Optimized low-temperature heat treatment to enhance the mechanical properties of ceramic-reinforced TWIP steel matrix composites

This work explores the use of an improved low-temperature heat treatment procedure to improve the mechanical properties of large-sized ceramic-reinforced TWIP (Twinning-Induced Plasticity) steel matrix composites. The results obtained demonstrate that the ceramic-reinforced TWIP composite’s strength and ductility are significantly improved with low-temperature heat treatment, especially at 400 °C. The ductility, which is determined by the displacement at maximum force, improved by more than 40%, while the bending strength increased by more than 200 MPa to reach about 1000 MPa. The mechanical performance improvements in ceramic-reinforced TWIP steel matrix composites can be primarily attributed to the optimization of the TWIP steel matrix through precise heat treatment. The enhancement is the result of the synergistic effects of twin-induced plasticity (TWIP) and precipitation strengthening mechanisms, which have been carefully engineered through the controlled thermal processes. Precipitate clustering at grain boundaries occasioned an apparent change in its mechanical properties as the heat treatment temperature rose over 400 °C, compromising both strength and ductility. The findings offer significant guidance for facilitating the development of high-performance TWIP steel matrix composites in demanding engineering applications through shedding illumination on the relationship between ceramic reinforcement, the application of heat, and microstructural evolution.