Microstructural evolution of deep cryogenically treated steel

This study answered the microstructural changes that occur during deep cryogenic treatment of steels. The results pointed to a strong correlation between the amount of transformed retained austenite during DCT and the tribological behaviour of the stee

Effect of Salt Coatings on Low Cycle Fatigue Behavior of Nickel -base Superalloy GTM-SU-718

AbstractNickel-base superalloys are used as components of gas turbines both of jet engines as well as marine engines. Sin e these components are subjected to high temperature and oxidizing environment, their performance is drastically affected by the environmental conditions. Marine environment further aggravates the situation due to presence of salt (NaCl) particles in air. This salt along with sulphur and vanadium present in the fuel oil, leads to formation of compounds like sodium sulfate (Na2SO4) and vanadium pentaoxide (V2O5) during combustion and causes hot corrosion and stress corrosion cracking of engine components. Strain controlled low cycle fatigue tests were conducted on the nickel base superalloy GTM-SU-718 in air, at room temperature on unexposed, exposed at 550°C for 25h, exposed at 650°C for 25h as well as on the specimens coated with layers of NaCl, 25wt.%NaCl+75wt.%Na2SO4 and 90wt.%Na2SO4+5wt.%NaCl+5wt.%V2O5 salt/salt mixtures separately and exposed at elevated temperatures for 25h. While the NaCl coated sample was exposed at 550°C, those coated with other two salt mixtures were exposed at 650°C. It was observed that fatigue life of the NaCl coated sample, exposed at 550°C for 25h was reduced, however, there was little effect on fatigue life of the other specimens referred to above, including even those coated with salt mixtures and exposed at 650°C

Quantification of the Dislocation Density, Size, and Volume Fraction of Precipitates in Deep Cryogenically Treated Martensitic Steels

Two groups of martensitic alloys were examined for changes induced by deep cryogenic treatment (DCT). The first group was a range of binary and ternary compositions with 0.6 wt % carbon, and the second group was a commercial AISI D2 tool steel. X-ray diffraction showed that DCT made two changes to the microstructure: retained austenite was transformed to martensite, and the dislocation density of the martensite was increased. This increase in dislocation density was consistent for all alloys, including those that did not undergo phase transformation during DCT. It is suggested that the increase in dislocation density may be caused by local differences in thermal expansion within the heterogeneous martensitic structure. Then, samples were tempered, and the cementite size distribution was examined using small angle neutron scattering (SANS) and atom probe tomography. First principles calculations confirmed that all magnetic scattering originated in cementite and not carbon clusters. Quantitative SANS analysis showed a measurable change in cementite size distribution for all alloys as a result of prior DCT. It is proposed that the increase in dislocation density that results from DCT modifies the cementite precipitation through enhanced diffusion rates and increased cementite nucleation sites

Quantification of the dislocation density, size, and volume fraction of precipitates in deep cryogenically treated martensitic steels

Two groups of martensitic alloys were examined for changes induced by deep cryogenic treatment (DCT). The first group was a range of binary and ternary compositions with 0.6 wt % carbon, and the second group was a commercial AISI D2 tool steel. X-ray diffraction showed that DCT made two changes to the microstructure: retained austenite was transformed to martensite, and the dislocation density of the martensite was increased. This increase in dislocation density was consistent for all alloys, including those that did not undergo phase transformation during DCT. It is suggested that the increase in dislocation density may be caused by local differences in thermal expansion within the heterogeneous martensitic structure. Then, samples were tempered, and the cementite size distribution was examined using small angle neutron scattering (SANS) and atom probe tomography. First principles calculations confirmed that all magnetic scattering originated in cementite and not carbon clusters. Quantitative SANS analysis showed a measurable change in cementite size distribution for all alloys as a result of prior DCT. It is proposed that the increase in dislocation density that results from DCT modifies the cementite precipitation through enhanced diffusion rates and increased cementite nucleation sites