EFFECT OF AUSTENITIZING TEMPERATURE UPON THE MICROSTRUCTURE AND MECHANICAL-PROPERTIES OF EXPERIMENTAL FE-CR-C STEELS

The present study investigates the as-quenched mechanical properties viz, strength, ductility and sharp notch (K Ic ) as well as blunt notch (Charpy) toughness, of simple Fe/Cr/C alloys with and without titanium as a function of austenitizing temperature. For the ternary Fe/Cr/C alloys the results are consistent with earlier investigations, but the fracture toughness does not change with increasing austenitizing temperatures after 0.2 wt pct Ti is added. The titanium forms carbides (TiC) that did not dissolve, providing a roughly constant number of crack nucleation sites, and preventing austenite grain growth up to 1100°C. The differences in mechanical behavior, particularly the rounded notch toughness, are discussed and explained in terms of the microstructural characteristics of the alloys, as determined by detailed electron microscopy analysis. © 1979 The Metallurgical of Society of AIME.