Benefits of Intercritical Annealing in Quenching and Partitioning Steel

Compared to the quenching and partitioning (Q&P) steel produced by full austenization annealing, the Q&P steel produced by the intercritical annealing shows a similar ultimate tensile stress but a larger tensile ductility. This property is attributable to the higher volume fraction and the better mechanical stability of the retained austenite after the intercritical annealing. Moreover, intercritical annealing produces more ferrite and fewer martensite phases in the microstructure, making an additional contribution to a higher work hardening rate and therefore a better tensile ductility.