Effects of matrix structure and nitrogen content on fatigue properties of ultrahigh-strength low alloy trip-aided steels

To develop ultrahigh-strength steels for automotive impact safety parts, the effects of the microstructure and nitrogen content on the fatigue properties of ultrahigh-strength low alloy transformation-induced plasticity (TRIP)-aided steels with martensite (TM), bainitic ferrite-martensite (TBM), and bainitic ferrite (TBF) matrices were investigated. Compared to TBF steels, both the TM and TBM steels achieved high tensile strength, of more than 980 MPa, and excellent fatigue properties. This results from the suppression of crack propagation due to the effective TRIP of the relatively stable interlath retained austenite and the increase in tensile and yield strengths attributed to the low isothermal transformation treatment. The fatigue strengths of the ultrahigh-strength low alloy TRIP-aided steels were slightly increased by the addition of 100 ppm of nitrogen. The increase in fatigue strength of TM, TBM, and TBF steels with 100 ppm of nitrogen was caused by the fine and uniform martensite and bainitic ferrite matrices and retained austenite, along with the increase in carbon concentration in the retained austenite due to the precipitation of AlN.