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U.S. Department of Energy
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Effect of heat treatment on the microstructure and properties of AerMet (trade name) 100 steel. Final report

Technical Report ·
OSTI ID:6837359

Results from mechanical, ballistic, and stress corrosion cracking experiments indicate that AerMet 100 Steel is well suited for applications that require both load-bearing capability, ballistic tolerance, and resistance to stress corrosion cracking. For applications where ballistic tolerance is the primary design criterion, an alternate heat treatment of AerMet 100 produces markedly improved ballistic performance while retaining adequate toughness for use in less exacting structural applications. The findings of this study also indicate that as hardness is increased, concomitant increases in fracture toughness will be required to advance the performance capabilities of steels used for ballistic applications against small caliber projectiles. The stress corrosion cracking resistance of standard condition AerMet 100 as measured using a cantilever bend apparatus is greater than conventional high strength steels by 50% to 100%. However, AerMet 100 is sensitive to ageing temperature, as demonstrated by stress corrosion tests on specimens processed using an alternate heat treatment. The impressive combination of ballistic tolerance and stress corrosion resistance found in AerMet 100 make it ideally suited for use in demanding structural applications, Moreover, the range of properties that can be achieved using alternate heat treatments provide a degree of flexibility not found in other high strength steels.

Research Organization:
Army Research Lab., Watertown, MA (United States)
OSTI ID:
6837359
Report Number(s):
AD-A-284387/8/XAB; ARL-TR--507
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English