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Cementite Precipitation in Conventionally and Rapidly Tempered 4340 Steel

  • New Frontiers in Physical Metallurgy of Steels
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Abstract

The influence of rapid tempering on cementite precipitation in 4340 steel was investigated within the tempered martensite embrittlement (TME) tempering regime. Cementite amount, size, and morphology, and matrix dislocation density were explored for rapid (1 s) and conventional (3600 s) tempering conditions with scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and x-ray diffraction (XRD), respectively, and compared at an equivalent degree of tempering (i.e., hardness). Rapid tempering resulted in an average refinement of cementite diameter by approximately 2–3 nm, and did not significantly alter cementite morphology, as determined by SEM, or phase fraction, as determined by Mössbauer spectroscopy, compared to conventional tempering. Previous studies have shown an improvement in toughness performance associated with the rapid tempering conditions explored here. Given the minimal carbide refinement observed in the present work, carbide size is not thought to be the primary microstructural factor in improving toughness properties of rapidly tempered conditions. Rather, impact toughness is likely influenced by differences in retained austenite content, as proposed in previous studies. The matrix dislocation content was similar between conventional and rapid tempering conditions at a given hardness, suggesting that the cementite refinement associated with rapid tempering was not promoted by the suppression of dislocation recovery.

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Acknowledgements

The sponsors of the Advanced Steel Processing and Products Research Center (ASPPRC) at the Colorado School of Mines are gratefully acknowledged for their financial support and technical guidance. Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) is recognized for providing the 4340 steel used in the study.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Colorado School of Mines, 1500 Illinois St, Golden, CO, 80401, USA

    V. K. Euser, D. L. Williamson, A. J. Clarke & J. G. Speer

  2. Los Alamos National Laboratory, P.O. Box 1663, Los Alamos, NM, 87545, USA

    V. K. Euser

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  1. V. K. Euser
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  2. D. L. Williamson
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  3. A. J. Clarke
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  4. J. G. Speer
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Euser, V.K., Williamson, D.L., Clarke, A.J. et al. Cementite Precipitation in Conventionally and Rapidly Tempered 4340 Steel. JOM 74, 2386–2394 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11837-022-05285-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11837-022-05285-1

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