The problems of improving physical, mechanical and operational properties of many steels, cast irons and others alloys present great interest to many countries as well.

The work is devoted to the generalization of studies on the implementation of a new approach to the design of innovative strengthening treatments of alloys of various functional applications based on the accounting and control of the evolution of the phase-structural state during operation.

The proposed approach is based on the principle of controlled phase-structural evolution at the stages of testing and operation, providing self-improvement of the microstructure and, as a result, the properties directly under the influence of the operating environment itself. This evolution is realized due to the “programmed” initially or controlled (optimal) development of deformational, in some cases thermo-deformational induced phase transformations during testing or operation (DIPTT, TDIPTT): martensitic γ → αʹ; γ → εʹ; γ → αʹ → εʹ transformations (DIMTT); dynamic strain aging (DSA); transformation of the compositions and structure of dispersion hardening phases, etc. These transformations are accompanied by the effects of self-strengthening, self-relaxation of microstresses due to the formation of martensite deformation and precipitation of dispersed particles of solid phases, self-adaptation to operating conditions, absorption of part of the energy due to the self-organization of the phase-structural state.

Obtaining metastable states of austenite is possible in any phase-structural modifications: austenite as a main and second γ-phase; primary (A_pr); eutectic (A_e); retained (A_ret); secondary or reversed (A_rev); satiated; powder in steels, cast irons, deposited metal, powder alloys. For this, it is necessary to use all possible mechanisms of stabilization and destabilization of austenite in order to rationally manage DIPTT (TDIPTT, DIMTT, DSA, etc.) while developing new and improving traditional methods and strengthening technologies.

Pure structural transformations are possible (TWIP - Twinning Induced Plasticity), the evolution of which during operation should initially be controlled not only by alloying, but also by processing. The implementation of the DIMTT or (and) TWIP effects with the optimal evolution of the alloy during testing of the properties ensures the achievement of an abnormally high strength complex (ultimate tensile strength = 1600…2000 MPa), ductility (percent elongation = 15…25 %), impact strength (KCU = 1.0…1,6 MJ/m²) structural steels, increased (1.5…4 times) relative wear resistance (of dry sliding friction (ε_s.f.), abrasive (ε_a.) and impact-abrasive (ε_i.a.) wearing) of metastable cost-saving steels, cast irons and deposited metals.

The highest value of impact-abrasive wear resistance (ε_i.a.=9,8) and impact strength (KCU=15.4 MJ/m²) of deposited Fe-Cr-Mn metal was achieved after quenching at 1150 °С, when the  microstructure is mainly austenite (with small quantity of quenching martensite and carbides). The highest value in sliding friction wear resistance  (ε_s.f.=4.2) with  satisfactory impact strength value (KCU=8.5 MJ/m²) was achieved after quenching at 950 °С, when the structure of deposited metal is martensite-carbides with metastable retained austenite, which realized γ_ret→αʹ DIMTT.

A new direction in the design of hardening treatments is the use of the principle of austenite heterogenization for the implementation of subsequent martensitic transformations during cooling and DIMTT, on the basis of which new methods and technologies for hardening steels and cast irons are created. Thermo-chemical methods have been created (carburizing, nitro-carburizing, high-speed thermo-cyclic cyaniding with induction heating, decarburizing treatment, etc.) in combination with the original methods of heat treatment (quenching from differentiated temperatures, high temperature thermo-cyclic treatment, low temperature thermo-cyclic treatment, plasma or electron beam treatments, etc.), providing the formation of gradient structures with differentiation of the number of A_res and the degree of its metastability along the depth of the layer, taking into account the subsequent evolution of the phase-structural state during operation.