A Study on the Wear Behaviour of Dual Phase Steels

Dual phase （DP） steels containing four different amounts of martensite ranging from 43 vol. pct to 81 vol. pct have been developed from 0.2 wt pct carbon steel by intercritical heat treatment at a fixed temperature of 780℃ with varying holding times followed by water quenching. Dry sliding wear tests have been conducted on DP steels using a pin- on-disk machine under different normal loads of 61.3, 68.5, 75.7 and 82.6 N and at a constant sliding speed of 1.20 m/s. At these loads, the mechanism of wear is primarily delamination, which has been confirmed by SEM micrographs of subsurface and wear debris of samples. Wear properties have been found to improve with the increase in martensite volume fraction in dual phase steels.     

The effect of dynamic strain aging on fatigue properties of dual phase steels with different martensite morphology

Dual phase (DP) steels with network and fibrous martensite were produced by intercritical annealing heat treatment cycles. Some of these steels were deformed at dynamic strain aging temperatures. Room temperature tensile tests of specimens deformed at 300 °C showed that both yield and ultimate tensile strengths for both morphologies increased, while total elongation decreased. Fatigue test results before and after high temperature deformation showed that dynamic strain aging has a stronger effect on fatigue properties of dual phase steels with fibrous martensite. Cracks in DP steels with fibrous martensite propagate in a tortuous path in soft ferrite phase, while they pass of both hard and soft phases in DP steels with network martensite.     

Microstructural influence on the electrochemical corrosion behaviour of dual-phase steels in 3.5% NaCl solution

Galvanostatic corrosion behavior of five different dual-phase (DP) steels with varying morphologies and martensite content has been assessed in comparison to a ferrite–pearlite steel in 3.5% NaCl solution. It has been observed that both the amount of martensite and the morphology of the phase constituents have definite influence on the corrosion behaviour of DP steel. Higher corrosion tendency has been observed with increased amount of martensite and increased refinement of phase constituents.     

Investigation of dual phase transformation of commercial low alloy steels: Effect of holding time at low inter-critical annealing temperatures

Dual phase steels are a class of steels characterized by a microstructure consisting of a soft ferrite matrix with hard martensite islands at the grain boundaries. The temperature in the dual phase (α + γ) region and the holding time are two important parameters in the intercritically annealing process. In this study, different grades of commercial low alloy steels have been heat treated to a constant annealing temperature by changing the holding time. It is observed that the effect of holding time is dependent on the steel composition. In this context, a microstructural examination has been carried out using optical, scanning electron microscope and electron probe micro-analysis and hardness values have been determined.     

Microstructures and mechanical properties of dual phase steel produced by laboratory simulated strip casting

Conventional dual phase (DP) steel (0.08C–0.81Si–1.47Mn–0.03Al wt.%) was manufactured using simulated strip casting schedule in laboratory. The average grain size of prior austenite was 117 ± 44 μm. The continuous cooling transformation diagram was obtained. The microstructures having polygonal ferrite in the range of 40–90%, martensite with small amount of bainite and Widmanstätten ferrite were observed, leading to an ultimate tensile strength in the range of 461–623 MPa and a corresponding total elongation in the range of 0.31–0.10. All samples exhibited three strain hardening stages. The predominant fracture mode of the studied steel was ductile, with the presence of some isolated cleavage facets, the number of which increased with an increase in martensite fraction. Compared to those of hot rolled DP steels, yield strength and ultimate tensile strength are lower due to large ferrite grain size, coarse martensite area and Widmanstätten ferrite.     

Analysis and design of dual-phase steel microstructure for enhanced ductile fracture resistance

The goal of this paper is to predict how the properties of the constituent phases and microstructure of dual phase steels (consisting of ferrite and martensite) influence their fracture resistance. We focus on two commercial low-carbon dual-phase (DP) steels with different ferrite/martensite phase volume fractions and properties. These steels exhibit similar flow behavior and tensile strength but different ductility. Our experimental observations show that the mechanism of ductile fracture in these two DP steels involves nucleation, growth and coalescence of micron scale voids. We thus employ microstructure-based finite element simulations to analyze the ductile fracture of these dual-phase steels. In the microstructure-based simulations, the individual phases of the DP steels are discretely modeled using elastic-viscoplastic constitutive relations for progressively cavitating solids. The flow behavior of the individual phases in both the steels are determined by homogenizing the microscale calibrated crystal plasticity constitutive relations from a previous study (Chen et al. in Acta Mater 65:133–149, 2014) while the damage parameters are determined by void cell model calculations. We then determine microstructural effects on ductile fracture of these steels by analyzing a series of representative volume elements with varying volume fractions, flow and damage behaviors of the constituent phases. Our simulations predict qualitative features of the ductile fracture process in good agreement with experimental observations for both DP steels. A ‘virtual’ DP microstructure, constructed by varying the microstructural parameters in the commercial steels, is predicted to have strength and ductile fracture resistance that is superior to the two commercial DP steels. Our simulations provide guidelines for improving the ductile fracture resistance of DP steels.     

