Strengthening Mechanisms of Tempered Martensite in Vanadium-Added Steels

To clarify the effects of vanadium additions on strengthening mechanisms tempered martensitic steel, microstructures, precipitates, dislocation densities, and tensile properties water-quenched Fe–0.2C–0.5Si–2.5Mn–xV (mass%; x = 0–0.82) steels were analyzed. The carbide precipitates plate-shaped had a Baker–Nutting orientation relationship with ferrite matrix. size shape slip plane considered when evaluating contribution precipitation strengthening. increase in yield strength upon adding 0.82 mass% to steel was mainly caused by owing high density. This study demonstrates that might be overestimated if it is assumed all hinder motion Orowan mechanism.