatment on microstructure and mechanical properties of quenching and partitioning steel10.1007/s40195-017-0667-3 ↗
24. Quasi-situ characterization of deformation in low-carbon steel with equiaxed and lamellar microstructure treated by the quenching and partitioning process10.1007/s40195-020-01135-8 ↗
25. Investigation on strength and plasticity enhancement mechanism of 1180 MPa-grade quenching and partitioning steel10.1016/j.jmrt.2023.07.191 ↗
26. Insight into austenite reversion and mechanical behavior of quenching and partitioning steel inherited hierarchical structure of martensite10.1016/j.matchar.2023.113583 ↗
27. Tuning austenite stability through prior microstructure control in a low-alloy Q&P steel10.1016/j.mtla.2024.102261 ↗
28. Peet
29. Investigate on ultrahigh-strength TRIP-aided autosteel plate under the framework of ICME10.1016/j.msea.2023.144684 ↗
30. Insights into the relationship between γ/α transformation and strength-ductility of auto-steel with 980 MPa grade based on experiments and theoretical calculations10.1016/j.vacuum.2023.112252 ↗
31. Cullity · 1978
32. Stability of retained austenite in high-Al, Low-Si TRIP-assisted steels processed via continuous galvanizing heat treatments10.1007/s11661-011-0678-z ↗
33. An improved X-ray diffraction analysis method to characterize dislocation density in lath martensitic structures10.1016/j.msea.2015.05.003 ↗
34. Strengthening-toughening mechanism of cost-saving marine steel plate with 1000 MPa yield strength10.1016/j.msea.2021.142280 ↗
35. 2011
36. Roles of Al in enhancing the thermal stability of reverted austenite and mechanical properties of a medium-Mn TRIP steel containing 2.7 Mn10.1016/j.jmst.2023.04.011 ↗
37. Prediction and evaluation of optimum quenching temperature and microstructure in a 1300 MPa ultra-high-strength Q&P steel10.1007/s42243-020-00535-5 ↗
38. Microstructure evolution and mechanical behavior of a novel hot-galvanized Q&P steel subjected to high-temperature short-time overaging treatment10.1016/j.msea.2020.139665 ↗
39. An innovative pathway to produce high-performance quenching and partitioning steel through ultra-fast full austenitization annealing
40. Role of cementite and retained austenite on austenite reversion from martensite and bainite in Fe-2Mn-1.5Si-0.3C alloy10.1016/j.actamat.2021.116772 ↗
41. Effect of ferrite-austenite morphology and orientation relationship on bainite transformation in low-alloy TRIP steels10.1016/j.matchar.2021.111656 ↗
42. Incomplete carbon partitioning during quenching and partitioning of Fe–C–Mn–Si steels: modeling and experimental validations10.1016/j.actamat.2020.09.045 ↗
43. Analysis of work hardening mechanisms in Quenching and Partitioning steels combining experiments with a 3D micro-mechanical model10.1016/j.msea.2022.143301 ↗
44. Artificial intelligence for the prediction of tensile properties by using microstructural parameters in high strength steels10.1016/j.mtla.2020.100699 ↗
45. Relationship between crystallographic orientation, microstructure characteristic and mechanical properties in cold-rolled 3.5Mn TRIP steel10.1016/j.msea.2021.141625 ↗
46. Nanoscale precipitation and ultrafine retained austenite induced high strength-ductility combination in a newly designed low carbon Cu-bearing medium-Mn steel10.1016/j.msea.2021.141685 ↗
47. Stress–strain behavior of ferrite and bainite with nano-precipitation in low carbon steels10.1016/j.actamat.2014.10.010 ↗
48. Influence of microstructure on tensile properties of spheroidized ultrahigh-carbon 1.8 Pct C steel10.1007/BF02665480 ↗
49. Improving mechanical properties and retained-austenite stability of a medium carbon Q&P steel by adjusting phase ratio10.1016/j.msea.2021.142580 ↗
50. Ashby · 1971
51. Orientation-dependent evolution of the dislocation density in grain populations with different crystallographic orientations relative to the tensile axis in a polycrystalline aggregate of stainless steel10.1016/j.actamat.2013.11.012 ↗
52. Tensile deformation
53. Deformation, fracture, and mechanical properties of low-temperature-tempered martensite in SAE 43xx steels10.1007/s11661-997-0139-x ↗
54. Microstructure-mechanical properties relationships for quenching and partitioning (Q&P) processed steel10.1016/j.actamat.2016.04.048 ↗
55. Characteristics of bainitic transformation and its effects on the mechanical properties in quenching and partitioning steels10.1016/j.msea.2020.140706 ↗
56. Comparative study on microstructures and mechanical properties of Q&P steels prepared with hot-rolled and cold-rolled C-Si-Mn sheets10.1016/j.jmrt.2022.07.139 ↗
57. Hetero-deformation induced (HDI) hardening does not increase linearly with strain gradient10.1016/j.scriptamat.2019.08.022 ↗
58. Enhancing strength-ductility combination in a novel Cu–Ni bearing Q&P steel by tailoring the characteristics of fresh martensite10.1016/j.jmrt.2023.05.153 ↗
59. Microstructure–properties relationship in a one-step quenched and partitioned steel10.1016/j.msea.2013.09.063 ↗
60. Carbon and strain partitioning in a quenched and partitioned steel containing ferrite10.1016/j.actamat.2018.12.019 ↗
61. Microstructure evolution and mechanical properties of a hot-rolled directly quenched and partitioned steel containing proeutectoid ferrite10.1016/j.msea.2014.04.030 ↗
62. The dual role of TRIP effect on ductility and toughness of a medium Mn steel10.1016/j.actamat.2022.118629 ↗