The Mechanism of Martensite-Austenite Microconstituents Formation during Thermomechanical Controlling Processing in Low Carbon Bainitic Steel

Bainite or the mixture of bainite and martensite is required to reach high strength levels in low carbon high strength steel. However, the bainite reaction rarely goes to completion, resulting in mixed structures of predominately bainitic ferrite and minor amounts of retained austenite, cementite or martensite mainly located at the ferrite grain boundaries. The exact nature of this minor transformation product depends on several factors including bulk composition, segregation and cooling rate. When the minor phase is largely martensite, the non-bainitic microstructure is called martensite-austenite microconstituent or MA. Interestingly, MA is believed to be one of the main factors causing the deterioration of toughness of steels. MA is also often associated with hydrogen-related cracking. In this current study, the formation of martensite-austenite constituents was studied experimentally and the results analyzed theoretically.