Strain-rate sensitive ductility in a low-alloy carbon steel after quenching and partitioning treatment.

We investigate an extraordinarily high ductility in a low alloy carbon steel at an elevated temperature after a quenching and partitioning (Q&P) treatment. The conventional (quenched and tempered) reference material does not show similar behavior. Interestingly, the Q&P treated material's ductility is considerably reduced at increasing strain rates while strength remains almost constant.