Effects of power ultrasonic treatment on microstructure and mechanical properties of T10 steel

The microstructure and mechanical properties of T10 steel treated with power ultrasonic during solidification are investigated. A self-developed experimental setup is built for the propagation of ultrasonic vibration into the melt along the horizontal direction. Experimental results indicate that the power ultrasonic applied in the melt can not only refine the microstructure remarkably but also enhance both tensile strength and ductility values of T10 steel. Furthermore, the finer grains can be obtained due to the higher incident ultrasonic power. SEM fractographs show that the sample with 600 W ultrasonic treatment exhibits a ductile fracture surface covered with deformation dimples, while the sample without ultrasonic treatment shows a brittle fracture surface. The effects of power ultrasonic on the melt are discussed.