Effect of Quenching Temperature on Microstructures and Mechanical Properties of Boron-Nickel-Added Nb-Treated HSLA H-Beams

To lower the fracture appearance transition temperature (FATT) of Nb-treated HSLA H-beams further, boron-nickel-added Nb-treated HSLA H-beams were tempered after they were quenched at 870, 910 and 950°C respectively. Microstructures and mechanical properties, especially low temperature toughness of the experimental steels were investigated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), uniaxial tensile test and Charpy impact test (V-notch). The results indicate that the FATTs of quenched & tempered specimens are all below -70С and that of some specimens is even below -90°С . Tensile strength of all quenched & tempered steels and their total elongation value are above 570 MPa and 21 % respectively. It can be seen that dual-phase microstructure of ferrite and tempered martensite in steels leads to the best low temperature toughness, and carbides along grain boundaries are beneficial to low temperature toughness.