Influence of Cr and Solution Treatment on Structure and Properties of New Class Lightweight Fe–Mn–Al–C Stainless Steels

• Published in: Metallography, microstructure, and analysis microstructure, and analysis, 2022, Vol.11 (1), p.38-58
• Main Authors: El-Bagoury, Nader, Moussa, M. E., Ibrahim, Khaled, Ghayad, Ibrahim, Halfa, Hossam
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Alloying elements; Aluminum; Arc heating; Austenite; Carbides; Casting alloys; Characterization and Evaluation of Materials; Chemistry and Materials Science; Chromium; Corrosion resistance; Corrosion resistant steels; Corrosive wear; Electric arc melting; Field emission microscopy; Hardness; Iron; Manganese; Martensite; Materials Science; Mechanical properties; Metallic Materials; Microstructure; Nanotechnology; Peer Reviewed; Precipitates; Solution heat treatment; Stainless steel; Stainless steels; Structural Materials; Surfaces and Interfaces; Thin Films; Vacuum arc melting; Water quenching; Wear resistance; Weight loss measurement
• ISSN: 2192-9262; 2192-9270
• DOI: 10.1007/s13632-022-00820-7

This study is a trial to understand the effect of alloying elements variation and solution heat treatment conditions on the microstructure and its turn on the mechanical properties and corrosion resistance of Fe–Mn–Al–Cr–C stainless steel system. Steels under investigation are melted and produced utilizing the vacuum arc melting technique. Furthermore, cast alloys were solution heat-treated at 1050 °C for 2 and 4 h, followed by water quenching. Light and field emission scanning electron microscope, FESEM, in addition to x-ray diffraction were used to study the different microstructural characteristics of the produced steel. Hardness and weight loss were measured to evaluate the wear properties of the studied steels. Additionally, the corrosion resistance of these designed selected Fe–Mn–Al–Cr–C stainless steels was examined. The experimental results show that the microstructure of the cast steel consists of numerous phases such as austenite, ferrite, martensite as well as carbide precipitates. The latter carbides solidify either in the form of blocky or lamellar; (Fe, Mn, Cr) 3 C. On the other hand, in the case of the solution-treated steel, the microstructure consists of an austenite matrix with a lower volume fraction ( V f) of carbides. As the carbon, manganese, and chromium content increases, the V f of the precipitated carbides increase, which in turn enhances the hardness and wear properties of the studied steels. The solution treatment process dissolves and lowers the percentage of carbides found in the microstructure of cast steels. The solutionized heat-treated steels containing high Mn and Al contents in addition to a moderate amount of Cr show the best hardness, wear and corrosion resistance among the other studied steels.