A novel bainitic steel comparable to maraging steel in mechanical properties

A 35MnSiCrNiAlMo bainitic steel whose mechanical properties approached those of 140-maraging steel was developed. The steel was continuously cooled from a temperature slightly higher than its martensite start temperature (Ms) to Ms − 20 °C at a cooling rate of 0.5 °C min−1, after which the overall mechanical properties are better than those of austempered samples at any constant temperature. Mixed microstructures consisting of fine plates of carbide-free bainitic ferrite and thin films of retained austenite were obtained.