METAL SCIENCE AND HEAT TREATMENT, cilt.54, sa.11-12, ss.648-653, 2013 (SCI-Expanded)
The microstructure and fracture surfaces of steel X42 (type 09G2S) and of an experimental bainitic steel (0.23% C, 0.18% Mn, 0.04% Ni, 2.35% Co, 1.40% Cr, 0.50% Mo, 0.08% Nb, 0.08%V, 0.02% Ti) are studied after quenching and tempering. The influence of the toughness of the matrix on the fracture behavior of the steels is determined. It is shown that the fracture toughness changes depending on the tempering temperature, and the nucleation and propagation of cracks depends on the presence of secondary phases and on the morphology of the grain structure.