Maraging Steels

Maraging steels are high-strength steels combined with good toughness. They are used particularly in aerospace and tooling applications. Maraging refers to the ageing of martensite, a hard microstructure commonly found in steels. Maraging steels: modelling of microstructure, properties and applications covers the following topics: Introduction to maraging steels; Microstructure of maraging steels; Mechanical properties of maraging steels; Thermodynamic calculations for quantifying the phase fraction and element partition in maraging systems and precipitation hardening steels; Quantification of phase transformation kinetics in maraging steels; Quantification of age hardening in maraging steels; Maraging steels and overageing; Precipitation hardening stainless steel; Applications of artificial neural network on modelling maraging steel properties. With its distinguished authors, Maraging steels: modelling of microstructure, properties and applications is a standard reference for industry and researchers concerned with maraging steels and modelling as well as users of maraging steels in the aerospace and tooling sectors. The book includes both conventional maraging steels and precipitation hardened (PH) stainless steels. Provides an overview of maraging steels including microstructure and mechanical properties Reviews thermodynamic calculations for quantifying the phase fraction and element partition in maraging steels Includes chapters on the quantification of phase transformation kinetics and age hardening in maraging steels

This report resulted from a survey of users and manufacturers of maraging steels, Government agencies, research institutions, and published literature. It presents the technical status of the 18-percent nickel maraging steels in detail and brings together a large body of knowledge with regard to the metallurgical and engineering aspects of maraging steels. Since such steels were first announced in 1959, they have become highly important in aerospace, defense, and industrial work. The requirements of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration have given impetus to their development, and research now underway is expected to result in further improvements and applicability. The NASA Office of Technology Utilization sponsored this report as part of its program to disseminate information on technological developments which appear to be useful for general industrial applications.

Since the combination of tensile properties and toughness that can be obtained with the maraging steels is higher than can be achieved with other steels by simple heat treatments, there is considerable interest in using the maraging steels for critical components such as rocket motor cases, pressure vessels, and aircraft forgings. This report includes information on the tensile, compressive, shear, bearing, dynamic modulus, impact, bend, fatigue, creep, and rupture properties of the 18 per cent nickel maraging steels and on the effect of temperature on these properties. Data for the properties of sheet, bar, and forgings, as well as data illustrating the effect of cold rolling, variation in the heat treatment, and elevated-temperature exposure also are presented. Data on the effect of specimen orientation, which are also included, indicate that the ductility and toughness of specimens designed to evaluate the properties in the short transverse direction are somewhat lower than in the other directions. The high strength and toughness that can be obtained in the 18 per cent nickel maraging steels make them attractive for certain critical applications that require these properties. The fabrication characteristics, weldability, and simple heat treatment are other advantages of these steels. (Author).

This comprehensive resource provides practical, modern approaches to steel heat treatment topics such as sources of residual stress and distortion, hardenability prediction, modeling, effects of steel alloy chemistry on heat treatment, quenching, carburizing, nitriding, vacuum heat treatment, metallography, and process equipment. Containing recent data and developments from international experts, the Steel Treatment Handbook discusses the principles of heat treatment; quenchants, quenching systems, and quenching technology; strain gauge procedures, X-ray diffraction, and other residual stress measurement methods; carburizing and carbonitriding; powder mettalurgy technology; metallography and physical property determination; ecological regulations and safety standards; and more. Well illustrated with nearly 1000 tables, equations, figures, and photographs, the Steel Heat Treatment Handbook is an excellent reference for materials, manufacturing, heat treatment, maintenance, mechanical, industrial, process and quality control, design, and research engineers; department or corporate metallurgists; and upper-level undergraduate and graduate students in these disciplines.

Alloying: Understanding the Basics is a comprehensive guide to the influence of alloy additions on mechanical properties, physical properties, corrosion and chemical behavior, and processing and manufacturing characteristics. The coverage considers "alloying" to include any addition of an element or compound that interacts with a base metal to influence properties. Thus, the book addresses the beneficial effects of major alloy additions, inoculants, dopants, grain refiners, and other elements that have been deliberately added to improve performance, as well the detrimental effects of minor elements or residual (tramp) elements included in charge materials or that result from improper melting or refining techniques. The content is presented in a concise, user-friendly format. Numerous figures and tables are provided. The coverage has been weighted to provided the most detailed information on the most industrially important materials.