Influence of nanoparticle reinforcements on the strengthening mechanisms of an ultrafine-grained dual phase steel containing titanium

To reduce cost, optimise mechanical properties and improve process tolerance, a series of 1000 MPa grade ultrafine-grained dual phase (DP) steels with nanosized precipitates have been developed based on the C–Si–Mn–Ti alloy system. The grain size of ferrite in ultra-high strength DP steels ranges from 1.1 to 1.7 μm. The amount of precipitations in the annealed sheet is much more than that in the hot-rolled plates with the highest distribution frequency being between 5 and 10 nm. The grain refinement and precipitation strengthening interact significantly and have a considerable effect on yield strength. Therefore, the strengthening effects cannot be expressed as a simple linear relationship. A modified root-mean-square (RMS) relationship has been proposed to express the yield strength for dual phase steel with obvious grain refinement and precipitation strengthening.     

Experimental study on high strain rate behavior of high strength 600–1000 MPa dual phase steels and 1200 MPa fully martensitic steels

As one of high grade advanced high strength steels (AHSSs), dual phase (DP) steel sheets and fully martensitic (MS) steel sheets have been successfully used in automotive crash-resistance components for its great benefit in reducing vehicle weight while improving car safety as well as their advantage in cost saving through cold forming instead of hot forming. The strain rate sensitivity of 600/800/1000 MPa DP and 1200 MPa MS were studied in this paper through a split Hopkinson tensile bar (SHTB) setup and compared with each other. The experiments showed that all dual phase (DP) AHSS ranging from 600 MPa to 1000 MPa are of positive strain rate sensitivity. While for the tested 1200 MPa MS, negative strain rate sensitivity has been found. Possible reason for the difference has been investigated through metallographical observation and their microstructures.     

Sliding wear properties of high purity copper in cryogenic environment

In an effort to understand the influence of cryogenic environment on the friction and wear properties of metallic materials, we performed a series of experiments on high purity work hardened copper (Cu) samples in liquid nitrogen (LN₂) environment against steel (bearing grade; SAE 52100) at varying loads and sliding speeds. The load was varied between 10 and 20 N and sliding speed was varied between 0.89 and 1.34 m/s. In our experiments, a reduction in the steady state coefficient of friction (μ_F) was noted with increasing load (10, 15, 20 N) at the highest sliding speed of 1.34 m/s. High wear rate of the order of 10⁻⁴ mm³/Nm was recorded, which was found to be independent of the load/sliding speed. On the basis of the experimental data and the characteristics of the worn surfaces it is confirmed that significant damage accumulation and plowing-induced material removal contribute to the wear losses. It is noteworthy that oxidative wear or mechanically mixed layer (no transfer from steel counter-body) did not occur to any significant extent under the chosen sliding conditions. The characteristics of the wear damage as a result of cryogenic sliding have been discussed with reference to the prevailing stress conditions and contact temperature.     

马氏体对C-Si-Mn冷轧双相钢屈服特性的影响

通过实验室退火与回火,采用力学测定与显微组织分析研究了马氏体体积分数与回火温度对双相钢屈服特性的影响.结果表明:随马氏体体积分数从0%增加到约15%,双相钢的屈服强度显著降低,降低值约为80～100MPa;而马氏体体积分数在15%～35%之间,双相钢的屈服强度维持在一个较低的水平.当马氏体体积分数大于35%,双相钢屈服...     

连续镀锌DP600双相钢的组织与性能研究

制备了连续镀锌DP600双相钢,利用光学显微镜、SEM、EBSD技术对其显微组织进行了观察和分析;利用X射线衍射和EBSD技术分别对钢板的宏观织构和微观织构进行了测定;并对其力学性能、n值和r值进行了检测.实验结果表明:试样组织为铁素体+马氏体岛的双相组织,该钢板具有良好的综合力学性能和成形性,达到了DP600级别双相钢的性能要求.     

