Effects of carbide precipitation on the strength and Charpy impact properties of low carbon Mn–Ni–Mo bainitic steels

The effects of carbide precipitation on the strength and Charpy impact properties of tempered bainitic Mn–Ni–Mo steels have been investigated. An attempt has also been made to modify the microstructure of the steels in order to improve the Charpy properties, by controlling the alloy composition being guided by thermodynamic calculations of phase equilibria. Coarse rod type or agglomerated spherical type cementite particles in inter-lath region were considered to be mostly detrimental to Charpy impact properties. By reducing the precipitation of cementite through decreasing carbon content and/or by substituting it into fine M2C carbides through increasing the molybdenum content, DBTT could be lowered significantly. Further decrease of DBTT could be achieved by substituting part of manganese content by nickel. Yield strength of tested alloys could be maintained at the level of a reference 0.2 wt% carbon alloy in spite of the significant reduction in carbon content, mainly by the increase in the precipitation of fine M2C type carbides with increased molybdenum content.