Materials Science and Engineering A 527 (2010) 62556259

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Materials Science and Engineering A

journal homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/msea

Bainitic transformation during the two-step quenching and partitioning process

in a medium carbon steel containing silicon
H.Y. Li a , X.W. Lu a , X.C. Wu b , Y.A. Min b , X.J. Jin a,
a
School of Materials Science and Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China
b
School of Materials Science and Engineering, Shanghai University, Shanghai 200240, China

a r t i c l e i n f o a b s t r a c t

Article history: A study of 40SiMnNiCr steel subjected to a two-step quenching and partitioning process (Q&P) is pre-
Received 3 February 2010 sented. The result suggests that strength variation of Q&P steels during the two-step Q&P process was a
Received in revised form 2 June 2010 cumulative effect of increase of retained austenite fraction, decrease of carbon supersaturation of virgin
Accepted 16 June 2010
martensite, and particularly much of lower bainite formation. A trade-off between high strength and
good ductility of two-step Q&P steels can be tailored and adjusted by controlling lower bainite fraction.
The nal amount of austenite was inuenced by the transformation kinetics of lower bainite during the
Keywords:
partitioning process.
Quenching and partitioning
Martensite Crown Copyright 2010 Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Retained austenite
Lower bainite

1. Introduction Al. Finally, the carbon-enriched austenite was mostly retained at

As a critical component of main commercial steels, a certain
amount of retained austenite can potentially increase ductility
[13] and toughness [4,5] of steels because of the transformation-
induced plasticity (TRIP) phenomenon of carbon-enriched retained
austenite during plastic deformation [6]. To achieve the aim of
obtaining a certain amount of carbon-enriched retained austenite
in steel at room temperature, a traditional method is to increase
the carbon content in steel to reduce the martensite start (Ms )
temperature [7]. However, high carbon content in steel is believed
to be detrimental to ductility and weldability [8]. In this case, a
fundamentally new heat treatment named quenching and par-
titioning (Q&P) has been proposed [9,10] to create advanced
high strength steels with a controlled amount of carbon-enriched
retained austenite at room temperature. The quenching step was
performed to form specic fraction of supersaturated marten-
site and untransformed austenite by fast quenching below the Ms
temperature but above the martensite nish (Mf ) temperature. A
subsequent partitioning treatment at the quenching temperature
(one-step treatment) or above the Ms temperature (two-step treat-
ment) was employed to accomplish complete diffusion of carbon
from martensite to untransformed austenite in the absence of car-
bide precipitation by alloying with appropriate content of Si and/or
Corresponding author at: 800 Dongchuan Road, Shanghai, China.
Tel.: +86 21 54745560; fax: +86 21 54745560.
E-mail address: jin@sjtu.edu.cn (X.J. Jin).
room temperature.
In the Q&P treatment, a maximum amount of retained austen-
ite was predicted by the original quench temperature selection
methodology with assuming full carbon partitioning from marten-
site to austenite [11]. An optimum quench temperature yielded
a maximum amount of retained austenite. Actually the measured
austenite fractions were rather lower than the maximum amounts
austenite theoretically predicted, although the amount of austenite
measured was in qualitative agreement with trends predicted by
model calculations [11,12]. Therefore, Clarke et al. [13] proposed
that carbide-free bainite formation was a competing process to
reduce the nal austenite fraction below the theoretically predicted
values. Recently, a new quench temperature selection methodol-
ogy that predicts austenite fraction was developed by including
carbon partitioning kinetics [14]. The results showed that above
the optimum quench temperature, the trends in austenite fraction
with partitioning time were consistent with experimental work;
below the optimum quench temperature, the predicted austenite
fraction trends as a function of partitioning time were opposite to
aspects of experimental results [14]. However, increasing partition-
ing time results in decreasing austenite fraction for low quench
temperature, which is different from the behavior predicted, was
not explained in detail [14], or was referred to, in general, as car-
bide formation [13,14]. It is well known that silicon signicantly
inuences the cementite formation because its solubility is incred-
ibly low or even near zero in cementite phase [1517]. However,
alloying with certain content of silicon is ineffective to inhibit for-
mation of epsilon carbide [1820]. So it is possible to form lower

