Stress-Relief Embrittlement of High-Strength Quenched and Tempered Alloy Steels
SourceAn investigation was undertaken of the time-temperature-embrittlement relationships of two high-strength quenched and tempered steels. Optimum stress-relief treatments were developed which incorporate the maximum reduction in residual stress accompanied by the minimum increase in transition temperature. It was determined that stress-relief embrittlement in Steel A (5Ni-Cr-Mo-V, 140 ksi yield strength) is most severe in the 900 to 1000 F temperature range, and that Steel B (3Ni-Cr-Mo, 100 ksi yield strength) is not significantly embrittled by stress relief. The optimum stress-relief treatments for Steels A and B are obtained by heat treatment at as high a stressrelieving temperature as possible. The maximum stress-relieving temperature is limited to that which will not result in loss of yield strength.