Date of Award

4-2024

Degree Name

Master of Science in Engineering

Department

Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering

First Advisor

Robert Tuttle, Ph.D.

Second Advisor

Sam N Ramrattan, Ph.D.

Third Advisor

Lee J Wells, Ph.D.

Keywords

Heat treatment, medium manganese steels, quench and partiton, retained austenite

Access Setting

Masters Thesis-Open Access

Abstract

Quench and partition (Q&P) steels have emerged as promising alternatives to traditional quenching and tempering methods, offering a superior balance of strength and ductility due to their unique microstructure of martensite, and retained austenite. This literature review examines the development and optimization of Q&P steels, focusing on their mechanical properties, heat treatment processes, and applications in various industries. This study explores the application and effectiveness of the Quench and Partition (Q&P) heat treatment process on cast steels and examines segregation phenomena in cast medium Mn steels. Medium Mn steels were employed for various Q&P cycles on cast specimens to investigate their microstructural transformations, focusing on the effects of treatment duration on mechanical properties such as hardness and microstructure stability. X-ray diffraction (XRD) and hardness testing were used for analysis. The findings indicate that longer Q&P cycles enhance the microstructural properties of thicker sections. Additionally, the research investigates macro and microsegregation in a Y-block casting of similar composition, with results suggesting minimal segregation, thus questioning the necessity of a homogenization step in the heat treatment process for the observed size range. These insights could significantly influence future applications of Q&P steels in the aerospace, defense, and automotive industries by optimizing treatment processes and reducing production cost.

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