Effect of deformation on precipitation hardening behavior of a maraging steel in the aging process

The effect of deformation on precipitation hardening behavior of a 2.8 GPa grade maraging steel was studied. The hardness test showed, plastic deformation promoted an earlier peak aging time and a higher peak hardness. By employing Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and atom probe tomography (APT) analysis, nano-size precipitates formed during the aging process were identified as Ni3(Ti,Mo). The increased density of Ni3(Ti,Mo) precipitates was attributed as the main reason for the hardness enhancement after plastic deformation. •The effect of plastic deformation on the aging response of a maraigng steel has been researched systematically.•By quantitatively analysis, after plastic deformation, more dispersive precipitates have been demonstrated to be the reason for the hardness enhancement in the aging process.•Associated with TEM and 3DAP, nano-scale precipitate in the maraging steel was characterized and gave a convincing evidence for the exist of Ni3(Ti,Mo).