Microstructure Evolution and Mechanical Response of a Direct Quenched and Partitioned Steel at Different Finishing Rolling Temperatures

作者：Liu, Yajun; Gan, Xiaolong^*; Liang, Wen; Xu, Guang; Qi, Jianghua; Liu, Man^*

来源：Materials, 2023, 16(9): 3575.

DOI：10.3390/ma16093575

• finishing rolling temperature
• direct quenched and partitioned steel
• residual austenite
• grain size
• lath martensite

The effects of finishing rolling temperature on the microstructure and mechanical properties of a direct quenched and partitioned (DQ&P) steel were investigated by a thermal simulation machine, a field emission scanning electron microscope (FE-SEM), electron backscattering diffraction (EBSD), and a transmission electron microscope (TEM). The results show that the original austenite grain size was refined by 31% as the finishing rolling temperature decreased from 920 degrees C to 840 degrees C, leading to the formation of the finest martensite lath at 840 degrees C. At the same time, the lower finishing rolling temperature resulted in a higher dislocation density, and consequently improved the stability of the retained austenite. Moreover, compared to the conventional Q&P process, the comprehensive mechanical properties of a steel with similar chemical composition can be enhanced by DQ&P processing. With the decrease of finishing rolling temperature from 920 ffiC to 840 degrees C, the strength and total elongation increases. The yield strength, tensile strength, and total elongation reach the maximum values of 1121 MPa, 1134 MPa, and 11.7%, respectively, at 840 degrees C.