Characterization of (Nb, Ti, Mo)C Precipitates in an ultrahigh strength martensitic steel

A study on ultrahigh strength steel plate subjected to novel thermo-mechanical control process was presented. The mechanical properties examination showed that the investigated steel exhibited excellent combination of ultra-high strength (2200 MPa) and toughness (26 J). The microstructure of the experimental steel was observed by scanning electron microscope and transmission electron microscope. Desired martensitic lath with width of about 180–250 nm was obtained. Nanostructured carbide precipitates with sizes of 20–50 nm, which contained Nb, Ti and Mo, were observed in the lath martensitic microstructure, and confirmed to be MC-type carbides with B1 structure by means of selected area electron diffraction. The compositional characteristics revealed by energy dispersive X-ray spectrometer mapping implied that the carbide forming elements Nb, Ti and Mo distributed in the precipitates evenly. Three-dimensional atom probe tomography reconstruction further indicated that Mo incorporated into the precipitates without enrichment in the carbide-matrix interface and probably substituted for Nb and Ti to form the (Nb, Ti, Mo)C carbides.