Ultrahigh strength-ductility steel treated by a novel quenching–partitioning–tempering process

A novel quenching–partitioning–tempering (Q–P–T) process was employed in two kinds of Fe–Mn–Si–Nb alloyed steels with 0.2 wt% and 0.4 wt% carbon additions to obtain a triplex microstructure comprising martensite, retained austenite and fine carbides. The good combination of strength and elongation has been realized for Fe–Mn–Si–Nb alloyed Q–P–T steels. The product of strength and elongation is high up to 31.4 GPa% for Q–P–T steel with 0.4 wt% carbon (Ultimate tensile strength: ~1549 MPa; Elongation: ~20.3%), which meets the mechanical properties theoretically predicted of next generation advanced high strength steel. The strength and ductility both enhance with increase of carbon content in Q–P–T steels. Two possible mechanisms are employed to explain the reason of good mechanical properties.