Effect of microstructure morphology on mechanical properties of quenching and partitioning steel

In order to illuminate the relationship between microstructure morphology and final properties of the quenching and partitioning(Q&P) steel, the samples with different microstructure morphology (equiaxed and lamellar) and same volume fraction of each phase are obtained by controlling the initial microstructure and Q&P heat treatment. Because of the feature of microstructure morphology, a large yield ratio and total elongation are obtained in the lamellar sample though yield strength and ultimate tensile strength are relatively lower than that of equiaxed sample. Moreover, the lamellar sample produces a continuous work-hardening rate and better the fracture toughness compared to the equiaxed sample. Thus the lamellar sample is more suitable to be used as automotive structural components.