Strengthening from Nb-rich clusters in a Nb-microalloyed steel Academic Article

abstract

• We demonstrate that a Nb-microalloyed ultra-thin cast strip steel can be strengthened substantially without compromising ductility by performing a simple heat treatment at 700 C for 4 min. The strengthening was attributed to a fine dispersion of Nb-rich solute atom clusters. These clusters had an average size of 60 atoms at peak hardness and resembled Guinier-Preston zones in Al-Cu alloys. The application of the Ashby-Orowan equation indicates that these clusters are potent strengthening agents when compared to conventional Nb(C,N) precipitation strengthening. 2012 Acta Materialia Inc. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

authors

• Xie, Yu Kelvin

published proceedings

• SCRIPTA MATERIALIA

author list (cited authors)

• Xie, K. Y., Zheng, T., Cairney, J. M., Kaul, H., Williams, J. G., Barbaro, F. J., Killmore, C. R., & Ringer, S. P.

citation count

• 76

complete list of authors

• Xie, Kelvin Y||Zheng, Tianxiao||Cairney, Julie M||Kaul, Harold||Williams, James G||Barbaro, Frank J||Killmore, Chris R||Ringer, Simon P

publication date

• May 2012

publisher

• Elsevier  Publisher

published in

• Scripta Materialia  Journal

keywords

• Atom Probe Tomography (apt)
• Cluster Strengthening
• Hsla Steel
• Niobium
• Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM)

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

• 10.1016/j.scriptamat.2012.01.029

start page

• 710

end page

• 713

volume

• 66

issue

• 9

URL

• http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.scriptamat.2012.01.029