Strengthening from Cu Addition in 0.2C-(1-2)Mn Steels during Tempering

Abstract

The strengthening effects of Cu and Mn were studied in steels, which contained 0.2% C and were micro-alloyed with B and Ti. The experimental steels were austenitized and quenched in order to take Mn and Cu into solid solution. The subsequent tempering of martensitic structures resulted in higher strengths in the materials alloyed with Cu than in the steel without Cu addition. Tensile testing and metallographic analyses were performed. The kinetics and magnitude of precipitation strengthening were measured for different tempering temperatures and times. Presumed synergistic effects between Cu precipitation strengthening and higher levels of Mn were observed.

Influence of Martensite Deformation on Cu Precipitation Strengthening

“…The highest Cu-related strengthening was found after 60 min tempering at 500 • C. Therefore, the tempering time of 60 minutes was chosen for exploring the temperature dependence of the mechanical properties in an interval from 300 • C to 500 • C. Similarly, the temperature of 400 • C was used for showing the tempering time dependence of mechanical properties. In quenched samples [11], Cu-related strengthening increased with the duration of tempering at this temperature. Hence, the effects of cold rolling were expected to be manifested clearly.…”

“…Sheets 3.2 mm in thickness and 300 mm in width were produced by forging and hot and cold rolling. The production route was described in the previous study [11]. Samples were cut out in the form of plates 75 mm in width and 250 mm in length.…”

“…The tempering regimes were chosen with regard to the results of the quenching and tempering study [11]. The study involved a quenching and tempering experiment on all three materials and included all the tempering regimes shown in Table 2.…”

“…A previous study by the authors [11] showed the influence of Cu and Mn on yield stress (YS) of quenched and tempered 0.2 C boron steel microalloyed by Ti. This alloying concept could be beneficial due to the possible synergy of Cu and TiC precipitation [12][13][14][15][16].…”

A Novel Design to Enhance the Mechanical Properties in Cu-Bearing Antibacterial Stainless Steel

“…Additionally, the nano-sized copper precipitation can be obtained by aging at low temperature [15]. In Cu-bearing pipeline steels, high-density fine copper nanoprecipitation could be obtained after aging at 500 • C for 1 h [16].…”