Institute of Metals Division - Austenite Formation during Tempering and Its Effects on Mechanical Properties

THE temperature of the ferrite to austenite re-action is established frequently by continuous heating experiments. However, equilibrium studies of this reaction have demonstrated that austenite may form at temperatures considerably below those at which the reaction is first observed during continuous heating. Because of this discrepancy, tempering is sometimes performed above the true critical temperature and in these cases austenite forms during tempering. The lowest temperature at which austenite forms and the kinetics of the reaction have been studied by Bain,' Bleakney and Gros-venor,2 and Dube and Cunningham. This austenite can affect the properties either as austenite per se, if it is retained at room temperature, or as a decomposition product if it transforms. The effect of austenite formation during tempering on low temperature impact properties of an 8 1/2 pct nickel steel was reported by Brophy and Miller4 in work published after the present investigation was initiated. They concluded that the improvement in low-temperature notch toughness which followed tempering at certain temperatures could be attributed to the austenite formed during tempering. Kramer et al.5 found anomalous hardness increases and embrittlement after tempering of a low-carbon manganese-nickel steel. They concluded that austenite formed during tempering, and that the decomposition products were responsible for the increase in hardness and the embrittlement. Quan-titative correlations of the microconstituents and mechanical properties were not made by these investigators. The present study was undertaken in order to establish the kinetics of formation of austenite at various temperatures, the characteristics of the decomposition of this austenite, and the relationship between mechanical properties and the phases present. Experimental Procedure A low-carbon manganese-nickel steel was selected because of the sluggishness of its austenite decom-position reactions. The composition of this steel in percent was: C, 0.10; Mn, 3.52; Ni, 2.34; Mo, 0.52; Cr, 0.17; Si, 0.19; V, 0.15; P, 0.019; and S, 0.020. Samples were prepared by forging sections from a large ingot to 3/4 in. bars. Formation and decomposition of austenite were investigated by dilatometric techniques which were checked by X-ray measurements. Dilatometer specimens were hollow cylinders 1 in. long, 1/2 in. diam, with a 1/8 in. central hole. All specimens were aus-tenitized for 1 hr at 1650°F and quenched in water prior to insertion in the dilatometer. Oxidation was prevented by using an inert atmosphere of purified nitrogen. Dilation was measured with a dial gauge which could be read by interpolation to 0.00005 in. Temperature was maintained within ± 3°F by a Brown Electronik Controller. Chromel-alumel thermocouple leads were welded to opposite ends of the specimen with the specimen serving as the hot junction. As a check on temperature uniformity comparison was made of the specimen temperature as measured with the chromel-alumel leads and the temperature of the center of the specimen as measured with a calibrated platinum—platinum-rhodium thermocouple embedded in asbestos in the central hole of the specimen. During heating a 5°F temperature difference was noted below 1000°F, but none above, while in cooling, a 5°F difference was observed from 1300" to 735°F, but none below. Heating rates of 35°F per min and cooling rates of 60°F per min were employed for all dilatometric studies. For transformation studies below room temperature, the dilatometer was allowed to cool to 150°F and then was quenched into liquid nitrogen.