AFS/FEF Student Technology Contest: Effect of Carbon and Aluminum on Hardness and Notch Toughness in Lightweight, Advanced High-Strength Steels

High manganese and aluminum steels are being considered as lightweight replacements for chromium-molybdenum quenched and tempered steel castings. However, little is known about the effect of aluminum and carbon on age hardening and notch toughness of these steels. In this study, a series of modified Y-block castings were poured with different amounts of aluminum and carbon to determine the effect of these elements on the age hardening response and corresponding notch toughness at -40°C