A novel microstructural design and heat treatment technique based on gradient control of carbon partitioning between austenite and martensite for high strength steels

Based on gradient control of carbon partitioning between martensite and austenite during heat treatment of steels, a stepping-quenching-partitioning (S-Q-P) process is developed for high strength steels. The S-Q-P process involves several quenching processes at progressively lower temperatures between martensite-start (Ms) and martensite-finish (Mf) temperatures, each followed by a partitioning treatment at either the initial quenching...