Thermal Stability of Austenite and Properties of Quenching & Partitioning (Q&P) Treated AHSS

A Fe-0.2C-1.87Mn-1.42Si-0.0405Al steel subjected to an appropriate Quenching & Partitioning treatment (Q&P) exhibits the combination of high tensile strength (1311 MPa) and high elongation (13.6%). The thermal decomposition of retained austenite in the as-treated steel has been studied at an elevated temperature of 500oC by means of differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). Activation energy has been obtained by performing a Kissinger analysis method. The DSC results show that the activation energy of thermal decomposition of the retained austenite in this Q&P steel is 221.3KJ/mol, which is in a good agreement with the result of retained austenite in similar chemical composition steel subjected to a TRansformation Induced Plasticity (TRIP) treatment. This investigation helps to investigate the stability of retained austenite in Q&P steels upon cooling or under external stress.