Combining Nanoindentation with Atomic Force Microscopy to Characterize the Mechanical Properties of each Microconstituent of Low Carbon Steel

Abstract

In the last decades several investigations have been conducted with the objective of studying the microstructural characteristics and mechanical properties in low carbon microalloyed steel [1,2]. These steels contain a polyphase microstructure, with complex mixture of bainite, MA constituent (martensite-austenite residual), pearlite, ferrite and martensite. They are often used in the automobile industry, in the production pipelines for the transport of gas and oil in areas of sub-zero temperature and in the naval ship construction, because they possess high strength, high toughness at low temperature and good weldability.