0921-5093/$ see front matter. Crown Copyright 2010 Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
doi:10.1016/j.msea.2010.06.045
6256 H.Y. Li et al. / Materials Science and Engineering A 527 (2010) 62556259
bainite (bainitic ferrite plus -carbide) rather than carbide-free bai-
nite during the partitioning process. Experimental investigations of
microstructural processes during the Q&P process can enhance our
understanding of the Q&P process, and may in particular be impor-
tant for adjusting and tailoring the required mechanical properties
of Q&P steels during controlling different volume fractions of lower
bainite. In addition, in situ dilatometry measurements in combina-
tion with microstructural observations are performed to elucidate
the characteristics of the isothermal decomposition of untrans-
formed austenite during the partitioning process.
2. Experimental procedure
The chemical composition of the steel investigated in this study
is 0.41C, 1.27Si, 1.30Mn, 1.01Ni, 0.56Cr, and balance Fe (in wt.%).
Prior to the Q&P process, all specimens were homogenized in vac-
uum furnace at 1250 C for 5 h. The Ms and Mf temperature are
measured as 277 C and 127 C by a dilatometer. In the two-step
Q&P treatment, the partitioning temperature was above the Ms
temperature. The samples were austenitized at 820 C for 10 min,
subsequently rapidly quenched into a salt bath at 180 C for 60 s,
then up-quenched into another salt bath at 300 C for 10900 s for
the partitioning treatment, nally quenched to room temperature.
The as-treated samples were subjected to a detailed microstruc-
tural investigation using FEI Siron 200 eld emission scanning
electron microscope (FESEM) and JEM 2100F transformation elec-
tron microscope (TEM). The sample of FEEM was etched with 2%
nital in order to get an adequate topological contrast. The volume
fraction of retained austenite in different samples was determined
using X-350A X-ray stress analyzer with Cr K radiation. Mechan-
ical properties in terms of tensile strength and elongation of the
treated specimens (80 mm 16 mm 1 mm) were measured at
room temperature at an extension rate of 0.5 mm/min using AG-
10KNA universal testing machine. The yield strength was measured
as the 0.2% offset stress. Three samples per process condition were
subjected to tensile testing and the average value was reported.
Assuming that the kinetics of isothermal decomposition of untrans-
formed austenite during partitioning was consistent with that of
isothermal decomposition of austenite during direct austemper-
ing, we can study the inuence of the isothermal decomposition
of untransformed austenite during the partitioning process on
mechanical properties of Q&P steels and the nal amount of austen-
ite. The dilatation of the sample as a function of time was measured
using a DIL 805A dilatometer. The sample used in the dilatometer
was 10 mm 5 mm 2 mm. The direct austempering test included
austenitizing 820 C for 10 min, subsequently rapid quenching to
300 C with the cooling rate 50 C/s and holding until 900 s, and
then rapid quenching to room temperature with the cooling rate
20 C/s.
3. Results and discussion
3.1. The prediction of the partition time associated with the
maximum volume fraction of austenite during partitioning at
300 C
In the partitioning process, the average time for carbon escape
from martensite to austenite and its homogenization in the adja-
cent austenite can be estimated by the equation [21]:
x2
t=
6D
where x is the average diffusion distance (taking x = 0.15 m,
x = 0.07 m [18]). D = D0 exp(Q/RT) is the diffusion coefcient of
carbon in bcc/fcc Fe, where D0 is a constant (D0 = 0.62 106 m2 /s,
D0 = 0.10 104 m2 /s [22]), Q is the activation energy for carbon
diffusion (Q = 80.4 kJ/mol, Q = 135.7 kJ/mol [22]), R is the gas con-
stant and T is the absolute temperature. The calculations show that
