Mechanical properties of low carbon martensite

Steels of three different compositions were heat treated and tensile tested in order to determine their mechanical properties after heat treatment. All samples had near 0.20 per cent carbon and two manganese levels 0.90 per cent and 1.35 per cent. One group containing the higher manganese level also had small additions of columbium and vanadium. The specimens were too brittle in the as-quenched condition to be loaded to full strength. Maximum strength and ductility were found after short time tempering at low tempering temperatures -- 2 to 15 minutes at 200º to 300ºF. Higher strengths were found at the low tempering temperatures in the higher manganese steels due to the lowering of the Ms by increased manganese. The columbium and vanadium additions resulted in higher strengths due to their grain refinement effect --Abstract, page ii