Effect of Ti addition on the microstructure and mechanical properties of a cast Fe-Ni-Mo-Mn maraging steel

Abstract
To study the effect of Ti on the age hardening behavior of Fe-Ni-Mn maraging steels, a Fe-Ni-Mo-Mn steel was alloyed with Ti then mechanical properties and aging behavior of two cast steels were investigated. In this regard, two heats of nominal compositions of Fe-10Ni-6Mo-3Mn and Fe-lONi-6Mo-3Mn-0. 7Ti were induction melted in air and vacuum respectively and cast in iron mold. After homogenizing at 1473 K for 21.6 ks and water quenching, solution annealing was performed at 1223 K for 3.6 ks followed by air cooling. Age hardening behavior at 773 Kin the range of 0.36-172. 8 ks was determined. Tensile properties and Charpy impact toughness were measured in the solution annealed and peak-aged conditions. Fractographic features were studied by scanning electron microscope equipped with EDX microanalyses. Tensile properties of the alloys in the peakaged condition were in the range of grade 200 standard maraging steel. It has been found that Ti addition resulted in increasing of hardness and strength in aged condition and decreasing of Charpy impact toughness in both solution annealed and aged conditions. Ti addition also changes type and morphology of inclusions and fracture mechanism from semi-ductile intergranular mode to semi-ductile transgranular one.