Fine Structure and Superplasticity in Ultrahigh Carbon Steels.
Abstract
This program has centered on the thermal-mechanical processing of steels containing 1 to 2.3%C and their properties. These ultrahigh carbon (UHC) steels have been commercially neglected because of a traditional belief that they are brittle. The processing however leads to the formation of extremely fine cementite particles of about 1/10 micron (0.0001 mm) in a matrix of extremely fine ferrite grains of about 1 micron (0.001 mm) or less. This fine structure lends itself to several unique and exciting characteristics which revolutionize the traditional attitudes to these materials. In the first place these fine grained steels are superplastic at warm temperatures and elongations to failure of over 1500% have now been obtained. This means that these materials can be very easily formed. Second, they are strong and ductile at room temperature and the strength can be simply controlled by the final processing temperature or subsequent heat treatment. Third, they can be given a simple transformation heat treatment to form a structure of cementite and martensite which is about as hard as tungsten carbide.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Dec 31, 1977
- Accession Number
- ADA053571
Entities
People
- B. Walser
- J. T. Lo
- J. Wadsworth
- O. D. Sherby
- R. Caligiuri
Organizations
- Stanford University