Property and microstructure of a novel Q-P-T steel

In order to improve ductility and toughness of steel parts,the Q-P-T steel was developed base on the quenching-partitioning-tempering(Q-P-T) heat treatment process which is proposed by Xu Zuyao.The Q-P-T steel has better mechanical properties than QP steel due to the addition of elements Nb and V into Fe-Mn-Si-C steel,which results in carbide precipitation strengthening.The effect of quenching temperature on amount of retained austenite and mechanical property of the steel was emphatically studied by microstructure characterization and mechanical property test.The optimum quenching temperature for the steel is obtained based on the experiments.