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<p>This study investigates the microstructural evolution and mechanical property enhancement of secondary-hardening ultra-high-strength steel AF1410 subjected to electropulsing (EP) treatment. To decouple the thermal and athermal effects of the pulsed current, a reference condition with identical thermal exposure (390 °C for 352 seconds) was introduced for direct comparison. Results show that EP treatment enhances mechanical properties compared to the as-forged baseline: ultimate tensile strength increases from 1629 MPa to 1785 MPa (+ 9.6 pct), Vickers hardness rises from 472 HV to 538 HV (+&#xa0;14.0 pct), while elongation remains essentially unchanged. EP yields additional improvements compared to the thermally matched reference (1675 MPa, 496 HV), providing unambiguous evidence for an athermal contribution beyond pure Joule heating. Microstructural analyses reveal that both EP and thermal exposure induce substantial dislocation density increases (8–9 times) and grain refinement, suggesting these evolutions are primarily thermally driven. However, high-resolution transmission electron microscopy discloses distinct carbide evolution pathways: the thermally treated reference develops an M<sub>2</sub>C-MC(I)-MC(II) carbide system, whereas EP treatment promotes the formation of a M<sub>2</sub>C-M<sub>23</sub>C<sub>6</sub>-MC(II) carbide system. The athermal effects of the electric pulse lower the effective precipitation temperature and accelerate carbide transformation kinetics. Notably, the EP process achieves these enhancements within a duration of only 352 s, offering an ultra-rapid, energy-efficient pathway for microstructural refinement and precipitation control.</p>

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Microstructural and Mechanical Responses of AF1410 Steel to Electropulsing Treatment and Equivalent Heat Treatment

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2026年6月16日

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  • Zibin Tang,
  • Meixian Zhang,
  • Gang Yang

摘要

This study investigates the microstructural evolution and mechanical property enhancement of secondary-hardening ultra-high-strength steel AF1410 subjected to electropulsing (EP) treatment. To decouple the thermal and athermal effects of the pulsed current, a reference condition with identical thermal exposure (390 °C for 352 seconds) was introduced for direct comparison. Results show that EP treatment enhances mechanical properties compared to the as-forged baseline: ultimate tensile strength increases from 1629 MPa to 1785 MPa (+ 9.6 pct), Vickers hardness rises from 472 HV to 538 HV (+ 14.0 pct), while elongation remains essentially unchanged. EP yields additional improvements compared to the thermally matched reference (1675 MPa, 496 HV), providing unambiguous evidence for an athermal contribution beyond pure Joule heating. Microstructural analyses reveal that both EP and thermal exposure induce substantial dislocation density increases (8–9 times) and grain refinement, suggesting these evolutions are primarily thermally driven. However, high-resolution transmission electron microscopy discloses distinct carbide evolution pathways: the thermally treated reference develops an M2C-MC(I)-MC(II) carbide system, whereas EP treatment promotes the formation of a M2C-M23C6-MC(II) carbide system. The athermal effects of the electric pulse lower the effective precipitation temperature and accelerate carbide transformation kinetics. Notably, the EP process achieves these enhancements within a duration of only 352 s, offering an ultra-rapid, energy-efficient pathway for microstructural refinement and precipitation control.