AN INVESTICATION OF A MARAGING STEEL WITH LOWER Ni AND Co CONTENTS

It is shown that Cr and Mn bearing 12Ni maraging steels with lower Niand Co contents are of high strength and toughness, Precipitates after aging,dislocation configurations and easy cross-slip behavior of dislocations have beenexamined. The results are discussed on the assumption that the hexagonal close-packed phases were precipitated along the stacking fault zone of the dislocationlines. In order to predict the stability and solubility of high-temperature austenitein maraging steels, a criterion has been suggested from the point of view ofaverage electron concentration per atom of the alloy. The criterion is helpful forrational alloying of maraging steels with lower Ni and Co contents.