Methods of making bainitic steel materials
AssigneeBattelle Energy Alliance, LLC
InventorsMichael Paul Bakas, Henry Shiu-Hung Chu, Thomas Andrew Zagula, Benjamin Robert Langhorst
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Methods of making bainitic steels may involve austenitizing a quantity of steel by exposing the quantity of steel to a first temperature. A composition of the quantity of steel may be configured to impede formation of non-bainite ferrite, pearlite, and Widmanstätten ferrite. The quantity of steel may be heat-treated to form bainite by exposing the quantity of steel to a second, lower temperature. The second, lower temperature may be stabilized by exposing the quantity of steel to the second, lower temperature in the presence of a thermal ballast.
Claims10
A method of making a bainitic steel, comprising:
- austenitizing a quantity of steel by exposing the quantity of steel to a first temperature in a furnace, a composition of the quantity of steel being configured to impede formation of non-bainite ferrite, pearlite, and Widmanstätten ferrite;
- permitting the quantity of steel to cool in air within the furnace to a second, lower temperature;
- after permitting the quantity of steel to cool, heat-treating the quantity of steel to form bainite by exposing the quantity of steel to a third, still lower temperature;
- stabilizing the second, lower temperature by exposing the quantity of steel to the third, still lower temperature within an enclosed container distinct from the furnace while the quantity of steel is surrounded in a thermal ballast consisting of solid, stationary particles enclosed within the container;
- and
- permitting the quantity of steel to cool.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.