This research work describes a thermo mechanical investigation of a low alloy steel treated in the (α + γ) phase region. The aim is to develop a high tensile, ductile microstructure that could have a wide range of engineering applications. Recent advances in the area of precipitation, recrystallization mechanisms, and α / γ transformations provide strong background to this study. In a preliminary heat treatment, various microstructures (normalized and 450 °C tempered martensite structure) were produced and deformed to varying degrees. Subsequently, these microstructures were subjected to various intercritical temperatures (740 and 760 °C) for various times and a very high cooling rate. Light (optical) microscopic investigations were carried out to study the ensuing microstructures. Mechanical testing results (tensile and hardness values) were used to characterize the structures obtained. On analysis of the result, it was observed that well defined micro-duplex structures of ferritic and martensitic nature, possessing good combinations of strength and ductility were obtained.
thermomechanical; recrystallization mechanisms; micro-duplex structures; mechanical testing; crystallographic transformations
