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Dependence of fracture toughness of austempered ductile iron on austempering temperature

Journal Article · · Metallurgical and Materials Transactions. A, Physical Metallurgy and Materials Science
 [1];  [2]
  1. Karnatak Regional Engineering Coll. (India). Dept. of Metallurgical and Materials Engineering
  2. Wayne State Univ., Detroit, MI (United States)

Ductile cast iron samples were austenitized at 927 C and subsequently austempered for 30 minutes, 1 hour, and 2 hours at 260 C, 288 C, 316 C, 343 C, 371 C, and 399 C. These were subjected to a plane strain fracture toughness test. Fracture toughness was found to initially increase with austempering temperature, reach a maximum, and then decrease with further rise in temperature. The results of the fracture toughness study and fractographic examination were correlated with microstructural features such as bainite morphology, the volume fraction of retained austenite, and its carbon content. It was found that fracture toughness was maximized when the microstructure consisted of lower bainite with about 30 vol pct retained austenite containing more than 1.8 wt pct carbon. A theoretical model was developed, which could explain the observed variation in fracture toughness with austempering temperature in terms of microstructural features such as the width of the ferrite blades and retained austenite content. A plot of K{sub IC}{sup 2} against {sigma}, (X{sub {gamma}}C{sub {gamma}}){sup 1/2} resulted in a straight line, as predicted by the model.

Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE
OSTI ID:
316035
Journal Information:
Metallurgical and Materials Transactions. A, Physical Metallurgy and Materials Science, Journal Name: Metallurgical and Materials Transactions. A, Physical Metallurgy and Materials Science Journal Issue: 12 Vol. 29; ISSN 1073-5623; ISSN MMTAEB
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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