Tensile deformation of two experimental high-strength bainitic low-alloy steels containing silicon

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Abstract
Two silicon-containing low-alloy steels, Fe–0·2C–2Si–3Mn and Fe–0·4C–2Si–4Ni (nominal wt-%), isothermally transformed in the bainitic temperature range (~400–250°C) have been deformed in tension. The bainitic microstructures in these steels contain appreciable amounts of retained austenite (instead of interlath cementite), and the behaviour of this phase during tensile deformation, and its apparent influence on the mechanical properties, has been examined. In particular, it is shown that provided the retained austenite exists in an interlath, thin-film morphology it has appreciable mechanical stability. Larger volumes of retained austenite have less mechanical and thermal stability, forming plate martensite structures and also undergoing deformation twinning. The effects of these variations on tensile strength and ductility are discussed. MST/527