Effect of Co content on microstructure and mechanical properties of maraging steel

Abstract

Effect of Co element on the microstructure and mechanical properties of maraging steel is studied and summarized. The microstructure and mechanical properties of five different compositions of maraging steels were characterized and tested in three heat treatment states, with the heat treatment schemes of homogenization treatment at 1300 °C × 10h, solution treatment at 800 °C × 2h, and aging treatment at 480 °C × 5h. The research has discovered that increasing the Co content in three different heat treatment states can lead to a reduction in the size of the original austenite grains and the width of martensite laths. In the aged state, higher Co content causes the precipitation phase to transform from an ellipsoidal Mo-rich phase to a needle-like Ni3(Mo, Ti) phase. These changes in the size, shape, and density of the precipitated phases result in a more pronounced effect of precipitation strengthening, leading to a significant increase in the material's strength.