The Influence of Quenching Temperature on the Structure of a Dual-Phase Steel with 0.094% C and 0.53% Mn

In this article, the authors have analysed the influence of quenching temperature (TQ) on the microstructure of a dual-phase steel with a low carbon and manganese content (0,094 % C and 0,53 % Mn). The ferrite-martensite structures, typical of the dual-phase steels, has been obtained by intercritical quenching that consisted of heating at temperatures (TQ) ranging between 750 °C and 830 °C, maintaining for 30 minutes and cooling in water. After carrying out intercritical heat treatments, samples have been subjected to metallographic analysis through which the volume fraction of martensite (VM), the volume fraction of ferrite (VF), the carbon content of the martensite (CM), the morphology and distribution of these phases have been determined, and then, the influence of quenching temperature (TQ) has been established.