Enhancing Mechanical Properties of Low Alloy Steel through Novel Molten Bi-Ga Austempering
Keywords:
Low alloy steel, heat treatment, austempering, Thermal Properties, Bi-Ga alloysAbstract
The main goal of this study is to improve the mechanical properties of low-alloy steels using an austempering heat treatment that involves combined molten bismuth and gallium (Bi-Ga) alloys. The cooling media is an alternative to the salt media, which is commonly used for austampering heat treatment. The steel was maintained at a constant temperature of 500 °C by immersing it in a cooling medium containing gallium and bismuth. The steel achieved an improvement of 229% in hardness and a 50% increase in tensile strength. Some slight decreases in thermal conductivity and diffusivity occurred as a result of the development of bainite in austempered steel, which affected the thermal behavior of the material. Through the process of bismuth diffusion into the steel grains, phase hardening was improved. To accomplish this, maintaining carbide stability and encouraging uniform carbon distribution were key. 500 °C was the best choice for austempering, where improved mechanical qualities were equally balanced. With its enhanced tensile strength, lightweight applications are now within reach, and the steel's enhanced hardness makes it perfect for uses requiring high durability and resistance to wear. This research emphasizes the potential of molten Bi-Ga austempering to enhance the performance of low-alloy steel across several industrial applications.
Downloads
References
D. Qian, Y. He, F. Wang, Y. Chen, and X. Lu, “Microstructure and mechanical properties of M50 steel by combining cold rolling with austempering,” Metals (Basel), vol. 10, no. 3, p. 381, 2020.
M. Franceschi et al., “Effect of different austempering heat treatments on corrosion properties of high silicon steel,” Materials, vol. 14, no. 2, p. 288, 2021.
M. Sedlaček, G. Klančnik, A. Nagode, and J. Burja, “Influence of Austempering of As-cast Medium Carbon High-Silicon Steel on Wear Resistance,” Materials, vol. 14, no. 24, p. 7518, 2021.
P. Novák et al., “Solutions of critical raw materials issues regarding iron-based alloys,” Materials, vol. 14, no. 4, p. 899, 2021.
O. J. Akinribide et al., “A Review on Heat Treatment of Cast Iron: Phase Evolution and Mechanical Characterization,” Materials, vol. 15, no. 20, p. 7109, 2022.
Y. Su et al., “Effect of austempering temperature on microstructure and mechanical properties of M50 bearing steel,” Journal of Materials Research and Technology, vol. 20, pp. 4576–4584, 2022.
Q. Luo, H. Mei, M. Kitchen, Y. Gao, and L. Bowen, “Effect of short-term low-temperature austempering on the microstructure and abrasive wear of medium-carbon low-alloy steel,” Metals and Materials International, vol. 27, pp. 3115–3131, 2021.
Q. Luo, M. Kitchen, and S. Abubakri, “Effect of austempering time on the microstructure and carbon partitioning of ultrahigh strength steel 56NiCrMoV7,” Metals (Basel), vol. 7, no. 7, p. 258, 2017.
R. Lumbreras, X. Sun, G. Barber, and Q. Zou, “Austempering Process for Carburized Low Alloy Steels,” SAE Technical Paper, 2013.
M. Badaruddin, B. Bakti, and B. Prasetyo, “Effect of austempering temperatures on surface hardness of AISI 4140 steel,” in IOP Conference Series: Materials Science and Engineering, IOP Publishing, 2021, p. 012027.
E. Sadeghi, N. Markocsan, and S. Joshi, “Advances in corrosion-resistant thermal spray coatings for renewable energy power plants: Part II—Effect of environment and outlook,” Journal of Thermal Spray Technology, vol. 28, pp. 1789–1850, 2019.
J.-B. Vogt and I. Proriol Serre, “A review of the surface modifications for corrosion mitigation of steels in lead and LBE,” Coatings, vol. 11, no. 1, p. 53, 2021.
N. Eliaz, “Corrosion of metallic biomaterials: A review,” Materials, vol. 12, no. 3, p. 407, 2019.
N. Li, Y. Che, S. Liu, J. Wang, X. Cui, and T. Xiong, “Corrosion-resistant thermal spray coatings for low-alloy steel in contact with molten nitrate salts in solar power plants,” Solar Energy Materials and Solar Cells, vol. 259, p. 112432, 2023.
J.-B. Vogt and I. Proriol Serre, “A review of the surface modifications for corrosion mitigation of steels in lead and LBE,” Coatings, vol. 11, no. 1, p. 53, 2021.
H. F. Li et al., “Screening on binary Ti alloy with excellent mechanical property and castability for dental prosthesis application,” Sci Rep, vol. 6, no. 1, p. 37428, 2016.
O. A. Buryakovskaya, G. N. Ambaryan, A. B. Tarasenko, M. Z. Suleimanov, and M. S. Vlaskin, “Effects of Bi–Sn–Pb Alloy and Ball-Milling Duration on the Reactivity of Magnesium–Aluminum Waste-Based Materials for Hydrogen Production,” Materials, vol. 16, no. 13, p. 4745, 2023.
B. Ma, H. Zhao, D. Ju, Z. Yang, M. Chen, and Q. Liu, “Study on Material Design and Corrosion Resistance Based on Multi-Principal Component Alloying Theory,” Materials, vol. 16, no. 5, p. 1939, 2023.
H. Y. Zahran, A. S. Mahmoud, and A. F. Abd El-Rehim, “Effect of Bi content on the microstructure and mechanical performance of Sn-1Ag-0.5 Cu solder alloy,” Crystals (Basel), vol. 11, no. 3, p. 314, 2021.
O. A. Khudhair, R. A. Anaee, and K. M. Shabeeb, “Effect of Adding Bismuth on Some Mechanical Properties of Ga Alloy,” Journal of Bio-and Tribo-Corrosion, vol. 6, no. 1, p. 18, 2020.
C.-Y. Chen, F.-Y. Hung, T.-S. Lui, and L.-H. Chen, “Microstructures and Mechanical Properties of Austempering SUS440 Steel Thin Plates,” Metals (Basel), vol. 6, no. 2, p. 35, 2016.
V. Zurnadzhy et al., “Alternative Approach for the Intercritical Annealing of (Cr, Mo, V)-Alloyed TRIP-Assisted Steel before Austempering,” Metals (Basel), vol. 12, no. 11, p. 1814, 2022.
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
Copyright (c) 2024 Ali Adwan Al katawy, Ahmed Abd Ali Ghaidan, Abdul Jabbar S. Jomah
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
