A comparative study on the three-body abrasive wear performance of Q&P processing and low-temperature bainitic transformation for a medium-carbon dual-phase steel

A comparative study to assess the three-body abrasive wear performance of medium-carbon dual-phase steels, obtained by the two heat treatments: quenching and partitioning (Q&P) process and low-temperature bainitic transformation, was conducted by employing a designed three-body abrasive wear method. The microstructures were examined using the optical, scanning and transmission electron microscopes. The carbon content of the retained austenite in the samples was measured by electron probe microanalysis. The results showed that the ultrafine dual-phases, consisting of martensite/bainite and retained austenite, were obtained in both the heat treatments. Both the samples were observed to be extremely hard (458–471 HV1). The results of the three-body abrasive wear tests indicated that the abrasion weight loss decreased as the surface hardness increased. Further, compared to the low temperature transformed bainitic sample, the Q&P treated martensitic sample had a higher retained austenite stability, superior transformation-induced plasticity effect and thicker deformed layer which showed a better three-body abrasive wear performance.