A systematic survey of morphology of bainite and proeutectoid ferrite was carried out in order to validate some old thoughts of bainite transformation mechanism. It is confirmed that there is no morphological evidence supporting a sharp change neither between Widmanstätten ferrite and the ferritic component of upper bainite, nor between upper and lower bainite. Both Widmanstätten ferrite and upper bainite start with precipitation of ferrite plates at a grain boundary while lower bainite starts with intragranular nucleation. In case of grain boundary nucleation, a group of parallel plates with same crystallographic orientation to the parent austenite grain forms. This process is followed by a second stage of decomposition of the austenitic interspace, which remained in between the primary ferrite plates. At high temperature, the austenitic interspace would either retain as thin slabs or transform into pearlite through a nodule originated from a grain boundary. At lower temperature, cementite precipitation starts to be possible and initiates simultaneous growth of ferrite. Generally, there are two modes of such eutectoid reactions operating in the second stage, i.e. a degenerate and a cooperative mode, which would lead to typical upper and lower bainite, respectively, in definition of carbides morphology. Both upper and lower bainite according to this definition are observed in a wide temperature range. A sharp temperature between the upper and lower bainite structures thus exists only when the definition is based on their nucleation sites, i.e. grain boundary nucleation for upper bainite and intragranular nucleation for lower bainite. Supposing that the first stage is a diffusionless process it should have a high growth rate to prevent carbon diffusion. This is not supported by lengthening rate obtained in current study as well as data from literature for Fe-C alloys. Finally, it is shown that the “subunits” play no role in the lengthening process of bainite. / <p>QC 20170523</p>

La fragilité reconnue des fixations mécaniques conduit à limiter leur utilisation à 1000 MPa afin d'éviter les risquesde rupture fragile par hydrogène, que celui-ci soit d'origine interne ou externe. Connue sur des produits plats defaible épaisseur (clips), la microstructure bainitique obtenue lors de la trempe dans un bain de sels ne présente pasde fragilité liée à l'hydrogène. Cette étude vise à apporter aux industriels les connaissances nécessaires àl'application de ce procédé à des pièces massives.Au-delà de sa résistance à l'hydrogène, seule la microstructure constituée de bainite inférieure peut satisfaire auxexigences de propriétés mécaniques attendues dans les fixations. L'outil d'optimisation de la composition chimiquede l'acier créé permet d'intégrer les critères propres à la transformation de l'austénite en bainite inférieure partrempe isotherme dans un bain de sels mais aussi de prendre en compte l'aptitude de l'acier à être déformé à froidaprès un recuit d'adoucissement préalable.La caractérisation de la sensibilité à l'hydrogène faite sur des goujons après chargement à saturation en hydrogènemontre qu'à 1370 MPa, l'acier à structure bainitique ne présente pas de rupture fragile par l'hydrogène comparé aumême acier à structure martensitique revenue qui est systématiquement fragile. En parallèle, parmi les alliagesternaires Al-Zr-Zn déposés par un procédé de dépôt physique en phase vapeur, il a été possible d'identifier unenuance sacrificielle dont l'effet protecteur vis-à-vis des fixations devra encore faire l'objet d'investigations. / In the objective to prevent brittle fracture due to hydrogen (internal or external origins), the usages of mechanicalfastening parts is restricted above 1000 MPa. As already experienced on low-thickness flat products (clips), thebainitic microstructure generated by salt bath quenching is not subjected to hydrogen embrittlement. The target ofthe present study consists in setting up the required knowledge to extend this process to massive parts.In addition to its resistance to hydrogen, only the lower-bainite microstructure is able to meet the mechanicalpropertyspecifications for fasteners. The optimization tool developed in the present framework, has been designedto integrate the particularities of the austenite to lower bainite transformation in salt bath, as well as the ability tosustain cold forming after annealing treatment.A set of mechanical characterizations has been performed on hydrogen saturated bolts. Under a load of 1370 MPa,the bainitic structure has not shown any sign brittle fracture, while it has systematically been the case for thetempered martensitic structure. Furthermore, among the ternary alloys Al-Zr-Zn that can be deposed in vapor phase,a sacrificial grade presenting a protection effect has been identified. However, this effect must be furtherinvestigated, in order to determine the interest for fastening applications.