Institute of Metals Division - Deformation Characteristics of an Iron-18 Pct Nickel Binary Alloy

Measurements have been mode of the effects of tempering and austenitizing heat treatments, the work-hardening characteristics, and the effects of test temperature and strain rate on the properties of a low-carbon Fe-18 pet Ni martensitic alloy. In many respects the alloy behaved quite similarly to cold-worked iron. One notable quality was the excellent ductility at temperatures as low as 20°K. Many of the qualities of the maraging steels could he related to the properties of the Fe-Ni matrix. THE 18 pet Ni maraging steels have demonstrated that unusual combinations of strength and toughness may be obtained by age hardening a low-carbon Fe-Ni martensite matrix.' These properties must, to some extent, reflect the properties of this Fe-Ni matrix, and therefore an understanding of the properties of this matrix is a prerequisite to a complete understanding of the steels. There have been several recent studies of Fe-Ni-C martensites, but not much attention has been paid to alloys with very low carbon contents. At low carbon levels the crystal structure of these alloys is essentially bee.2 Electron transmission microscopic examination of a 20 pet Ni binary alloy showed martensite platelets separated by low angle boundaries.3 Plastic deformation of the low-carbon alloys has been shown to proceed by wavy glide.4 The hardness of these martensites is typically RC 28, and their yield strengths are 70 to 80 kg per sq mm.2, 5 Their ductility is excellent. Room-temperature tensile elongations of 18 pet and reductions of area of 70 pet have been observed in an Fe-18 pet Ni binary alloy.5 These observations have provided a qualitative understanding of the flow characteristics of these alloys. To date, however, no thorough study of their properties has been made. In particular, it is not known to what extent the deformation characteristics of low-carbon martensites are similar or dissimilar to those of pure iron or other bee metals. The present work was undertaken to provide more detailed information on the flow characteristics of a low-carbon Fe-18 pet Ni martensite. PROCEDURES, RESULTS, AND DISCUSSION Materials. A 40-lb heat of the Fe-18 pet Ni alloy used in this study was made by vacuum-induction melting. The charge materials were electrolytic iron and electrolytic nickel. A carbon boil was used to achieve deoxidation. After the boil the heat was refined by additions of 0.1 wt pet Ti and Al. These additions are commonly used in the maraging steels to keep the carbon and nitrogen contents in solid solution at a minimum. After casting, the heat was