Comparison of the effect of heat treatment quenching - partitioning (Q-P) and direct quenching (D-Q) On the micro structure and mechanical properties of a high strength steel containing Ti micro alloy

Quenching-partitioning (Q-P) is one of the methods of producing advanced high strength steels (AHSS). The principles of the mentioned thermal process are based on carbon penetration from martensite to residual austenite (γR) and stabilization of γR. In this research, the alloy with the chemical composition of 0.054 wt% Al, 1.5 wt% Si, 2.2 wt% Mn, 2.2 wt% Mn, 0.21 wt% Fe, containing 0.08% Ti as a micro-alloy in an induction melting furnace in VIM was cast as an ingot. The said ingot was homogenized for 3 hours at a temperature of 1200 °C. The homogenized ingot was rolled into a sheet with a thickness of 1.5 mm by hot and cold rolling processes. The prepared sheet was subjected to Q-P heat treatment and direct quenching (D-Q) and was compared in terms of microstructure and mechanical properties. The comparison of the effect of the mentioned operations on the microstructure and mechanical properties of steel was done by scanning electron microscope (SEM), X-ray analysis (XRD), micro-hardness measurement, and metallography. The obtained results showed that the sample subjected to Q-P heat treatment has better formability and strength than the D-Q sample. The strength and formability of the sample obtained from Q-P were reported as 1062 MPa and 24.52% respectively, and the strength and formability of the sample obtained from D-Q were reported as 1484 MPa and 15.21% respectively.