Abstract
Aging treatments at 400–550 °C are commonly used to attain a peak strengthening for the Cu-rich nanocluster-strengthened high-strength low-alloy (HSLA) steels. However, these temperatures fall within the dangerous 300–600 °C temper-embrittlement regime, leading to poor impact toughness. On the other hand, aging at temperatures above the embrittlement regime can improve the impact toughness but at a great expense of strength. In this work, the strengthening mechanisms as well as the toughening of a low cost weldable HSLA steel with a low content of carbon (C ∼0.08 wt.%), nickel (Ni = 0.78 wt.%), and copper (Cu = 1.3 wt.%) were carefully investigated. Our findings show that the low-C-Ni-Cu HSLA steel is insensitive to the aging temperatures and can achieve a yield strength (YS) and ultimate tensile strength (UTS) over 1000 and 1100 MPa, respectively, with tensile ductility >10% (reduction of area >60%) at a heat-treat temperature of 640 °C through multiple strengthening mechanisms. Besides, a good low-temperature (−40 °C) impact performance (∼200 J) with high YS (∼900 MPa) and UTS (∼1000 MPa) can be obtained by seeking a strength balance among the fine grain size (∼2.5 μm), medium-sized (∼14 nm) overaged Cu-rich precipitates, tempered martensite, and fresh martensite (or carbides). Moreover, a relatively lower YS (∼800 MPa) and UTS (∼900 MPa) useful for steel manufacturing can be attained by a prolonged aging at 640 °C. In addition, the dislocation-precipitate interactions were also explored based on the dislocation theories in this study.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 150-160 |
Number of pages | 11 |
Journal | Acta Materialia |
Volume | 172 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 15 Jun 2019 |
Keywords
- Cu-rich nanocluster-strengthened high-strength low alloy (HSLA) steel
- Dislocation-precipitate interactions
- Impact toughening
- Multiple strengthening mechanisms
- Temper-embrittlement
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Electronic, Optical and Magnetic Materials
- Ceramics and Composites
- Polymers and Plastics
- Metals and Alloys