the martensite plate may be depleted in less than 1 s, whilst it is
likely to take around 192 s to homogenize untransformed austen-
ite during partitioning at 300 C. That is to say, the whole carbon
partitioning process can be completed during partitioning at 300 C
for 193 s. Certainly, the escape of the carbon between the marten-
site plate and the austenite lm and its homogenization in the
adjacent austenite are closely related to the exact morphology and
distribution of untransformed austenite regions.
3.2. Microstructure of the two-step Q&P steels
Representative eld emission scanning electron micrographs
illustrating the microstructure of medium carbon low alloy steel
with quenching at 180 C for 60 s, and partitioning at 300 C for
30 s, 120 s and 900 s are presented in Fig. 1. It clearly reveals the
morphology of tempered martensite and lower bainite. Temper-
ing martensite exhibits a typical multivariant carbide precipitation
[23]. In the lower bainite, the lamellar -carbides are contained
within the ferrite platelets [24]. Fig. 2(a) and (b) displays typical
TEM bright eld and dark eld micrographs of lath martensite
structure and retained austenite lms in Q&P steel quenched
at 180 C for 60 s and partitioned at 300 C for 120 s, and the
corresponding selected-area electron diffraction (SAED) further
conrms these in the insert gure in Fig. 2(b). Twin marten-
site that is typical of transformation from high carbon austenite
is also observed in Fig. 2(a). Carbon-atom redistribution from
martensite to austenite results in the enrichment of carbon in
untransformed austenite. After the nal quenching to room tem-
perature, a proportion of untransformed austenite with high
carbon content can transform into twin martensite [25]. Carbon
partitioning from martensite to austenite provides a reasonable
explanation for the presence of twin martensite, although a local
non-homogeneous chemical composition of the material cannot be
completely excluded during the homogenization at 1250 C for 5 h.
Representative TEM bright micrographs illustrate the appearance
of lower bainite during quenching at 180 C for 60 s and partition-
ing at 300 C for 120 s, as is displayed in Fig. 2(c) and (d). These are
conrmed as bainitic ferrite and epsilon carbide () by employing
the resulting SAED pattern (the insert gure in Fig. 2(d)). Recently,
upper bainite were observed in 0.48C1.2Si1.2Mn1.0Ni0.2Nb
(wt.%) steel quenched at 200 C and partitioned at 400 C for 60 s
[26] and 0.19C0.35Si1.61Mn1.10Al (wt.%) steel partially austen-
itized at 900 C, quenched at 150 C and partitioned at 350 C for
1000 s [27]. Lower bainite was observed in 0.66C0.69Mn0.30Si
(wt.%) steel quenched and partitioned at 250 C for 1800 s [23].
Additionally, a small quantity of isothermal martensite was possi-
bly formed in this medium carbon steel during the quenching step
[25].
According to the aforementioned analysis, it can be concluded
that associated with carbon partitioning from martensite to austen-
ite, lower bainite transformation inevitably occurred.
3.3. The inuence of lower bainite transformation on mechanical
properties of the two-step Q&P steels
In order to investigate the inuence of bainite transformation
on mechanical properties of Q&P steels, different partitioning time
was designed. Meanwhile, we postulated that the kinetics of bai-
nite transformation during partitioning was consistent with that
(1)
of bainite transformation during direct austempering. Mechan-
ical properties of two-step Q&P steels and volume fraction of
retained austenite as four functions of partitioning time at 300 C
are exhibited in Fig. 3. Fig. 3(a) shows that new type high strength
steel with tensile strength than 2000 MPa and ductility over 10%
 H.Y. Li et al. / Materials Science and Engineering A 527 (2010) 62556259 6257

