The Deformation Behavior Analysis and Mechanical Modeling of Step/Intercritical Quenching and Partitioning-Treated Multiphase Steels

Abstract

TWO types of multiphase steels containing blocky or fine martensite have been used to study the phase interaction and the TRIP effect. These steels were obtained by step-quenching and partitioning (S-QP820) or intercritical-quenching and partitioning (I-QP800 & I-QP820). The retained austenite (RA) in S-QP820 specimen containing blocky martensite transformed too early to prevent the local failure at high strain due to the local strain concentration. In contrast, plentiful RA in I-QP800 specimen containing finely dispersed martensite transformed uniformly at high strain, which led to optimized strength and elongation. By applying a coordinate conversion method to the microhardness test, the load partitioning between ferrite and partitioned martensite was proved to follow the linear mixture law. The mechanical behavior of multiphase S-QP820 steel can be modeled based on the Mecking-Kocks theory, Bouquerel's spherical assumption, and Gladman-type mixture law. Finally, the transformation-induced martensite hardening effect has been studied on a bake-hardened specimen.