6- The presence of carbon, while producing the necessary hardening of convention

Question

6- The presence of carbon, while producing the necessary hardening of conventional high tensile steels, causes brittleness and distortion, which makes machining difficult and cold forming impracticable. Welded fabrication is also impracticable or very expensive. To overcome some of these difficulties types of steel known as maraging steels were developed from which carbon is either eliminated entirely or present only in very small amounts. The hardening of maraging steels is achieved by the addition of other elements such as nickel, cobalt and molybdenum. What in your opinion are the main reasons for carbon to cause brittleness and the associated machining and welding difficulties of conventional steels? Also explain how the replacement of carbon with nickel, cobalt and molybdenum help alleviate these difficulties.

Explanation / Answer

The main reason for carbon causing brittleness & associated machining & welding difficulty is due to the tendency of carbon to for martensite which has a brittle nature.

Replacement of carbon with nickel, cobal & molybdenum leads to formation of intermettalic compound precipitates. These precipitates helps the material retain their strength & ductility along with even after hardening.   

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