Fatigue behavior of functionally graded steel produced by electro-slag remelting

The present study attempts to investigate the fatigue behavior of functionally graded steel (FGS) produced through electroslag remelting (ESR) process. To produce FGSs, two different slices of plain carbon steel and austenitic stainless steel were welded and used as ESR's electrode. Some of alloying elements in austenitic stainless steel, such as Nickel and Chromium, as well as carbon in plain carbon steel may be replaced during remelting stage; graded layers (austenite and martensite layers) may also be fabricated. Vickers micro-hardness test and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) of FGS were performed and variations in hardness and microstructure were observed. SEM images exhibited multi-phase graded steel. The rotating bending fatigue test was performed on specimens. The fatigue test results showed improvement in fatigue limit of FGS in comparison with that of its ingredients. SEM's images of fatigue fracture surfaces in FGS showed deviation and branching in crack propagation when crack propagates from graded austenite to graded martensite phase.