A comparison of microstructure and mechanical properties of low-alloy-medium-carbon steels after quench-hardening

The microstructural characteristics of three medium carbon steels, namely MnCrB, NiCrSi and NiCrMoV containing steels, have been investigated when the steels were hardened by quenching in water or oil from different austenitisation temperatures (i.e. 850, 900 and 950 °C). The microstructure was characterised using optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, and X-Ray diffraction technique, whereas the mechanical properties were measured by Vickers hardness testing, V-notched Charpy impact testing and tensile testing. The microscopy observations suggested a fully martensitic microstructure, whereas martensite was considerably finer in NiCrSi and NiCrMoV steels compared to MnCrB steel. Moreover, the NiCrSi and NiCrMoV steels showed significantly higher strengths and lower ductility than MnCrB steel. The results suggested that the small additions of alloying elements and different prior austenite grain sizes were mainly responsible for the observed microstructural and mechanical properties variations.