Compensative alloying of Cr-Si low-alloyed steels

The principle of choosing alloy elements in order to suppress the embrittlement of solid solution strengthening is proposed. In the case of Cr-Si low-alloyed steels, the effects of compensative alloying are studied. The ultimate tensile strength and impact toughness of Cr-Si steels microalloyed with Mo, V, and Ti are determined to prove the aspects. The structure of these steels is studied using optical and transmission electron microscopy techniques after applying the optimum heat treatment. The kinetics of phase transformation after quenching and tempering have been examined by means of measurements of specific electrical resistance and magnetic parameters. It is shown that at the Si-content of about 1 wt% high values of tensile strength and impact toughness are simultaneously obtained. It is established by calculations that, for the indicated steel, long-range distortions of the crystal lattice become close to zero at the Si-content of about 1 wt%. (C) 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.