Effect of Austempering–Partitioning on the Bainitic Transformation and Mechanical Properties of a High-Carbon Steel

Abstract

The 1.1C–1.5Si–1.1Mn–1.4Cr–0.5Mo–0.6Al–0.6Co (in wt%) steel was treated, respectively, by isothermal austempering process and newly developed austempering–partitioning–tempering process (A–P–T). After austempering at 250, 280 and 300 °C for 38, 20 and 10 h, respectively, the sample microstructures were composed of bainitic ferrite plates and film-like retained austenite with thicknesses between 60 and 150 nm. The highest tensile strength of 2003 MPa and hardness value of 53.9 HRC were obtained for the steel after austempering at 250 °C for 38 h, resulting from the combining effect of super-saturated martensite decarburization and stabilization of bainitic formation. After A–P–T treating (heated at 300 °C for 8 h following water cooling, and then heated at 300 °C for 2 h following air cooling), bamboo leaf-like martensite, primary and secondary bainites and retained austenite were observed. The thickness of the secondary bainitic ferrite plates formed during partitioning is much smaller than that of the primary bainite formed during 300 °C austempering. Samples subjected to A–P–T treatment showed improvement in ductility compared to that subjected to austempering.