EFFECT OF HEAT TREATMENT ON MECHANICAL PROPERTIES AND MICROSTRUCTURE MORPHOLOGY OF LOW-ALLOY HIGH-STRENGTH STEEL

The paper analyzes the influence of different heat treatment processes on the mechanical properties of low-alloy high-strength steel denoted by Polish Standard (PN) as 10MnVNb6. One of the findings is that, after aging, the mechanical properties of rolled steel are high: the yield strength may reach > 600 MPa, and the ultimate tensile strength is > 700 MPa. These properties are largely dependent on the grain size and dispersion of the strengthening phase in the ferrite matrix. Aging applied after hot rolling contributes to a considerable rise in the yield strength and ultimate tensile strength. The process of normalization causes a decrease in the average grain size and coalescence (reduction of dispersion) of the strengthening phase. When 10MnVNb6 steel was aged after normalization, there was not a complete recovery in its strength properties.