A study on fatigue crack growth in dual phase martensitic steel in air environment

Dual phase (DP) steel was intercritically annealed at different temperatures from fully martensitic state to achieve martensite plus ferrite, microstructures with martensite contents in the range of 32 to 76%. Fatigue crack growth (FCG) and fracture toughness tests were carried out as per ASTM standards E 647 and E 399, respectively to evaluate the potential of DP steels. The crack growth rates (da/dN) at different stress intensity ranges (ΔK) were determined to obtain the threshold value of stress intensity range (ΔK_th). Crack path morphology was studied to determine the influence of microstructure on crack growth characteristics. After the examination of crack tortuosity, the compact tension (CT) specimens were pulled in static mode to determine fracture toughness values. FCG rates decreased and threshold values increased with increase in vol.% martensite in the DP steel. This is attributed to the lower carbon content in the martensite formed at higher intercritical annealing (ICA) temperatures, causing retardation of crack growth rate by crack tip blunting and/or deflection. Roughness induced crack closure was also found to contribute to the improved crack growth resistance at higher levels of martensite content. Scanning electron fractography of DP steel in the near threshold region revealed transgranular cleavage fracture with secondary cracking. Results indicate the possibility that the DP steels may be treated to obtain an excellent combination of strength and fatigue properties.     

Characterization of Dual-Phase Steels Using Magnetic Barkhausen Noise Technique

The aim of this work is to nondestructively characterize the dual phase steels using the Magnetic Barkhausen Noise (MBN) method. By quenching of AISI 8620 steel specimens having two different starting microstructures, from various intercritical annealing temperatures (ICAT) in the ferrite-austenite region, the microstructures consisting of different volume fractions of martensite with morphological variations have been obtained. The microstructures were first conventionally characterized by metallographical investigations and hardness tests. Then, the MBN measurements were performed using a μSCAN commercial system. Good correlations between the martensite volume fraction, hardness and MBN emission have been obtained. MBN signal height clearly decreased as the ICAT, therefore the volume fraction of martensite increased. The effect of the initial microstructure prior to intercritical annealing has also been differentiated by the MBN measurements. It has been concluded that MBN method can be used as a useful tool for nondestructive characterization of dual phase steels.     

ANN based prediction model for fatigue crack growth in DP steel

An artificial neural network (ANN)-based model was developed to analyse high-cycle fatigue crack growth rates (d a /d N ) as a function of stress intensity ranges (Δ K ) for dual phase (DP) steel. The training data consisted of d a /d N at Δ K ranges between 5 and 16 MPa √ for DP steel with martensite contents in the range 32 to 76%. The ANN back-propagation model with Gaussian activation function exhibited excellent agreement with the experimental results. The fatigue crack growth rate predictions were made to demonstrate its practical significance in a given real-life situation. Because of the wide range of data points used during training of the model, it will provide a useful predictor for fatigue crack growth in DP steels.     

Dry sliding wear behaviour of zinc oxide reinforced magnesium matrix nano-composites

The main objective of the present work is to investigate the dry sliding wear behaviour of a magnesium matrix composite reinforced with zinc oxide nano-particles. Magnesium matrix composites have many applications, especially in the automotive and aerospace industries, due to their superior specific properties. A magnesium matrix composite with 0.5 vol.% ZnO nano-reinforcement was prepared using powder metallurgy and was hot extruded to eliminate pores. The wear behaviour of the Mg/ZnO nano-composite was investigated by conducting dry sliding tests as a function of wear with an oil-hardened non-shrinking (OHNS) steel disc as the counterpart on a pin-on-disc apparatus. Wear tests were conducted for normal loads of 5, 7.5 and 10 N at sliding velocities of 0.6, 0.9 and 1.2 m/s at room temperature. The variations of the friction coefficient and wear rate with the sliding distances (500 m, 1000 m and 1600 m) for different normal loads and sliding velocities were plotted and analysed. To study the dominant sliding wear mechanism for various test conditions, the worn surfaces were analysed using scanning electron microscopy. The wear rate was found to increase with the load and sliding velocity.     

Role of recrystallization and pearlite dissolution in industrial processing of DP590 steels

Dual-phase (DP) steels derive their perfect blend of properties via the hard second phase, namely martensite or bainite in a softer ferrite matrix. The key to refine the mechanical properties of DP steels rests on optimizing and tailoring the distribution and size of the hard second phase present in the ferrite matrix. There can be several combinations of processing routes depending on the governing mechanisms, such as recrystallization, pearlite dissolution, phase transformation, etc., which can affect the morphology and distribution of martensite phase present in DP microstructures. All these mechanisms are invoked at various stages of annealing process cycle. In the present study, experimental simulation of various annealing parameters was carried out on a cold-rolled steel using a custom designed annealing simulator. The evolution of microstructure was studied by field emission scanning electron microscope. The evolving microstructures were correlated with governing mechanisms of recrystallization, pearlite dissolution, and phase transformation. Through these simulations, it was possible to tailor the microstructure and consequently improve the tensile properties of the DP steel.     

