The Effects of Micro-Segregation on Isothermal Transformed Nano Bainitic Microstructure and Mechanical Properties in Laser Cladded Coatings

The design of metastable retained austenite is the key issue to obtain nano bainitic steel with high strength and toughness. In this study, nanostructured Fe-based bainitic coatings were fabricated using laser cladding and following isothermal heat treatment. The microstructures and mechanical properties of the laser cladded coating were investigated. The results show that the Mn, Cr, Co, and Al segregated at the solidified prior grain boundaries. The micro-segregation of the solutes strongly influenced the stability of the austenite. As the isothermal temperature decreases, the interface of the bainite and blocky retained austenite approach to the prior interdendritic regions with the decreasing isothermal temperature, and the final volume fraction also decreases. The volume fractions of each phase and microstructure morphology of the coatings were determined by the interdendritic micro-segregation and isothermal temperatures. The stability of the blocky retained austenite distributed at the interdendritic area was lower than that of film and island-like morphology. This phenomenon contributed to the ductile and tough nano bainitic coatings with tunable mechanical properties.