Abstract
Quenching and partitioning (Q&P) treatment was applied to low-carbon steels containing a different amount of Cr ranging from 3 to 12 mass%, and then the effect of Cr content on the decomposition and stabilization behavior of untransformed austenite. Under the optimum Q&P treatment condition, the bainitic transformation and carbide precipitation could be effectively retarded by increasing Cr content. As a result, a larger amount of austenite was retained in a steel with higher content of Cr. Consequently, it was suggested that martensitic stainless steels intrinsically possess a favorable character for improving the mechanical property by Q&P treatment.
