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Low-temperature toughness of bcc Fe--Ni--Ti alloys

Thesis/Dissertation ·
OSTI ID:4408698

Thesis. The microstructural and kinetic factors controlling low- temperature toughness such as recrystallization, substructure, grain size, precipitation hardening, austenite formation, and retained austenite were systematically investigated on interstitial-free bcc Fe- Ni - Ti alloys. Among these factors, the grain size was found to be most influential. The enhancement of low-temperature toughness by controlling these microstructural factors was accomplished. As a result, a new cryogenic alloy with the extraordinary combination of strength and toughness was developed. The Fe--12Ni-0.5 Ti alloy has a yield stress of ~200 ksi and a V-notch impact energy of ~100 ft-lbs at -267 deg C (6 deg K). Up to this date, no comparable results have been reported. The effect of the grain size on the ductile-brittle transition temperature, T/sub c/, was also investigated. There exists a shift from a low grain size dependence on T/sub c/ to a high grain size dependence at grain size ~5 mu . When the grain size is reduced to less than 3 mu , thc ductile-brittle transition is suppressed to a lower temperature and does not appear even at temperatures very close to absolute zero. Hence, having the bcc structure in iron alloys is a necessary condition for the presence of the transition, but not a sufficient one. (auth)

Research Organization:
California Univ., Berkeley (USA). Lawrence Berkeley Lab.
DOE Contract Number:
W-7405-ENG-48
NSA Number:
NSA-29-004759
OSTI ID:
4408698
Report Number(s):
LBL--1493
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English