High strength oxide dispersion strengthened steels: Fundamentals and applications

Abstract

The principle of oxide dispersion strengthening (ODS) has been applied to precious metals, nickel, ferritic steels, aluminium alloys and superalloys. Conventional melt processing is unsuitable for ODS alloys and alternative methods are required to incorporate oxides or other particles into various base compositions. In this context, Callejo et al.1 describe an alternative approach to introduce nanoparticles into molten steel, in this instance a hardening and tempering steel. Addition of nanoparticles through a novel technology that ensures safe handling, suitable for industrial applications, provides an as-hardened steel with properties close to those obtained in conventional steels following hardening and tempering. Their approach has the potential to eliminate the tempering step with associated cost and energy savings, although further characterisation of the ODS material, e.g. of the impact properties, is required in the context of the applications envisaged.