Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Evolution of Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of Graphitized Fe–0.55C–2.3Si Steel During Quenching and Tempering Treatment

  • Published:
Metals and Materials International Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

This study investigates the variations in the microstructure and mechanical properties of a medium-carbon high-Si steel (Fe–0.55C–2.3Si) during graphitization heat treatment and subsequent quenching and tempering heat treatment. The microstructure comprising ferrite and pearlite of the as-rolled sample changes to a more ductile microstructure with fine graphites uniformly dispersed in the ferrite matrix after graphitization treatment. These formed graphites are completely dissolved into the ferrite matrix after austenitizing treatment at 900 °C, but preexisting graphite positions remains as voids. The average size and number density of voids are nearly identical to those of the pre-existed graphites. The subsequent tempering treatments at 300 °C and 500 °C cause little changes in the size and number of the voids. Therefore, the formation of voids in the quenched-and-tempered samples is directly related to the graphites of the initial graphitized sample. The average size of graphites and voids is inversely proportional to the logarithm of their number density. When the as-rolled sample is completely graphitized, its ultimate tensile strength decreases from 928 to 494 MPa and its tensile elongation increases from 20.7 to 34.0%, indicating that the medium-carbon high-Si steel is substantially softened through graphitization treatment. Moreover, subsequent quenching and tempering treatment at 500 °C increases its ultimate tensile strength to 1168 MPa. The drastic softening through graphitization and significant strengthening through subsequent quenching and tempering exhibit the possibility of the application of medium-carbon, high-Si steels as cold heading quality steels for manufacturing fastener components.

Graphic abstract

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8
Fig. 9
Fig. 10
Fig. 11
Fig. 12
Fig. 13

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. G. Krauss, Steels: Processing, Structure, and Performance, 3rd edn. (ASM International, Cleveland, 2005)

    Google Scholar 

  2. L.I. Zhuang, W.U. Di, L. Wei, J. Iron Steel Res. Int. 19, 64 (2012)

    Google Scholar 

  3. P.F. Thomason, Proc. Inst. Mech. Eng. 184, 875 (1969)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. H. Kim, M. Kang, C.M. Bae, H.S. Kim, S. Lee, Metall. Mater. Trans. A Phys. Metall. Mater. Sci. 45, 1294 (2014)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Z. Li, J. Iron Steel Res. Int. 16, 43 (2009)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. M.J. Harrigan, O.D. Sherby, Mater. Sci. Eng. 7, 177 (1971)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. K.G. Ata, S.A. Meisam, J. Iron Steel Res. Int. 17, 45 (2010)

    Google Scholar 

  8. H.M. Seok, K.H. Tae, Int. J. Chem. Nucl. Metall. Mater. Eng. 8, 115 (2014)

    Google Scholar 

  9. K.D. Woo, J. Korean Soc. Heat Treat. 17, 117 (2004)

    Google Scholar 

  10. A.A. Zhukov, Met. Sci. Heat Treat. 26, 849 (1984)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. P. Rubin, R. Larker, E. Navara, M.L. Antti, Metallogr. Microstruct. Anal. 7, 587 (2018)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. K. Banerjee, T. Venugopalan, Mater. Sci. Technol. 24, 1174 (2008)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. T. Iwamoto, T. Hoshino, A. Matsuzaki, K. Amano, ISIJ Int. 42, S77 (2002)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. K. He, H.R. Daniels, A. Brown, R. Brydson, D.V. Edmonds, Acta Mater. 55, 2919 (2007)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Y.J. Kim, S.W. Bae, N.S. Lim, S.H. Park, Mater. Sci. Eng. A (2020). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.msea.2020.139392

    Article  Google Scholar 

  16. M. Okonogi, M. Hashimura, H. Kanisawa, S. Katayama, Nippon Steel Tech. Rep. 80, 16 (1999)

    Google Scholar 

  17. A. Inam, R. Brydson, D.V. Edmonds, Mater. Charact. 106, 86 (2015)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. S.A. Rounaghi, A.R. Kiani-Rashid, Phase Trans. 84, 981 (2011)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. J.X. Gao, B.Q. Wei, D.D. Li, K. He, Mater. Charact. 118, 1 (2016)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. H.L. Kim, S.H. Bang, J.M. Choi, N.H. Tak, S.W. Lee, S.H. Park, Met. Mater. Int. (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12540-019-00500-2

