Mechanical and corrosion properties of medium carbon low alloy steel after cyclic quenching and tempering heat–treatments

Abstract

Cyclic quenching and tempering (QT) heat-treatment processes have the potential to improve the mechanical properties of steel due to the formation of fine grain size microstructure. This work aims to investigate the mechanical and corrosion properties of experimental medium carbon low alloy steel under cyclic heat-treatment processes. Cyclic single quenching and tempering (SQT), double quenching and tempering (DQT), and triple quenching and tempering (TQT) heat-treatment processes were carried out on the medium carbon low alloy steel. X-ray diffraction analysis validated the formation of fine ε-carbide (Fe 2.4 C) after intermediate low-temperature tempering in DQT and TQT heat-treatments. These fine carbides provided preferential nucleation sites for the formation of new austenitic grain, resulting in a refined microstructure composed of supersaturated (carbon) lath martensite (α′) and retained austenite (γ). The DQT and TQT heat-treatments improved 19% tensile strength, 100% elongation, and 95% impact absorption energy in comparison to SQT heat-treatment. DQT and TQT heat-treatments also transformed the brittle behavior of SQT steel into a ductile behavior. It was also revealed by the small number and size of dimples along with a large number of short tear ridges in fractographs. Morphology of corrosion products of heattreated experimental steel was also studied in a 5% NaCl solution. The SQT heat-treated sample showed porous morphology of corrosion products, while the TQT sample showed morphology with less porosity on the surface. The DQT sample showed solid corrosion morphology with little porosity. As the grain size went on decreasing in the cyclic heat-treatments the corrosion rate was also dropped.

Structural and Tribological Properties of Heat-Treated Stainless Steels against Abrasive and Lubricant Wear Conditions

“…The increased surface microhardness of the OS1 sample is directly related to the initiation of a new hardened martensitic phase, owing to the heat treatment parameters applied, including the time, temperature, and parent phase of the bulk treated material [24,28]. Several previous studies reported the advantage of tempering after quenching step on the mechanical properties of the heat-treated carbon steel, because it decreases brittleness, leading to a better combination between hardness and toughness [22,29]. Meanwhile, an opposite behaviour was recorded for both the heat-treated austenite stainless steel samples OS2, OS3 at the same heat treatment process, owing to the formation of the weak retained austenite phase [30].…”

“…Previous studies discussed the advantage of the tempering process after quenching step on the mechanical properties of the heat-treated carbon steel. Tempering reduces material brittleness, leading to a better combination of hardness and toughness [22]. Several studies have shown the influence of the tribological system operating conditions, including the applied load, the sliding speed, the lubricant type, and the atmosphere temperature, on the final obtained friction and wear resistance of the investigated material [23].…”

Tempering kinetics and corrosion resistance of quenched and tempered AISI 4130 medium carbon steel

“…Accordingly, the medium carbon steel in its tempered state provides a desirable combination of strength and toughness. [4][5][6][7] For the AISI 4130 steel, an enhanced hardenability and tempering resistance of AISI 4130 steel has been reported by Ni addition. [8] The Q&T process of this steel has also been numerically simulated.…”

“…Besides mechanical properties, the corrosion resistance of medium carbon steels is an important aspect. [5,10,11] Dependence of strength on the corrosionfatigue resistance of AISI 4130 steel has been investigated by Evins [12] and Weng et al [13] The sulfide corrosion performance of AISI 4130 steel has been studied by Grobner et al [14] and Wilde et al [15] The corrosion properties of plasma nitrocarburized AISI 4130 steel have been reported by Mandkarian and Mahboubi. [16] Chemical etching to reveal P distribution during tempering of AISI 4130 steel has been studied by Craig.…”

Optimized Corrosion Performance of AISI 1345 Steel in Hydrochloric Acid Through Thermo-Mechanical Cyclic Annealing Processes

“…Various heat-treatment processes i.e., solution treatments [12,13], annealing [14], normalizing, hardening [15], oil quenching [16] and tempering [17,18], water quenching [16], stabilization and sensitization [19], aging [14,[20][21][22], intercritical heat-treatment [23], thermo-mechanical treatment (TMT) [24], and cyclic heat-treatment [25], have been employed to optimize the corrosion performance of carbon steels.…”