Strengthening Mechanism of NiAl Precipitate in Low alloy Steel
남수우Soo W . Nam, 임성택Sung T . Lim
Abstract
This work investigates the hardening mechanism of the low carbon steel by adding NiAl inter-metallic compound. The specimens was carted to have 0.15C-Ni-Al component in which the amount of NiAl was varied. These specimens were air cooled after solution treatment at 1100℃ for 1.5 hours and aged for various holding periods at 550℃. Mechanical testings have been performed to find out the proper heat treatment condition for the best mechanical properties. X-ray diffraction and electron diffraction techniques, and transmission electron microscopic observation show that NiAl particles have been precipitated and the particles maintained coherency with the matrix. It has been concluded that the maximum strength was obtained when the specimens were aged at 550℃ for 8 hours. The strength and hardness values are increasing with the amount of NiAl component in the steel but the maximum impact strength was obtained in the sample in which 3% of NiAl component was contained.