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Abstract
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Ausforming is being widely used to overcome the kinetics
barrier in nanostructured bainitic steels and to enhance its
practical industrial applications. It would also affect the
microstructural characteristics and consequently the
resultant mechanical performance. This article aims to
investigate the tensile behaviour of nano bainite obtained
from plastically deformed primary austenite at three
different heat treatment stages. 10% of ausforming has
been implemented and nanostructured bainite obtained
after austempering at 300°C for 2, 4 and 6 h in salt bath
furnaces. Results indicated that ausforming could
successfully increase the volume fraction of bainite within
the microstructure and refine the bainite packets sizes.
Moreover, it has been demonstrated that higher mechanical
stability of retained austenite and therefore more effective
TRIP effect could be attained during the tensile test which
consequently resulted in elongation improvement without
deteriorating the strength properties. This claimed to be
beneficial for materials performance during practical
applications.
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