Microstructural modification of plain carbon steels irradiated by high-energy electron beam

Abstract

The main objective of the present study is to analyze the microstructural modification of the surface hardened by the irradiation of high-energy electron beam in 0.18 pet C and 0.38 pet C plain carbon steels. Steel samples were irradiated using an electron accelerator (1.4 MeV), and the detailed microstructures of the irradiated surface were examined. Upon irradiation, the ferrite-pearlite structure near the sample surface was changed to the dual-phase structure, i.e., ferrite and martensite, and fine particles or needlelike lamellae were observed in the ferrite/martensite interface. In order to investigate these complex microstructures as well as the martensitic transformation mechanism, the simulation test, including thermal cycles of abrupt heating and quenching, was carried out. The test results indicated that the irradiated surface was heated up to about 1100 degrees C and then quenched to room temperature, which was enough to obtain the surface hardening through martensitic transformation. Thermal analysis of the irradiated surface was also carried out for systematic understanding of the microstructural modification in terms of the irradiation parameters such as beam travel speed.