Microstructure-mechanical properties relationships for quenching and partitioning (Q&P) processed steel

The quenching and partitioning (Q&P) processing of advanced high strength steels has been shown to result in a distinct improvement of their strength and ductility. The selection of the quench temperature during Q&P processing makes it possible to obtain a wide range of mechanical properties for the final martensite-austenite microstructures. In the present study, a physically-based model describing the relationship between the microstructure and the mechanical properties of Q&P processed steels is developed. The model is applied to the mechanical properties of a Q&P processed medium Mn steel. (C) 2016 Acta Materialia Inc. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.