High strength iron-based alloys, processes for making same, and articles resulting therefrom

Abstract

Widmanstatten structures in a new iron based alloy having an austenization conversion temperature forms various austenite daughter phases in the iron based alloy when it is prepared by heating said alloy above the austenization conversion temperature followed by substantially immediately quenching and extremely rapid cooling the alloy below the austenization conversion temperature. In one aspect, methods and materials made by optionally initially spheroidized annealing of raw iron based alloys into a precursor material are disclosed. After optional spheroidized annealing, the precursor material is rapidly heated to a temperature above the austenitizing temperature of the material and rapidly cooled to yield a high strength iron based alloy. Methods and materials for realizing a corrosion resistant high strength iron based alloy are disclosed, as are methods, materials and articles which exhibit the ability to form bend radii of nearly folding over itself.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method to produce an advanced high strength iron-based alloy from a precursor low carbon based alloy having an austenization conversion temperature, comprising:
 providing a precursor low carbon based alloy having ferrite locations in the alloy,   heating said precursor low carbon based alloy to a selected temperature above its austenization conversion temperature; and   substantially immediately quenching the heated low carbon based alloy to a selected temperature below its austenization conversion temperature.   
     
     
         2 . Whereby Widmanstatten structures are initially formed in the iron based alloys upon heating and further wherein the Widmanstatten structures seed in the ferrite locations of the alloys creating multiple phases.