ABSTRACT
The performance of steels depends on the properties associated with their
microstructures, that is type, volume fraction, form factor, size and the area distribution
of the various phases involved. Because all the phases in steels are crystalline, steel
microstructures are made up of various crystals, sometimes as many as three or four
different types which are physically blended by solidification, solid-state phase changes,
hot deformation, cold deformation and heat treatment. Each type of microstructure is
developed to characteristic property ranges by specific processing routes that control
the microstructural changes. Thus processing technologies are used to tailor the final
microstructure.
In this study boron added armor steel has been rolled to form sheet product.
Austenitization treatment, rapidly quenching and then tempering at various
temperatures and times have been performed on the materials respectively. After all of
these operations, the phases of the alloy system formed during equilibrium state have
been examined and also their amounts are calculated with Thermocalc. Microstructures
formed after different heat treatments have been examined by optical microscopy. The
effect of formed microstructures on mechanical properties are comparatively given by
strength, toughness and elongation values.