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Evaluation of the Role of Metallic Matrix on Environmentally Assisted Embrittlement of Austempered Ductile Iron (ADI) Using High Si Steel

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Abstract

The objective of this work stems from the environmentally assisted embrittlement suffered by austempered ductile iron (ADI) when its surface is submerged in water. This phenomenon leads to a drop in elongation and ultimate tensile strength of about 75% and 10%, respectively, while the 0.2% offset strain stress remains unaffected. Heat-treating a high Si steel, an ausferritic matrix similar to that present in the ADI under study is obtained, yielding giving a very good combination of tensile strength and elongation. In this manner, it was possible to examine the influence of the metallic matrix such as that present in ADI, though without nodules and cell boundaries, also called last to freeze zones (LTF). Tensile test evaluations on ADI and steel samples under dry and wet conditions were carried out. Additionally, a very specific test, introducing surface cracks, was conducted with the purpose of expanding the current knowledge on this particular kind of fracture. Earlier investigations on ADI have suggested that the process of embrittlement starts in a surface crack generated at the early stages of plastic deformation in LTF zones, which results from the solidification process, where pores, inclusions and unreacted austenite are present. In this manner, water penetrates and weakens the material strength, making the crack grow very fast and leading to an instantaneous samples failure. The main results obtained in this work include the confirmation of the deleterious effect of the LTF zones in the embrittlement process and the fracture surface analysis showing characteristic features of this kind of failure.

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Acknowledgments

This work could be the platform for the study of this and other steels, when the load bearing is, for example, of cyclic nature in order to evaluate nucleation and cracks propagation in the presence of water. In addition, the study could be extended to other metallic alloys.

Funding

This study was funded by the National Scientific and Technical Research Council (CONICET)—Grant PIP 0047. The author declares that there is no conflict of interest.

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  1. Metallurgy Division, INTEMA - UNMDP- CONICET, J. B. Justo 4302 (B7608FDQ) - Mar del Plata, Provincia de Buenos Aires, Republica Argentina

    Ricardo A. Martinez

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  1. Ricardo A. Martinez
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Correspondence to Ricardo A. Martinez.

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Martinez, R.A. Evaluation of the Role of Metallic Matrix on Environmentally Assisted Embrittlement of Austempered Ductile Iron (ADI) Using High Si Steel. J. of Materi Eng and Perform 27, 6597–6605 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11665-018-3725-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11665-018-3725-8

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