Enhanced upper shelf energy by ultrafine elongated grain structures in 1100Â MPa high strength steel

► A SCM 440 type steel was tempformed at 500 °C. ► Tempformed (TF) samples with ultrafine elongated grain structures and a strong <1 1 0>//RD fiber texture were developed. ► The quenched and tempered (QT) samples showed an upper shelf energy of 97 J and a DBTT of −150 °C. ► The TF samples showed a higher upper shelf energy of 150 J and a lower DBTT of −175 °C. ► Fractography of the TF samples showed more uniform dimples with a higher dimple aspect ratio than QT samples.