Austenite-Bainite Transformation Kinetics in Austempered AISI 5160 Steel

This research investigates the process of the formation of bainite in austempered 5160 steel. Steel bar samples were austenitized at 1128 K for 20 minutes followed by holding at various times from 10 seconds to 2 hours and isothermal temperatures from 561K to 728K to obtain a multi-phase matrix. Micro-hardness analysis and metallurgical optical microscopy were used to analyze the experimental results. Hardness results indicated that at the 561K, 589K, and 566K isothermal temperatures for 5160 steel, lower bainite transformation occurred. However, from 644K to 728K, upper bainite transformation was found from the steel. The formation of the bainitic phase in SAE 5160 steel was characterized using thermodynamic and kinetic theories