Heat Treatment of Metals & Alloys

Complex Engineering Problem

Session 2020-2024

Submitted to:

Prof.Dr.Aqil Inam

Submitted by:

Muhammad Nauman
(20mme-S1-315)
5th Semester

Institute of Metallurgy and Materials Engineering

Faculty of Chemical and Materials Engineering
University of the Punjab Lahore
 Problem Statement :

An experimental steel (C=0.4%, Si=1.5%, Mn=2%, Fe=Balance) is intended

to develop following three options of composite microstructures:
Option 1: Martensite phase = 40%
Bainite phase = 40%
Retained austenite phase = 20%
Option 2: Martensite phase = 50%
Bainite phase = 30%
Retained austenite phase = 20%
Option 3: Martensite phase = 60%
Bainite phase = 20%
Retained austenite phase = 20%

Question 1: Suggest heat-treatment cycles for each option of volume

fractions of steel phases?
Question 2: How the steel microstructures will be affected after
applying heat treatment cycle to attain above microstructures if the
silicon is not present in the above said steel?

Summary :

Modern high-strength steels (AHSS) on the market offer enhanced strength and
ductility ratios compared to ordinary steels (Figure 1). Multiphase microstructures
constitute the foundation for the majority of AHSS. Dual phase (DP) steels, for instance,
have microstructures that contain ferrite and martensite. As a result of further
advancements, steels with more complicated microstructures, such as those made of
ferrite, bainite, martensite, and retained austenite, were designed.[1]

Steel and low density metal sectors have faced intense competition for decades. A steel
known as high strength steel of advance high strength steel was produced by the steel
industry in response to the growing demands for passenger safety, vehicle behaviour, and
fuel efficiency. The steel industry introduced AHSS to reduce auto accidents, improve
vehicle performance, and achieve superior fuel efficiency. A new generation of advanced
high strength steels for autos is possible because to Q&P steels' exceptional strength and
ductility combination. Although the autobody industry is the first to use Q&P on a large
scale, the heat treatment idea is also relevant to a variety of other prospective uses.[1]

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 Figure 01 : Mechanical profile of advance high strength 3rd generation steels
(AHSS) Source : Quenching and partitioning (Q & P) a novel by G.J. Speer and DV
Edmonds (2003).[1]

Literature Survey :

A revolutionary heat treatment method called quenching and partitioning (Q & P) was
created by G.J. Speer and DV Edmonds (2003). In order to create third generation high
strength steels with toughness and ductility, quenching and partitioning heat treatment
was used. This steel is being developed for use in manufacturing racing car chassis
components. To maintain preserved austenite and martensite at room temperature, steel
with a relatively high manganese concentration undergoes Q & P heat
treatment.[2]&[3]

Quenching and partition process, a new thermal treatment designed to employ

carbon partitioning from martensite into untransformed austenite, with the purpose
of generating austenite-containing microstructures in low alloy steels with attractive
performance characteristics. Increasing requirements related to passenger safety and
weight reduction in the automotive industry have led to the development of a first
generation of advanced high strength steels (AHSS) such as dual phase (DP) and Si
containing transformation-induced plasticity (TRIP) steels.[2]
Due to a dynamic Hall-Petch effect brought on by the gradual increase in the density of
mechanical twins during deformation, second generation austenitic high-Mn twinning-
induced plasticity (TWIP) steel with a Mn content in the range of 15 to 25 wt.% exhibits
an excellent combination of tensile strength (1 GPa) and ductility (60 pct).[4]

The development of intermediate and medium Mn steel is now being driven mostly by
the higher alloying costs and reduced productivity associated with high-Mn TWIP steel.

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 Intercritically annealed intermediate and medium Mn steels have been observed to have
suitable combinations of mechanical characteristics. The TRIP effect or a combination of
the TWIP effect and TRIP effect, two plasticity-enhancing processes, is responsible for
their high rate of work-hardening.[3]

Suggested Heat
Treatment Cycle :

The Heat treatment Cycle prescribed by the focal person named above is as follow :
The following graph shows the heat treatment cycle that how QPT heat treatment is
used to attain different kinds of microstructures.[3]

Figure 02 :

In QP steels there is a composite microstructure that is made which contains [5]

• Martensite
• Bainite
• Retained Austenite

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 In the following graph microstructures are shown that will made on the different stages
during QPT heat treatment cycle.[4]

Figure 03 : Thermal process to develop QP steels. QT and PT correspond to quenching and

partitioning temperatures [5]. Copyright obtained from Elsevier. Ci, C , and Cm are the carbon
contents of the initial alloy, austenite, and martensite, respectively. Reproduced with permission
of the editor.

