Effect of Boron on the Kinetics of Low-Temperature Decomposition of Martensite in Quenched Medium-Carbon Steel

Abstract

The effect of boron on the microstructure, microhardness, and kinetics of low-temperature decomposition of martensite in the 40Kh and 30KhRA steels quenched at different cooling rates has been studied. It has been shown that the low-temperature decomposition of martensite in the boron-containing steel after quenching from 1050°C at a high cooling rate is strongly decelerated at the initial stage of decomposition. At low quenching cooling rates, the martensite decomposition in the steels under investigation is characterized by a similar kinetics.