Low-Temperature Induced Martensitic Transformation Enhancing Mechanical Properties of Metastable Fe-Ni-P Alloy

Abstract

The metastable Fe-Ni-P alloy with phosphorus (P) solid-solution structure has been fabricated by spark plasma sintering. Its face-centered cubic (FCC) matrix without the precipitation of phosphide attains a high plasticity and an excellent strain hardening ability at room temperature. This Fe-Ni-P alloy is subjected to cryogenic treatment at various temperatures (−20 °C and −50 °C), to investigate the role of phosphorus on the microstructural evolution and mechanical properties of γ-(Fe-Ni) alloy at low temperatures. The results indicate that the addition of phosphorus can destabilize the Fe-Ni-P alloy and facilitate its martensitic transformation during cryogenic treatment. P-doping does not lead to obvious embrittlement of Fe-Ni-P alloy at low temperatures, but strengthens the alloy by promoting microstructure evolution. The Fe-Ni-P alloy has high plasticity and good strain hardening ability after treated at −20 °C, and is converted to acicular martensite structure after being treated at −50 °C, resulting in a significant increase in its hardness (433 HV) and compressive yield strength (1271 MPa). Developing this Fe-Ni-P alloy as a load-bearing component for low-temperature conditions shows great promise.