The thermal stability of quenched and partitioned steel microstructures

The quenching and partitioning (Q&P) process is a heat treatment process, aiming at the creation of steel microstructures composed martensite retained austenite. Herein, thermal stability microstructure investigated upon reheating microstructures, created with different Q&P settings, in routes, using dilatometry thermomagnetometry to quantitatively monitor phase fractions. Analysis derivative curves thermomagnetic data reveals that austenite decomposes. decomposition occurs two stages when heating rate relatively low. completely transforms ferrite cementite 550 °C, followed by isothermal holding for 1800 s. Increasing time from 50 300 s 400 °C after 260 significantly increases In all conditions, both carbon-depleted (formed initial step) fresh final quenching) are found be partially tempered during experiments.