Observations on the effect of cementite particles on the fracture toughness of spheroidized carbon steels

Journal Article · Sun May 01 00:00:00 EDT 1977 · Metall. Trans., A; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02664778· OSTI ID:7095076

Rawal, S P ^[1]; Gurland, J

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1. New England Metals Co., Providence

The results of experimental studies of the influence of cementite particles on the fracture toughness of a number of spheroidized carbon steels at low temperatures were analyzed in terms of current theories of crack-tip behavior. The fracture toughness parameter K/sub IC/ was evaluated by using circumferentially notched and fatigue-cracked cylindrical specimens. The conclusions are summarized as follows: (1) In general, K/sub IC/ decreases with increasing volume fraction and increasing size of the carbide particles. (2) Crack initiation occurs at the carbide particles. (3) Crack propagation occurs by cleavage if the stress conditions satisfy the Ritchie, Knott and Rice criterion that a critical cleavage stress is achieved over a minimum microstructural size scale. The critical stress is that required to propagate a crack from a particle and the minimum size scale is of the order of 1 to 2 grain sizes. (4) Crack propagation occurs initially by fibrous rupture if the stress intensification is insufficient to attain the critical cleavage stress.

• OSTI ID: 7095076
• Journal Information: Metall. Trans., A; (United States), Journal Name: Metall. Trans., A; (United States) Vol. 8:5; ISSN MTTAB
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
360103* -- Metals & Alloys-- Mechanical Properties
ALLOYS
CARBIDES
CARBON COMPOUNDS
CARBON STEELS
CEMENTITE
CRACKS
FRACTURE PROPERTIES
INTERMETALLIC COMPOUNDS
IRON ALLOYS
IRON BASE ALLOYS
IRON CARBIDES
IRON COMPOUNDS
MECHANICAL PROPERTIES
METALLURGY
POWDER METALLURGY
SINTERED MATERIALS
STEELS
TRANSITION ELEMENT COMPOUNDS