Influence of annealing temperatures on microstructure evolution and mechanical properties in a low-carbon steel

Quenching and partitioning (Q&P) heat treatments with different annealing temperatures and fixed initial quenching temperatures were applied to cold-rolled low-carbon steel with the initial microstructure of ferrite and pearlite, aiming to gain the same amount of austenite (preset value) before the partitioning stage. The chemical compositions of the material have been specially designed, containing 1.6 wt.% silicon and 0.8 wt.% aluminum to avoid the precipitation of carbides. The microstructure evolution of the investigated steel was characterized using a dilatometer, an optical microscope, a scanning electron microscope (SEM), an X-ray diffractometer, an electron backscattered diffraction and transmission electron microscope. Consequently, the microstructure of all samples looks quite similar. At the same time, according to SEM micrographs and dilatometer data, there are competitive reactions in Q&P process, such as the precipitation of carbides, the transformation of bainite and the formation of secondary martensite. Thus, the measured austenite is less than the preset values. Mechanical properties of the material were detected by uniaxial tensile tests. The results indicate that the ultimate tensile strength of the four groups of samples is similar, but the total elongation has a significant downward tendency with the increase in annealing temperatures. After annealing at 840 degrees C, the steel possesses great ultimate tensile strength of about 1200 MPa and optimum total elongation of about 20.37% with favorable products of strength and elongation of about 24.35 GPa%.