Effects of Microstructure Transformation on Strengthening and Toughening for Heat-Treated Low Carbon Martensite Stainless Bearing Steel

Microstructural transformations and mechanical properties of a low carbon martensite stainless bearing steel treated with different heat treatment parameters and cryogenic treatment (-82°C) were investigated. The function of microstructural transformations on strengthening and toughening process was quantitatively characterized as well. These analyses were performed by the optical microscope (OM), scanning electron microscope (SEM), transmission electron microscope (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and electron back scattering diffraction (EBSD) technique. The obtained results show that with execution of cryogenic treatment and tempering, the tensile strength increase owing to the reduction of retained austenite and fine carbides precipitating respectively. The effect of martensitic microstructure on yield strength increment can be regarded as packet size and block width which conform to Hall-Petch relationship. Meanwhile, the results suggest that the block width is the key structural controlling unit when analyzing the strength-structure relationship of lath martensite in low carbon martensite stainless bearing steel. In addition, packet size can be related to toughness controlling as well because of the same size as cleavage plane.