Influence of Mo Content on the Precipitation Behavior of 13Ni Maraging Ultra-High Strength Steels
This study offers valuable insights into the precipitation behavior of 13Ni maraging steels, emphasizing the role of molybdenum content in their microstructure, strengthening, and precipitate evolution. Precipitate morphology and crystallography were examined using a combination of high-resolution transmission electron microscopy and selected area electron diffraction. Strengthening mechanisms were assessed through Vickers hardness measurements. All the examined samples exhibited a lath martensite microstructure and displayed an increasing hardness over the aging time. The molybdenum content not only influenced the presence of retained austenite in the initial microstructure but also affected the type of precipitates formed during the early aging stages. Initially, Ni 3 Mo precipitates were formed, succeeded by the formation of more stable Fe 2 (Mo,Ti) Laves precipitates. The ultra-high strength of 13Ni maraging steels arises from the combination of the precipitate type and size distribution. The base composition of 13Ni maraging steels achieved a peak hardness of 798 HV1 through the precipitation of Laves Fe 2 (Mo,Ti) phases ranging from 3 to 14 nm in diameter.