Microscopical study of the formation of adiabatic shear bands in 4340 steel during dynamic loading

In this study, optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction and electron probe microanalyser were used to analyse the changes in microstructure of AISI 4340 steel specimens caused by impact at high strain rates and large strains. The structures of the steel prior to dynamic deformation and after dynamic deformation were examined to understand on a microscale level, the mechanism of formation of adiabatic shear bands (ASBs). The study also includes the structural changes that occur during post-deformation annealing processes which may relate to understanding of the mechanism of formation of ASBs. Prior to deformation, the tempered steel specimens consisted of lenticular laths of α-ferrite with precipitated platelet and spherical M3C carbides. After impact, the structure inside the shear band was characterized by refined and recrystallized grains immersed in dense dislocation structures. In addition, residual carbide particles were observed inside the shear bands due to deformation induced carbide dissolution. Regions away from the shear bands developed ‘knitted’ dislocation walls, evolving gradually into sub-boundaries and highly misoriented grain boundaries at increasing strains, leading to grain refinement of the ferrite. After impact, annealing the shear bands at 350 °C resulted in an increase in hardness regardless of the heat treatment before impact, amount of deformation and the time of annealing. This is because of the occurrence of extensive reprecipitation of dissolved carbides that existed in the steel structure prior to deformation. It is concluded that dynamic recovery/recrystallization, development of dislocation structures and carbide dissolution all contribute simultaneously to the formation of ASBs in quench-hardened steels.