Fig. 1. Field emission scanning electron micrographs of medium carbon low alloy steel samples quenched at 180 C, partitioned at 300 C for (a) 30 s (b) 120 s and (c) 900 s
respectively.

Fig. 2. Typical TEM observations of Q&P steel quenched at 180 C, partitioned at 300 C for 120 s; (a) bright eld image of lath martensite and retained austenite lms, (b)
dark eld image of retained austenite lms (the inset is the corresponding SAED pattern), (c) bright eld image of lower bainite, and (d) dark eld image of epsilon carbide
(the inset is the corresponding SAED pattern).
6258 H.Y. Li et al. / Materials Science and Engineering A 527 (2010) 62556259
Fig. 3. (a) The change of mechanical properties and volume fraction of retained
austenite with partitioning time at 300 C (UTS: ultimate tensile strength; YS: yield
strength; EL: elongation; VRA; volume fraction of retained austenite). (b) Experi-
mental kinetics of isothermal bainite transformation at 300 C for this steel.
was produced by two-step Q&P treatment with shorter partition-
ing time from 10 s to 30 s. The ultimate tensile strength of Q&P
steels gradually decreases with an increase of partitioning time.
At the same time, it is noteworthy that the yield strength of Q&P
steels decreases at rst, subsequently increases with partitioning
time. The quantity of retained austenite markedly increases with
increasing partitioning time up to 600 s and then decreases. Duc-
tility displays corresponding changes with the volume fraction of
retained austenite due to its TRIP phenomenon. This is evident
in the regime with parameters 300 C/600 s, which there is over
13 vol.% retained austenite. The ductility of steel is increased to
15.6%, but the ultimate tensile strength was slightly decreased to
1720 MPa.
In terms of the changes of mechanical properties of the two-step
Q&P steels with partitioning time at 300 C (Fig. 3), the entire par-
tition process (10900 s) can be divided into three phases: 1060 s,
60180 s, and 180900 s. The details are discussed as following.
In the rst stage (I) of partitioning process (1060 s), the
ultimate tensile strength and yield strength of steel decreases
evidently. Meanwhile, the volume fraction of retained austenite
notably increases from 2.8% to 9.2%, which illustrates that carbon
atoms partition quickly from supersaturated martensite to untrans-
formed austenite during partitioning process at 300 C for a shorter
time (1060 s) and the degree of carbon supersaturation in virgin
martensite is seriously reduced. With decreasing of carbon super-
saturation, the virgin martensite is softened. The softening of virgin
martensite and the increasing of retained austenite contents result
in obvious fall of the ultimate tensile strength and yield strength.
The resulting strength and ductility values correspond closely with
the proportion of retained austenite contents in the microstructure,
which are measured by X-ray stress analyzer. It should be noted
that very little untransformed austenite decomposes to bainitic fer-
rite and -carbide during partitioning at 300 C for 30 s, i.e. lower
bainite, as is represented in Fig. 1(a). In the rst stages of partition-
ing treatment, the volume fraction of retained austenite increased
rapidly because of carbon escape from martensite with partition-
ing time. Thus, it is apparent that untransformed austenite does
act as an effective sink to drain the excess carbon from the marten-
site matrix. After nal quenching, carbon-enriched austenite can
be mostly stabilized at room temperature. At the same time, there
is very little amount of lower bainite formation associated with
carbon enrichment of austenite.
In the second stage (II) of partitioning process (60180 s),
the ultimate tensile strength and yield strength of steel almost
remains stable, while the volume fraction of retained austenite
slightly increases. The increase of the thermal stability of austenite
indicates that carbon concentration continue increasing with par-
titioning time. The increased carbon concentration in the austenite
is not only because of carbon partitioning, but also a consequence
of the bainite transformation [24]. At the same time, the virgin
martensite is further softened with the partitioning time. The ulti-
mate tensile and yield strength are supposed to decrease with
softening of virgin martensite and the increase of volume fraction
of retained austenite. However, they keep stability essentially out
of expectation, which may be the result of untransformed austen-
ite decomposing into lower bainite. Figs. 1(b) and 3(b) show that a
certain amount of lower bainite has formed in this stage. It can be
presumed that the strength contribution of lower bainite forma-
tion counteracts the effect of softening of virgin martensite and the
increasing of retained austenite fraction. Therefore, the ultimate
tensile and yield strength almost remains unchanged. In the second
stage of partitioning process, a large proportion of untransformed
austenite is stabilized at room temperature during carbon parti-
