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Mechanical Properties
Martensite - BCT
Ferrite - BCC
Austenite - FCC
Fe3C (cementite)- orthorhombic
Chapter Outline:
Homogeneous Nucleation & Energy Effects
Surface Free Energy- destabilizes
the nuclei (it takes energy to make
an interface)
DGS 4r 2
= surface tension
TE is eutectoid temperature
Solidification
r* = critical radius
2Tm = surface free energy
r*
DHf DT Tm = melting temperature
DHf = latent heat of solidification (fusion)
DT = Tm - T = supercooling
r* decreases as DT increases
For typical DT r* ~ 10 nm
Transformations & Undercooling ( Fast cooling)
• Eutectoid transformation (Fe-Fe3C system): a + Fe3C
• For transformation to occur, must 0.76 wt% C 6.7 wt% C
cool to below 727°C 0.022 wt% C
T(°C)
1600
d
1400 L
+L
1200 1148°C L+Fe3C
Fe3C (cementite)
(austenite)
1000
a +Fe3C
Eutectoid:
ferrite 800 Equil. Cooling: Ttransf. = 727ºC
727°C
DT a +Fe3C
600
Undercooling by Ttransf. < 727C
0.022
0.76
400
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 6.7
(Fe) C, wt% C
Rate of Phase Transformation
Fraction transformed, y
transformation complete
Fixed T
0.5 maximum rate reached – now amount
unconverted decreases so rate slows
rate increases as surface area increases
t0.5 & nuclei grow
log t
1 10 102 104
Fast cooling
Fast heating
Eutectoid Transformation Rate ~ DT
• Transformation of austenite to pearlite:
Diffusion of C
Austenite () cementite (Fe3C) during transformation
grain a Ferrite (a)
boundary a a
a
a
a
pearlite
growth a
a
direction
• For this transformation, 100 a
Carbon
rate increases with ( DT) % pearlite 600°C diffusion
Fe3C (cementite)
+L
1200 L+Fe3C
(austenite)
1000
+Fe3C
800
727°C
DT a +Fe3C
600
0.022
0.76
400
1.13
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 6.7
(Fe)
C, wt%C
Martensite
(dark needle
like structure)
Iron-carbon alloy
with eutectoid
composition.
A: Austenite
P: Pearlite
B: Bainite
M: Martensite
F: Proeutectoid ferrite
Effect of Adding Other
Elements
4340 Steel
Other elements (Cr, Ni, Mo, Si and W) may
cause significant changes in the positions
and shapes of the TTT curves:
Change transition temperature;
Shift the nose of the austenite-to-pearlite
transformation to longer times;
Shift the pearlite and bainite noses to longer
times (decrease critical cooling rate);
Form a separate bainite nose;
nose
4340 steel: Chemical compositions:
plain
carbon
steel
Treatment (a)
Rapidly cool to 350 ˚C
Hold for 104 seconds
Quench to room temperature
Example 1.2:
Iron-carbon alloy with
eutectoid composition.
Specify the nature of the
final microstructure (%
bainite, martensite, pearlite
etc) for the alloy that is
subjected to the following
time–temperature
treatments:
Alloy begins at 760˚C and
has been held long enough Austenite,
to achieve a complete and 100%
homogeneous austenitic
structure.
Treatment (b)
Rapidly cool to 250 ˚C
Hold for 100 seconds Martensite,
Quench to room temperature 100%
Example 1.3:
Iron-carbon alloy with Austenite,
eutectoid composition. 100%
Specify the nature of the Almost 50% Pearlite,
final microstructure (% 50% Austenite
bainite, martensite, pearlite
etc) for the alloy that is
subjected to the following
time–temperature
treatments:
Alloy begins at 760˚C and Bainite, 50%
has been held long enough
to achieve a complete and
homogeneous austenitic
structure.
Treatment (c)
Rapidly cool to 650˚C
Final:
Hold for 20 seconds 50% Bainite,
Rapidly cool to 400˚C 50% Pearlite
Hold for 103 seconds
Quench to room temperature
Continuous Cooling
Transformation Diagrams
Isothermal heat treatments are
not the most practical due to
rapidly cooling and constant
maintenance at an elevated
temperature.
Most heat treatments for steels
involve the continuous cooling
of a specimen to room
temperature.
TTT diagram (dashed curve) is
modified for a CCT diagram
(solid curve).
For continuous cooling, the time
required for a reaction to begin
and end is delayed.
The isothermal curves are
shifted to longer times and
lower temperatures.
Example:
Continuous cooling
diagram for a 4340 steel
alloy and several cooling
curves superimposed.
This demonstrates the
dependence of the final
microstructure on the
transformations that
occur during cooling.
Alloying elements used to
modify the critical cooling
rate for martensite are
chromium, nickel,
molybdenum, manganese,
silicon and tungsten.
F: Proeutectoid ferrite
Mechanical Properties
• Hardness
• Brinell, Rockwell
• Yield Strength
• Tensile Strength
• Ductility
• % Elongation
• Effect of Carbon Content
The possible microstructures in iron-carbon alloys
1. Fine pearlite
2. Coarse pearlite
Ferrite + Cementite
3. Spheroidite
Cementite much harder and brittle than ferrite
4. Bainite
5. Martensite
Mechanical Properties: Influence of Carbon Content
Cementite is
harder and more
brittle than ferrite
Increasing
cementite
fraction therefore
makes harder,
less ductile
material.
Mechanical Properties: Influence Microstructures
Strong and rigid cementite will district the deformation of softer ferrite at the
boundaries. Cementite reinforce ferrite effect
Due to
Less cementite-ferrite boundary in spheroidite compared to pearlite
Low cementite reinforcement effect and less impedance to dislocation
motion.
Due to
Due to finer structure than pearlite
High cementite reinforcement effect ------ restrict dislocation motion.
Due to
NOT due to finer structure….
But because of the effectiveness of the interstitial carbon atoms in hindering
dislocation motion ------ solid solution effect.
AND relatively few slip system in BCT
Ductility
In Summary: Microstructure and strength, ductility relation
Martensite
T Martensite
Strength
Ductility
bainite
fine pearlite
coarse pearlite
spheroidite
General Trends
Example problem: Relation between microstructure and hardness
Precepition hardening
- Reduce strain and stress
- Altering microstructure
------> refer to continuous cooling diagram
- Softening
- Hardening
WHY HARDNESS CHANGES W/POSITION
• The cooling rate varies with position.
Chapter 11-
Water Faster
Severity
Oil (warping,
Air craking)
4140 steel
Rapidly quench to T1
Phase transition
during precipitation
heat treatment
Precipitation Heat Treatment
30
%EL (2 in sample)
400
20
300
149°C 10
200 204°C 149°C
204°C
100 0
1min 1h 1day 1mo 1yr 1min 1h 1day 1mo 1yr
precipitation heat treat time precipitation heat treat time
Effects of Temperature on
strength and ductility during
precipitation hardening
Time
Pt B
The mechanism
• The first step in the precipitation hardening heat treatment process is solution
heat treatment. The objective of this process step is to place the elements into
solution that will eventually be called upon for precipitation hardening.
• The supersaturated solid solution is unstable and if, left alone, the
excess q will precipitate out of the a phase. This process is called
aging.
• Types of aging:
– Natural aging process occurs at room temperature
– Artificial aging If solution heat treated, requires heating to
speed up the precipitation
Overaging
• After solution heat treatment the material is ductile, since no
precipitation has occurred. Therefore, it may be worked easily.