Strength–Ductility Synergy and Corrosion Resistance in a Fe–2.8Mn–5.7Ni–0.3C Alloy via Dual-Step Heat Treatment
摘要
An Fe–2.8Mn–5.7Ni–0.3C (wt pct) alloy was developed and subjected to a dual-step heat treatment consisting of austenitization at 750 °C followed by tempering at various temperatures ranging from 0 °C to 300 °C. The effects of the tempering temperature on the microstructural evolution, mechanical properties, and corrosion behavior were systematically investigated. The results demonstrate that tempering at 150 °C yields an optimized microstructure comprising ultrafine lath martensite, moderate dislocation density, and homogeneously distributed nanoscale precipitates, leading to enhanced thermal stability and structural integrity. This condition also provides the best corrosion resistance, resulting in stable passive behavior and a significantly reduced susceptibility to corrosive environments. In addition, tempering the alloy at 150 °C results in an exceptional balance between the ultimate tensile strength and ductility, with a UTS reaching 1760 MPa and a total elongation of 55 pct. This improvement in mechanical performance is attributed to the synergistic contributions of solid solution strengthening, dislocation accumulation, and precipitation hardening. These findings demonstrate that fine-tuning low-temperature tempering conditions provides an effective means of enhancing the mechanical properties of Fe–Mn–Ni alloy systems.
Graphical Abstract