tioning, meanwhile small partial untransformed austenite continue
to decompose into bainitic ferrite and -carbide.
In the third stage (III) of partitioning process (180900 s), the
ultimate tensile strength continues to decrease, and the yield
strength goes on increasing. However, the volume fraction of
retained austenite begins to fall with partitioning time. In this stage,
carbon-atom homogenization in untransformed austenite has been
basically complete. The lower bainite fraction increased rapidly
with partitioning time, as is shown in Fig. 3(b). Carbon depletion
and softening of virgin martensite lead to sight fall of the ultimate
tensile strength. The increase of lower bainite fraction results in the
increase of yield strength of steels, which is in good agreement with
previous study [6,26,28]. This also shows the assumption that the
kinetics of bainite transformation during partitioning was consis-
tent with that of bainite transformation during direct austempering
is reasonable.
Based on above-mentioned analysis, there is a new selection
provided that mechanical property of Q&P steels can be adjusted
and tailored by controlling lower bainite fraction.
3.4. The inuence of lower bainite transformation on retained
austenite fractions
Fig. 4 shows experimentally measured austenite fractions vs.
partitioning time at 300 C for this steel processed during the Q&P
process. A nal austenite fraction curve (solid curve) is also shown
in Fig. 4 that was calculated using the original quench tempera-
ture selection methodology [11]. The arrows highlight trends with
partitioning time for quench temperature (300 C) examined. The
 H.Y. Li et al. / Materials Science and Engineering A 527 (2010) 62556259
Fig. 4. Experimental nal austenite fractions for this steel as a function of par-
titioning time for samples austenitized at 820 C for 10 min, quenched to 180 C
for 60 s, partitioned at 300 C, and then water quenched to room temperature. A
nal austenite fraction curve (solid curve) was produced using the original quench
temperature selection methodology [11], which does not incorporate isothermal
martensite formation in the quenching step. Arrows highlight experimental austen-
ite fraction behaviors with increasing partition time for quench temperature below
the optimum quench temperature.
optimum quench temperature of this steel is about 195 C. Accord-
ing to the quench temperature selection methodology including
carbon partitioning kinetics [14], increasing partitioning time
results in increasing austenite fraction for quench temperatures
below the optimum quench temperature. However, experimen-
tal results show that the nal austenite fractions increase with
increasing partitioning time up to 600 s then decreases. Mean-
while, the maximum amounts of austenite measured are lower
than the maximum amounts of austenite predicted. In this instance,
deviation from the predicted results is indicative of incomplete par-
titioning, for example, loss of carbon atoms to competing process,
mainly thought to be lower bainite formation. Therefore, compet-
ing reaction of lower bainite transformation provides a satisfactory
explanation to an eventual decrease in experimental austenite frac-
tion with increasing partitioning time.
4. Conclusions
The experiment was carried out with the aim to verify whether
lower bainite transformation would occur and inuence of lower
bainite transformation on mechanical properties and retained
austenite fractions during the two-step Q&P process.
The results obtained are as follows:
Besides tempered martensite, lath martensite, twin martensite,
isothermal martensite and carbon-enriched retained austenite,
considerable amount of lower bainite (bainitic ferrite and -
carbide) was also observed in medium carbon Q&P steels during
the two-step Q&P process.
The ultimate tensile strength continuously decrease while the
yield strength in two-step Q&P treated steels decrease at rst
6259
and subsequently increasing with partitioning time are attributed
to cumulative effect of increased volume fraction of retained
austenite, decreased carbon supersaturation in martensite and
formation of lower bainite from untransformed austenite at nal
stage. This result provides a guideline for the development of an
optimization strategy for Q&P steels based on trade-off between
retained austenite fraction and lower bainite fraction during the
partitioning process.
In the latter stages of partitioning process, competing reaction of
lower bainite transformation results in a nal decrease in experi-
mental austenite fraction associated with increasing partitioning
time.
Acknowledgements
This research project was supported by the National Natural Sci-
ence Foundation of China (No. 50571064), the Ministry of Science
and Technology (973, contact No.2010CB630800), and Shanghai
Municipal Science and Technology Commission Foundation of
China (Grant No. 0852nm02500). The authors thank Instrumental
Analysis Center of Shanghai Jiao Tong University for its help.
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