The final aim of the QP process is to obtain an appropriate combination of mechanical

properties as a result of a controlled microstructure formed by tempered and fresh
martensite and a carbon-enriched retained austenite, avoiding or minimizing the
decomposition of austenite into other secondary microstructures during the final
quenching step. In addition, ferrite can also be present in the QP process by partial
austenization (austenitization at intercritical temperatures). Accordingly, plenty of
microconstituents (ferrite,bainite, retained austenite, fresh martensite, tempered
martensite) with their respective mechanical properties can be achieved at the end of
this novel heat treatment. [3]

Particularly, the retained austenite in QP steels plays a major role as it provides a

transformation-induced plasticity (TRIP) effect, associated with the transformation of
the austenite into martensite as a result of local deformation, thus contributing to
enhancing the formability and energy absorption of the steel.[5]

Discussion :

Question : no : 01 :

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We only need to change the specimen's holding duration to achieve these higher
structures with this particular volume fraction. Imagine we have a piece of alloy steel that
is half an inch thick. The specimen is heated to austenizing temperature (900C°) for 30
minutes in order to convert all of the preexisting structures into austenite, which then
breaks down into blocks of lathe martensite and retained austenite. Once the sample
has reached austenizing temperature, it is quenched between Ms and MF temperature
to produce martensite. As shown in figure 03.[2]
How much austenite is transformed to martensite depends on the holding period. The
surplus carbon from the martensite is then partitioned, increasing the volume fraction of
the retained austenite while stabilising it. The volume fraction is also influenced by the
holding period. The bainite phase is created during the last tempering process, which is
carried out between BS and BF at temperatures between 400 and 500 °C. [4]
Option 01 :
The sample needs to be quenched for 20–30 seconds in order to produce
martensite from a 40–60% volume fraction.
The sample needs to be quenched for 20 seconds in order to produce 40%
martensite.
The sample needs to be quenched for 25 seconds in order to develop martensite
at a 50% rate.
The sample needs to be quenched for 30 seconds to prevent 60% martensite
development.
Option 02 :
Austenitize at 850-900°C for 30-60 minutes.
Quench rapidly in oil or water to room temperature.
Temper at 350-500°C for 1-2 hours to obtain the desired volume fractions of
martensite and bainite, and retained austenite.
Option 03:
Austenitize at 850-900°C for 30-60 minutes.
Quench rapidly in oil or water to room temperature.
Temper at 300-400°C for 1-2 hours to obtain the desired volume fractions of
martensite and bainite, and retained austenite.
Option 04:
Austenitize at 850-900°C for 30-60 minutes.
Quench rapidly in oil or water to room temperature.
Temper at 200-300°C for 1-2 hours to obtain the desired volume fractions of
martensite and bainite, and retained austenite.
Note: The exact heat treatment conditions depend on various factors, such as the size
and shape of the sample, the cooling rate, and the desired microstructure.

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Role of Silicon :

Question : no : 02 :
Silicon retards the precipitation of carbides in the martensite. Minimum 1% of Si is
required in the Q and P steels. [2]
If the silicon is note present in the steel carbide will precipitate in the martensite and the
material will become brittle and the purpose of making QP steel will not be fulfilled.
Due to a possible modest reduction in hardenability caused by the absence of
silicon, the volume percentage of martensite in the microstructure may be
decreased as a result of the quenching process.[2]

The bainite transformation may take place at a slightly lower temperature as

a result of the absence of silicon, leading to a higher volume fraction of bainite
in the microstructure. This is because the absence of silicon may cause the
austenite-to-ferrite transformation to occur at a slightly lower transformation
temperature.[2]

Although silicon is known to increase austenite's stability, its absence may also
lead to a somewhat decreased volume fraction of retained austenite in the
microstructure. Yet, compared to its impact on hardenability and bainite
transition, silicon has a minimal impact on retained austenite.[2]

(He Ji a b 3 January 2019)

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Reference’s :

1. Rashid, M.S (1981). Dual phase steels. Annual Review of Material Science,11(1),
245-266

2. Wang, L, Speer,J.G (2013). Quenching and portioning steel heat treat.

Metallography, Microstructure and Analsis,2(4) 268-281

3. Inam, A., Imtiaz, Y., Hafeez, M. A., Munir, S., Ali, Z., Ishtiaq, M., … & Haider, W.
(2019). Effect of tempering time on microstructure, mechanical, and
electrochemical properties of quenched-partitioned-tempered Advanced High
Strenght Steel (AHSS). Materials Research Express, 6(12), 126509.

4. He Ji a b, H. G. a. b., Li Shuhui a b, Zou Danqing a b (3 January 2019). "To correlate

the phase transformation and mechanical behavior of QP steel sheets."

5. Marcel Carpio 1, Jessica Calvo 1, Omar García 2, Juan Pablo Pedraza 2 and José
María Cabrera (19 July 2021). "Heat Treatment Design for a QP Steel: Effect of
Partitioning Temperature."

(Marcel Carpio 1 19 July 2021)

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