Effect of ultra-fast heating on microstructure and mechanical properties of cold-rolled low-carbon low-alloy Q&P steels with different austenitizing temperature

We performed ultra-fast heating (150 °C/s) quenching and partitioning (Q&P) processes to a cold-rolled low-carbon low-alloy steel. Adjusting the annealing temperature, we obtained two types of ferrite-containing Q&P steels with different matrix structure, i.e., martensitic matrix and ferritic matrix. The effect of ultra-fast heating on microstructure evolution and mechanical properties was analyzed, compared with the samples treated with conventional heating rate (10 °C/s). We also investigated the strain partition and fracture behaviors, basing on in-situ tensile tests under SEM. Results show that ultra-fast heating can significantly increase the Ac1 and Ac3 temperatures, and extend the temperature span of intercritical zone. It can also delay the complete recrystallization of deformed ferrite and promote the austenite nucleation, which leads to the structure refinement of the sample with martensitic matrix, improving both the strength and ductility. The increase of austenite nucleation rate and the incomplete recrystallization of deformed ferrite jointly promote the austenite transformation, which results in a distinct increase of martensite islands fraction in the sample with ferritic matrix, leading to its obvious increase of tensile strength and decrease of ductility. Strain partition is an important factor affecting the TRIP effect in ferrite-containing Q&P steels. For the sample with a martensitic matrix, retained austenite mainly possesses a film-like morphology and exists between martensite laths. The relatively high mechanical stability of retained austenite films and low local strain in martensitic regions result in the weak TRIP effect. The retained austenite in the sample with a ferritic matrix mainly distributes among ferrite grains and exhibits a blocky morphology. The relatively low mechanical stability of blocky retained austenite and high local strain in ferrite jointly enhance the TRIP effect.