Characterization of transition carbides in quench and partitioned steel microstructures by Mössbauer spectroscopy and complementary techniques

Pierce, D. T.; Coughlin, D. R.; Williamson, D. L.; Clarke, K. D.; Clarke, A. J.; Speer, J. G.; De Moor, E.

doi:10.1016/j.actamat.2015.01.024

Title: Characterization of transition carbides in quench and partitioned steel microstructures by Mössbauer spectroscopy and complementary techniques

Journal Article · Fri May 01 00:00:00 EDT 2015 · Acta Materialia

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.actamat.2015.01.024 · OSTI ID:1193479

Pierce, D. T. ^[1]; Coughlin, D. R. ^[2]; Williamson, D. L. ^[1]; Clarke, K. D. ^[2]; Clarke, A. J. ^[2]; Speer, J. G. ^[1]; De Moor, E. ^[1]

Colorado School of Mines, Golden, CO (United States)
Los Alamos National Lab. (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)

Quenching and partitioning (Q&P) produces steel microstructures with martensite and austenite that exhibit promising property combinations for third generation advanced high strength steels. Understanding the kinetics of reactions that compete for available carbon, such as carbide formation, is critical for alloying and processing design and achieving austenite enrichment and retention during Q&P. Mössbauer effect spectroscopy (MES) was used to characterize Q&P microstructures in a 0.38C-1.54Mn-1.48Si wt.% steel after quenching to 225 °C and partitioning at 400 °C for 10 or 300 s, with an emphasis on transition carbides. The recoilless fraction for η-carbide was calculated and a correction for saturation of the MES absorption spectrum was applied, making quantitative measurements of small amounts of η-carbide, including non-stoichiometric η-carbide, possible in Q&P microstructures. Complementary transmission electron microscopy confirmed the presence of η-carbides, and MES and X-ray diffraction were used to characterize the austenite. The amount of η-carbide formed during Q&P ranged from 1.4 to 2.4 at.%, accounting for a substantial portion (~24% to 41%) of the bulk carbon content of the steel. The amount (5.0 at.%) of η-carbide that formed after quenching and tempering (Q&T) at 400 °C for 300 s was significantly greater than after partitioning at 400 °C for 300 s (2.4 at.%), suggesting that carbon partitioning from martensite to austenite occurs in conjunction with η-carbide formation during Q&P in these specimens.

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Research Organization:: Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)

Sponsoring Organization:: USDOE

Grant/Contract Number:: AC52-06NA25396; EE0005765

OSTI ID:: 1193479

Report Number(s):: LA-UR--14-28509; PII: S1359645415000282

Journal Information:: Acta Materialia, Journal Name: Acta Materialia Journal Issue: C Vol. 90; ISSN 1359-6454

Publisher:: ElsevierCopyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

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