Print Email Facebook Twitter Exploring the effect of complex hierarchic microstructure of quenched and partitioned martensitic stainless steels on their high cycle fatigue behaviour Title Exploring the effect of complex hierarchic microstructure of quenched and partitioned martensitic stainless steels on their high cycle fatigue behaviour Author Sierra Soraluce, A. (IMDEA Materials Institute) Li, G. (TU Delft Team Maria Santofimia Navarro) Santofimia, Maria Jesus (TU Delft Team Maria Santofimia Navarro) Molina-Aldareguia, J. M. (IMDEA Materials Institute; Universidad Politécnica de Madrid) Smith, A. (Rina Consulting - Centro Sviluppo Materiali) Muratori, M. (Acerinox Europa SAU) Sabirov, I. (IMDEA Materials Institute) Date 2023 Abstract Recent studies have demonstrated the viability of quenching and partitioning (Q&P) treatment for processing martensitic stainless steels showing an improved balance of high strength and sufficient ductility. However, to date, the fatigue behaviour of these materials has not been explored. This study examines the effect of their complex hierarchic microstructure on high cycle fatigue performance. Three steels with different alloying element contents underwent Q&P processing, resulting in multiphase microstructures rich in retained austenite. High cycle fatigue tests and analysis of fatigue fracture surfaces were performed using SEM and EBSD techniques. The results indicate satisfactory high cycle fatigue performance in Q&P treated martensitic stainless steels, surpassing traditional counterparts. Fatigue cracks predominantly form and propagate along martensite packet and block boundaries, while prior austenite grain boundaries and MnS inclusions have minimal influence on fatigue crack formation and growth. Microplastic deformation at the fatigue crack tip enhances local KAM values and triggers localized transformation of retained austenite grains. It is hypothesized that the developed Q&P treated martensitic stainless steels exhibit improved resistance to low cycle fatigue. Subject Crack initiationCrack propagationFatigue limitMartensitic stainless steelsQuenching and partitioningRetained austenite To reference this document use: http://resolver.tudelft.nl/uuid:14f33d02-50db-42da-805b-3e4c18f960e1 DOI https://doi.org/10.1016/j.matdes.2023.112286 ISSN 0264-1275 Source Materials & Design, 233 Part of collection Institutional Repository Document type journal article Rights © 2023 A. Sierra Soraluce, G. Li, Maria Jesus Santofimia, J. M. Molina-Aldareguia, A. Smith, M. Muratori, I. Sabirov Files PDF 1_s2.0_S0264127523007013_main.pdf 27.39 MB Close viewer /islandora/object/uuid:14f33d02-50db-42da-805b-3e4c18f960e1/datastream/OBJ/view