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September 10, 2025Open Access

Effect of Austenitizing Temperature on the Retained Austenite and Carbide Fractions in SAE 52100 Steel after Quenching

MRMaria Vittoria Moraschini ReisUniversidade Federal Fluminense CACarolina Oliveira do AmaralUniversidade Federal Fluminense LLLeandro Reis LidízioUniversidade Federal Fluminense

Key Points

Results show that higher austenitizing temperatures lead to increased retained austenite.
At higher temperatures, carbide content decreases while martensite content increases significantly.
Hardness measurements demonstrated a correlation with austenitizing temperature, peaking at 880 °C.
Microstructural characterization utilized X-ray diffraction, electron backscatter diffraction, and transmission electron microscopy.

Abstract

This study investigates the influence of austenitizing temperature on the retained austenite content and hardness of SAE 52100 steel. Nine samples were subjected to different austenitizing temperatures (760–920°C) followed by oil quenching. Microstructural and mechanical characterization techniques, including X-ray diffraction (XRD), ferritoscopy, electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and hardness test Rockwell were employed. The results indicate that the retained austenite content increases with higher austenitizing temperatures, and TEM and EBSD analyses revealed a reduction in carbide content at higher temperatures, along with an increase in martensite formation. Since ferritoscopy measures magnetic (martensite) versus non-magnetic (retained austenite + carbides) phases, the detected martensite fraction increased as the retained austenite decreased. Hardness measurements showed a direct correlation with austenitizing temperature, with the highest Rockwell hardness observed at 880 °C.

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