Enhanced thermal stability in nanostructured bainitic steel

We report an attempt at increasing the thermal stability of nanocrystalline bainite to tempering heat treatments by enhancing the silicon concentration of the alloy. Validation experiments have been conducted using synchrotron X-irradiation during tempering heat treatment. It is found that the change in alloying successfully stabilizes the austenite at elevated temperatures by retarding cementite formation to temperatures as high as 500 °C. Other changes reflected in the lattice parameters of the major phases have revealed further information about the mechanisms involved.