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Isothermal formation of quasicrystalline precipitates and their effect on strength in a 12Cr-9Ni-4Mo maraging stainless steel

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Abstract

A new type of maraging steel, Sandvik 1RK91, intended for use in surgical applications has recently been developed at Sandvik Steel, Sandviken, Sweden. In the present article, a comparison was made between this steel and a traditional maraging steel with respect to mechanical and physical properties after tempering treatments in the temperature range 375 °C to 580 °C. The tempering behavior was studied by analyzing hardness, resistivity, and volume fraction of magnetic phase. Sandvik 1RK91 showed a remarkably high microstructural stability against overaging, softening being observed only at 580 °C. In comparison with the reference steel, the hardness of Sandvik 1RK91 was found to be considerably higher in the whole range of temperatures, with the maximum values corresponding to a strength of 3000 MPa for the smallest dimensions of wire. A detailed microstructural investigation of precipitation reactions in Sandvik 1RK91 revealed a new type of precipitate at 475 °C that was found to be of a quasicrystalline nature. These precipitates, which were found to give the major contribution to particle strengthening after tempering at 475 °C, showed a close resemblance to intermetallic trigonalR phase with a chemical composition of about 50 pct molybdenum, 15 pct chromium, 30 pct iron, and 5 pct silicon. The similarity between the quasicrystalline precipitates andR phase was reflected as a second-order transition occurring at about 525 °C. The extremely high strength in 1RK91 can be ascribed to the quasicrystalline nature of the precipitates because of impeded particle shearing.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Physical Metallurgy, AB Sandvik Steel, S-811 81, Sandviken, Sweden

    J. -O. Nilsson (Senior Materials Scientists) & P. Liu (Senior Materials Scientists)

  2. Department of Wire Research and Development, AB Sandvik Steel, S-811 81, Sandviken, Sweden

    A. Hultin Stigenberg (Manager)

  3. Research and Development Centre, AB Sandvik Steel, S-811 81, Sandviken, Sweden

    J. -O. Nilsson (Senior Materials Scientists), A. Hultin Stigenberg (Manager) & P. Liu (Senior Materials Scientists)

Authors
  1. J. -O. Nilsson
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  2. A. Hultin Stigenberg
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  3. P. Liu
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Nilsson, J.O., Hultin Stigenberg, A. & Liu, P. Isothermal formation of quasicrystalline precipitates and their effect on strength in a 12Cr-9Ni-4Mo maraging stainless steel. Metall Mater Trans A 25, 2225–2233 (1994). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02652323

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