Study of microstructure, mechanical properties and impact-abrasive wear behavior of medium-carbon steel treated by quenching and partitioning (Q&P) process

Quenching and partitioning (Q&P) process was utilized to produce ultra-high strength martensite-austenite steel for impact-abrasive wear conditions. Under impact-abrasive wear tests, retained austenite (RA) had significant effect on wear resistance for the experimental Q&P steel. As RA undergoes strain induced transformation, resulting in formation of martensite twins, the newly formed martensite twins with high density dislocations contributed to hardened layer formation on surface, making the wear rate slow down.246