Heat Treatment Response of TiC-Reinforced Steel Matrix Composite

A particulate TiC-reinforced SKD11 steel matrix composite is fabricated by using a pressure infiltration casting, achieving a homogeneous distribution of the particles with 60 vol%. The retained austenite fraction in the composite matrix is approximately 19% after quenching from the austenitization temperature of 1010 degrees C, which is larger than 13% in as-quenched condition of unreinforced SKD11. A combined analysis on the austenite lattice parameter using XRD profiles and first-principle calculation suggests the increase of carbon content in the steel matrix possibly by partial dissolution of TiC during casting. The change of carbon content and prior austenite grain size reasonably accounts for the increase of retained austenite fraction in the composite matrix. In the austenitizing temperatures ranging from 950 degrees C to 1040 degrees C, the retained austenite fraction in the composite matrix in as-quenched condition increases more rapidly than that of unreinforced SKD11 with the increase of austenitization temperature, while the hardness of the composite is less sensitive to the austenitization temperature. This suggests that it is advantageous to conduct the austenitization at a temperature below 1010 degrees C, which is typical practice of austenitization of the unreinforced SKD11, because the retention of austenite is effectively suppressed while minimizing the loss of hardness.