Elongation improvement in nano bainite steel obtained from plastically deformed primary austenite

ABSTRACT

Ausforming is being widely used to overcome the kinetics barrier in nanostructured bainitic steels and to enhance its practical industrial applications. It would also affect the microstructural characteristics and consequently the resultant mechanical performance. This article aims to investigate the tensile behaviour of nano bainite obtained from plastically deformed primary austenite at three different heat treatment stages. 10% of ausforming has been implemented and nanostructured bainite obtained after austempering at 300°C for 2, 4 and 6?h in salt bath furnaces. Results indicated that ausforming could successfully increase the volume fraction of bainite within the microstructure and refine the bainite packets sizes. Moreover, it has been demonstrated that higher mechanical stability of retained austenite and therefore more effective TRIP effect could be attained during the tensile test which consequently resulted in elongation improvement without deteriorating the strength properties. This claimed to be beneficial for materials performance during practical applications.