ABSTRACT

In this work the role of heat treatment parameters on the microstructural characteristics and
mechanical properties of ferrite-martensite dual phase steel are studied. An intermediate
quenching route with varying intercritical annealing temperatures (760ºC, 780ºC, 800ºC, and
820ºC) was used to process a AISI 5115 and AISI 8620 to develop ferrite-martensite dual phase
structure. The heat-treated steel characterised for tensile properties, impact toughness, hardness
and microstructures observation. Intercritical annealing treatment led to martensite phase
volume fraction in the range of 33% to 65% for AISI 5115, and 39% to 61% for AISI 8620.
Maximum carbon solubility in the martensite phase varies due to variation in martensite
volume fractions with intercritical annealing temperature which significantly influences the
mechanical properties of martensite hence in term that of steel. The high tensile strength was
found at high intercritical annealing temperature, i.e., 1348 MPa at 820°C (AISI 5115) and
1453 MPa at 800°C (AISI 8620). The martensite phase fraction has an impact on the impact
properties, and it has been found that as martensite phase fraction increases, impact toughness
decreases. Maximum impact toughness i.e.,43 J/cm² (AISI 8620) and 38 J/cm² (AISI 5115)
was attained at 760ºC. Comparing the results revealed that developed heat treatment cycles
results in steels have higher mechanical properties than that of commercially available dual
phase steels (DP600 and DP 980).