The effect of Ni on mechanical properties and austempered microstructure developments in cold rolled low carbon Fe-Ni lateritic steels

In this study, the effect of Ni and cold rolling reduction in lateritic steels was examined. Three alloys with various Ni content were subjected to the cold rolling process. The austenization and austempering were performed to the sample followed by air cooled. It was revealed that blocky areas of ferrite and cementite become finer with higher Ni content. The grains found to grow surrounding the rolling band at higher deformation level. The XRD showed that the 70% reduction tends to increase the formation of the α phase. The strength and hardness increases as the Ni content and deformation increase.