Global and local deformation behavior and mechanical properties of individual phases in a quenched and partitioned steel

Third generation advanced high strength steels produced via quenching and partitioning (Q&P) treatment are receiving increased attention. A 0.25C–3Mn–1.5Si–0.023 Al steel was subjected to Q&P processing (with varying partitioning temperature and time) resulting in the formation of complex multi-phase microstructures. The effect of Q&P parameters on the microstructure and morphology of microconstituents was analyzed. Mechanical properties of the material and of its individual microconstituents were studied via tensile testing and nanoindentation on individual microconstituents, which were identified a priori by electron back-scattered diffraction analysis. Special attention is paid to the effect of the morphology of retained austenite on its transformation stability. In situ tensile tests and digital image correlation analysis were performed to study deformation behavior of the Q&P processed steel at the micro-scale with respect to the local microstructure. The effect of local microstructure and properties of individual phases on the degree of strain partitioning is discussed.