Improvement of mechanical properties in a dual-phase ferrite–martensite AISI4140 steel under tough-strong ferrite formation

This paper has been concerned to investigate in details the mechanical properties of AISI4140 heat treatable steel under ferrite–martensite dual-phase (DP) microstructures in conjunction with that of conventional quench-tempered (CQT) full martensitic condition. For this purpose, a wide variety of ferrite–martensite DP samples containing different volume fractions of ferrite and martensite microphases have been developed using step quenching heat treatment processes at 600 °C for 20–55 s holding times with the subsequent hot oil quenching after being austenitized at 860 °C for 60 min in the same situation as to the CQT condition. The finalized tempering heat treatment has been carried out at 600 °C for 30 min for both of direct quenched full martensitic and DP samples in order to optimize the strength–ductility combination. Light and electron microscopes have been used in conjunction with mechanical tests to assess the structure–property relationships in the DP and CQT heat treated samples. The experimental results indicate that the DP microstructures consisting about 7% volume fraction of fine grain boundary ferrite in the vicinity of martensite are associated with excellent mechanical properties in comparison to that of CQT condition. These observations are rationalized in terms of higher carbon concentration of the remaining metastable austenite leading to the harder martensite formation on the subsequent hot oil quenching, and so developing much harder ferrite grains as a consequence of more constraints induced in the ferrite grains during martensitic phase transformation in the remaining austenite adjacent to the ferrite area. The higher martensite volume fraction in the vicinity of thin continuous grain boundary ferrite network has been associated with the harder ferrite formation, causing higher work hardening behavior in the short time treated DP samples. Moreover, it has been found that in order to optimize the mechanical properties of ferrite–martensite DP samples, two independently parameters should be simultaneously controlled: one is the ferrite volume fraction and the other is ferrite morphology.     

Effect of martensite strength on the tensile strength of dual phase steels

Fe-2% Si-1.5% Mn steels with three levels of carbon content (0.10, 0.14 and 0.19 wt%) were intercritically annealed followed by water quenching to obtain dual phase (martensite plus ferrite) structure. It is found that the ultimate tensile strength of dual phase steels increased with increasing the volume fraction as well as the tensile strength of martensite. The tensile strength of dual phase steel can be predicted using the law of mixtures although the predicted tensile strength is slightly higher than the experimental one. It is suggested that martensite never reaches its ultimate tensile strength when the necking of dual phase steels occurs.     

Influence of copper and molybdenum on dry sliding wear behaviour of sintered plain carbon steel

Study of wear behaviour of sintered low alloy steels is required to ascertain their applications for wear resistance. In the present work the influence of copper and molybdenum on wear behaviour of plain carbon steel (Fe–0.5%C) using pin-on-disk arrangement has been addressed. Atomized iron (Fe), graphite (C), copper (Cu) and molybdenum (Mo) elemental powders were suitably weighed and thoroughly mixed in a pot mill to yield the alloy powders of Fe–0.5%C, Fe–0.5%C–2%Cu and Fe–0.5%C–2%Mo. Admixed alloy powders were then compacted and sintered for obtaining preforms of aspect ratio (height/diameter) 1.3 and diameter 25 mm. The sintered preforms were then hot extruded and subsequently machined to obtain wear test specimens of diameter 6 mm and height 50 mm. Using Design of Experiment software, the sliding wear experiments were planned and conducted on a pin-on-disk tribometer. It has been found that there is a substantial improvement in wear resistance of the P/M plain carbon steel by the addition Mo rather than Cu. However coefficient of friction is higher due to presence of hard microstructural phases. Delamination wear is found predominant for both the alloy steels. Empirical correlations for mass loss and coefficient of friction with respect to load/speed have been developed for the alloy steels.     

Real microstructure based micromechanical model to simulate microstructural level deformation behavior and failure initiation in DP 590 steel

Dual phase (DP) steels having a microstructure consists of a ferrite matrix, in which particles of martensite are dispersed, have received a great deal of attention due to their useful combination of high strength, high work hardening rate and ductility. In the present work, a microstructure based micromechanical model is developed to capture the deformation behavior, plastic strain localization and plastic instability of DP 590 steel. A microstructure based approach by means of representative volume element (RVE) is employed for this purpose. Dislocation based model is implemented to predict the flow behavior of the single phases. Plastic strain localization which arises due to incompatible deformation between the hard martensite and soft ferrite phases is predicted for DP 590 steel. Different failure modes arise from plastic strain localization in DP 590 steel are investigated on the actual microstructure by finite element method.