Embrittlement of an AISI 8640 lower bainite steel

Journal Article · Wed Sep 01 04:00:00 EDT 1993 · Journal of Testing and Evaluation; (United States)

OSTI ID:6099655

Rinnovatore, J V ^[1]; Lukens, K F; Reinhold, J; Mahon, W ^[2]

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1. MTA, Inc., Mt. Arlington, NJ (United States). Development and Engineering Center
2. Army Armament Research, Picatinny Arsenal, NJ (United States). Development and Engineering Center

A study was performed to determine the cause of an abnormally low fracture toughness of an AISI 8640 resulfurized steel. The embrittlement effects of phosphorus and arsenic on this steel heat-treated to a lower bainitic structure were studied by employing fracture toughness tests, Charpy impact tests, X-ray fluorescent spectroscopy, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The results showed that the steel was embrittled by phosphorus at prior austenite grain boundaries in a manner similar to the tempered martensite embrittlement (TME) phenomenon. Arsenic is also believed to be involved in the embrittlement effect, specifically as related to producing a reduction in the upper shelf Charpy impact energy. Embrittlement was manifested by a reduced fracture toughness, an increase in the Charpy transition temperature, and intergranular fracture.

• OSTI ID: 6099655
• Journal Information: Journal of Testing and Evaluation; (United States), Journal Name: Journal of Testing and Evaluation; (United States) Vol. 21:5; ISSN JTEVAB; ISSN 0090-3973
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
360103* -- Metals & Alloys-- Mechanical Properties
ALLOYS
ARSENIC
BAINITE
CHARPY TEST
DESTRUCTIVE TESTING
ELEMENTS
EMBRITTLEMENT
FRACTURE PROPERTIES
GRAIN BOUNDARIES
HIGH ALLOY STEELS
IMPACT TESTS
IRON ALLOYS
IRON BASE ALLOYS
MATERIALS TESTING
MECHANICAL PROPERTIES
MECHANICAL TESTS
MICROSTRUCTURE
NONMETALS
PHOSPHORUS
SEMIMETALS
STEELS
TESTING