    Article  Google Scholar 

  21. F. Najafkhani, H. Mirzadeh, M. Zamani, Met. Mater. Int. 25, 1039 (2019)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  22. M. Kalantar, H. Najafi, M.R. Afshar, Met. Mater. Int. 25, 229 (2019)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  23. S.K. Basantia, A. Bhattacharya, N. Khutia, D. Das, Met. Mater. Int. (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12540-019-00519-5

    Article  Google Scholar 

  24. W. Shyam, ASTM E8/E8M-11 Standard Test Methods for Tension Testing of Metallic Materials (ASTM, Philadelphia, 2011)

    Google Scholar 

  25. H. Sueyoshi, K. Suenaga, Nippon Kinzoku Gakkai-si 43, 333 (1979)

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  26. H. Sueyoshi, K. Suenaga, R. Tanaka, Nippon Kinzoku Gakkai-si 49, 20 (1985)

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  27. K. Oikawa, H. Mitsui, T. Ebata, T. Takiguchi, T. Shimizu, K. Ishikawa, T. Noda, M. Okabe, K. Ishida, ISIJ Int. 42, 806 (2002)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  28. A. Rosen, A. Taub, Acta Metall. 10, 501 (1962)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  29. Y. Yoshida, L. Cisar, S. Kamado, Y. Kojima, Mater. Trans. 44, 468 (2003)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  30. F.S. Buffington, K. Hirano, M. Cohen, Acta Metall. 9, 434 (1961)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  31. J. Ågren, Acta Metall. 30, 841 (1982)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  32. P. Haušild, C. Berdin, P. Bompard, N. Verdière, Int. J. Press. Vessel. Pip. 78, 607 (2001)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  33. X. Teng, H. Mae, Y. Bai, T. Wierzbicki, Eng. Fract. Mech. 76, 983 (2009)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  34. P.F. Liu, J.Y. Zheng, J. Fail. Anal. Prev. 10, 212 (2010)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  35. S.K. Dhua, A. Ray, D.S. Sarma, Mater. Sci. Eng. A 318, 197 (2001)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  36. Y. Kimura, T. Inoue, K. Tsuzaki, J. Alloys Compd. 577S, S538 (2013)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  37. A. Ohmori, S. Torizuka, K. Nagai, ISIJ Int. 44, 1063 (2004)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  38. W.S. Lee, T.T. Su, J. Mater. Process. Technol. 87, 198 (1999)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  39. A. Leiro, A. Roshan, K.G. Sundin, E. Vuorinen, B. Prakash, Acta Metall. Sin. (Engl. Lett.) 27, 55 (2014)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  40. M.S. Rashid, B.V.N. Rao, Metall. Trans. A 13, 1679 (1982)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  41. X. Xiong, F. Yang, X. Zou, J. Suo, J. Nucl. Mater. 430, 114 (2012)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  42. K.S. See, T.A. Dean, J. Mater. Process. Technol. 69, 58 (1997)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  43. L. Yuan, W. Shi, R. Shivpuri, F. Xu, D. Shan, J. Mater. Process. Technol. 243, 456 (2017)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  44. B. Karlsson, G. Linden, Mater. Sci. Eng. 17, 209 (1975)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

This work was supported by grants from Pohang Iron and Steel Company (POSCO) (No. 2018Z022) and National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF) funded by the Korean government (MSIP, South Korea) (No. 2019R1A2C1085272).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Materials Science and Engineering, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, 41566, Republic of Korea

    Ye Jin Kim, Sang Woo Bae & Sung Hyuk Park

  2. POSCO Technical Research Laboratories, POSCO, Pohang, 37859, Republic of Korea

    Nam Suk Lim

Authors
  1. Ye Jin Kim
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Sang Woo Bae
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Nam Suk Lim
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Sung Hyuk Park
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Sung Hyuk Park.

Additional information

Publisher's Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Kim, Y.J., Bae, S.W., Lim, N.S. et al. Evolution of Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of Graphitized Fe–0.55C–2.3Si Steel During Quenching and Tempering Treatment. Met. Mater. Int. 27, 3730–3739 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12540-020-00743-4

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12540-020-00743-4

Keywords

Search

Navigation