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In this study, we designed a high-carbon bainite/martensite (B/M) steel with 2.64 GPa ultimate strength and over 10% elongation by only heat treatment processes to prevent intergranular fracture. Lower bainite was introduced prior to martensitic transformation to enhance the prior austenite grain boundaries (PAGBs). Blocky retained austenite (RA) was observed adjacent to the bainite sheaves along PAGBs. During tensile deformation, significant work hardening behaviour was observed, primarily due to the transformation-induced-plasticity (TRIP) effect within PAGs. A brittle-to-ductile transition was observed with increasing bainitic transformation time at the early stage. Overall, a low fraction of prior lower bainite can effectively enhance the ductility of the high-carbon martensite without sacrificing its ultrahigh strength.

Rights:

• Creative Commons BY-NC Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International
  

Keyword: Bainite, Prior austenite grain boundary, Ultrahigh strength, High-carbon steel

Date published: 2026-02-20

Publisher: Elsevier BV

Journal:

• Materials Science and Engineering: A (ISSN: 09215093) vol. 957 149955

Funding:

Manuscript type: Publisher's version (Version of record)

MDR DOI:

First published URL: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.msea.2026.149955

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Updated at: 2026-02-26 08:30:05 +0900

Published on MDR: 2026-02-25 17:56:24 +0900