Effect of Microstructure on the Corrosion Fatigue Crack Growth of Low and Medium Steels

Abstract

This article studies the effect of microstructure on the corrosion fatigue crack growth behavior of low and medium carbon steels. 45 steel and 15CrMo were selected and five typical microstructures were obtained by different heat treatment processes. The microstructures of 45 steel and 15CrMo after annealing and normalizing are both ferrite and pearlite, but the proportions of ferrite and pearlite in the four microstructures are different. The quenching and tempering microstructure of 45 steel is tempered fine pearlite. Corrosion fatigue tests were conducted on specimens with different microstructures of the two materials. Expressions of corrosion fatigue crack growth rate and da/dN∼ΔK fitting curves of different microstructures were obtained. Comparison of da/dN∼ΔK curves of 45 steel shows that tempered fine pearlite has the best resistance to corrosion fatigue crack growth, and the content of pearlite has a great impact on the corrosion fatigue crack growth behavior for specimens with the microstructure of ferrite and pearlite. In the low ΔK region, the corrosion factor plays a dominant role in fatigue crack growth, and the corrosion resistance of pearlite is weak, which leads to a higher da/dN in the normalized state. In the high ΔK region, fatigue factor dominants, since the fatigue resistance of pearlite is strong, da/dN of the annealed state is higher. The experimental results of 15CrMo showed the same crack growth rate change regulation as that of 45 steel, which further proves the effect of pearlite on the corrosion fatigue crack propagation behavior.

Comparative Fatigue Performance of Decarburized Surfaces in Railway Rails

“…As illustrated in Figure 7A This outcome aligns with established literature, emphasizing the role of pearlite in enhancing wear resistance [50][51][52][53]. Figure 8 This outcome aligns with established literature, emphasizing the role of pearlite in enhancing wear resistance [50][51][52][53]. Figure 8 Both R260 and U71Mn grades exhibit similar behavior; however, non-decarburized surfaces show superior performance over their decarburized counterparts, particularly in Both R260 and U71Mn grades exhibit similar behavior; however, non-decarburized surfaces show superior performance over their decarburized counterparts, particularly in terms of crack initiation or propagation.…”

“…The comparative examination of railway components, distinguishing between decarburized and non-decarburized surfaces and emphasizing the specific grades of R260 and U71Mn, yields intriguing insights, particularly concerning phenomena such as peeling and crack formation. As illustrated in Figure 7A This outcome aligns with established literature, emphasizing the role of pearlite in enhancing wear resistance [50][51][52][53]. Figure 8 This outcome aligns with established literature, emphasizing the role of pearlite in enhancing wear resistance [50][51][52][53].…”