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Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of Advanced High-Silicon Austempered Steel

Metallography, Microstructure, and Analysis volume 11, pages 454–466 (2022)Cite this article

Abstract

This paper has attempted to investigate microstructure evolution as a function of silicon content using Thermo-Calc software as a computational prediction technique. This research work aims to evaluate the mechanical properties of investigated steel and outline their relationship with the microstructure.Thermo-Calc was used for calculating phase volume fractions of a set of silicon-containing steel alloys. The mechanical properties of investigated steels such as tensile properties, hardness, and impact toughness) were evaluated from a microstructure point of view. The fracture surface of tensile samples was studied utilizing a scanning electron microscope equipped with energy-dispersive x-ray (point micro-analysis). The experimental results revealed that microstructure evaluations were close to the predicted computational by Thermo-Calc software. Also, the results showed that the microstructure of the high silicon steel (≥ 1.5 wt.%) is more dense, well homogenous and contains a volume fraction of 93% Bcc-ferrite at approximately, and 1.5% Fcc-austenite, as well as 5.5% different types of carbides. Also, The experimental results showed that the mechanical properties of the steel containing silicon (1.59 wt.%) have a remarkable enhancement of toughness in combination with high hardness and tensile strength compared to low silicon steel. The yield strength (1088 MPa) and elongation (16.4%) were obtained for austempered steel containing 1.59 wt.% silicon. The fracture surface mode of the investigated steel transition from brittle to ductile fracture according to the silicon content related to obtained microstructure.

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Acknowledgments

The authors are grateful to the management of the Central Metallurgical Research and Development Institute CMRDI Helwan-Cairo-Egypt, to support the production of research materials for this investigation. The authors are grateful to all of the Steel Technology and Ferroalloys Department colleagues at CMRDI for their great help and guidance to carry out all experimental procedures.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Mechanical Design and Production Engineering Department, Faculty of Engineering, Beni-Suef University, Beni Suef, 62511, Egypt

    Amer Eid Amer

  2. Steel Technology Department, Central Metallurgical R&D Institute (CMRDI), Helwan, Egypt

    Hossam Halfa

  3. Casting Technology Department, Central Metallurgical R&D Institute (CMRDI), Helwan, Egypt

    Khaled M. Ibrahim

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  1. Amer Eid Amer
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Amer, A.E., Halfa, H. & Ibrahim, K.M. Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of Advanced High-Silicon Austempered Steel. Metallogr. Microstruct. Anal. 11, 454–466 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13632-022-00857-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13632-022-00857-8

Keywords

  • Austempered
  • Silicon, microstructure evolution
  • High strength steel
  • Thermo-Calc