Mechanical characteristics of spheroidal graphite cast irons containing Ni and Mn with mixed ferrite and bainitic ferrite microstructure

Abstract

This study aims to clarify the influence of additive elements of Ni and Mn on tensile and impact properties of three kinds of spheroidal graphite cast irons (SG irons), which are as cast, annealed and austempered samples. Spheroidal graphite cast irons with Ni (0–4˙5 mass-%) and Mn (0–0˙5 mass-%) melted by a high frequency induction furnace and cast into a Y block CO₂ mould with 30 mm in thickness. From the viewpoint of heat treatment, tensile strength and hardness of SG irons become larger in the order of ferritised<as cast<austempered ones. Matrix structures of SG irons, which are conducted to austempering treatment from α and γ mixture range, consists of bainitic ferrite with high toughness. Austempered SG iron with 3%Ni in 0˙1%Mn series is found to become higher tensile strength compound with elongation and toughness of 901 MPa, 17% and 915 kJ m^?2.     

A novel thermomechanical approach to produce a fine ferrite and low-temperature bainitic composite microstructure

A novel thermomechanical processing was developed in the present study to produce a unique microstructure consisting of fine ferrite grains (i.e. ～4 μm on average) and low-temperature bainite in a relatively low-carbon steel with a modest hardenability. The thermomechanical route consisted of warm deformation of supercooled austenite followed by reheating in the ferrite region and then cooling to the bainitic transformation regime (i.e. 400–200 °C). The low-temperature bainite consisted of high dislocation density bainitic laths and very fine retained austenite films. This microstructure offered a high work hardening rate leading to a unique combination of ultimate tensile strength and elongation. This was due to the presence of ductile fine ferrite grains and hard low-temperature bainitic ferrite laths with retained austenite films. The microstructural characteristics of bainite were studied using optical microscopy in conjunction with scanning and transmission electron microscopy, electron backscatter diffraction and atom probe tomography techniques.     

Austempering and austempered ductile iron microstructure in copper alloyed ductile iron

The variation in the austempered microstructure, the volume fraction of retained austenite, X_λ, the average carbon content of retained austenite, C_λ, their product X_λC_λ and the size of bainitic ferrite needles with austempering temperature for 0.6% Cu alloyed ductile iron have been investigated for three austempering temperatures of 270, 330, and 380 °C for 60 min at each temperature after austenitization at 850 °C for 120 min. The austempering temperature not only affects the morphology of bainitic ferrite but also that of retained austenite. There is an increase in the amount of retained austenite, its carbon content, and size of bainitic ferrite needles with the rise in austempering temperature. The influence of austempering time on the structure has been studied on the samples austempered at 330 °C. The increase in the austempering time increases the amount of retained austenite and its carbon content, which ultimately reaches a plateau.     

高硅铸钢的强韧化机理

采用X射线衍射，计算了高硅铸钢等温淬火热处理后的贝氏体铁素体含碳量，采用TEM分析了贝氏体铁素体中的错位，研究了贝氏体铁素体板条尺寸与高硅铸钢屈服强度、硬度间的关系。在此基础上分析了高硅铸钢的强化以及韧化机理，高硅铸钢的强化是固溶强化，位错强化和细晶强化综合作用的合理；而高硅铸钢的韧化是存在于贝氏体铁素体板条之间富碳的薄膜状残余奥氏体，细小的贝氏体铁素体板条共同作用的结果。合适的Si含量也是影响高硅铸钢韧性重要因素。     

Development of a kinetic model for bainitic isothermal transformation in transformation-induced plasticity steels

In this work, we modify existing models to simulate the kinetics of bainitic transformation during the bainitic isothermal transformation (BIT) stage of a typical two-stage heat treatment – BIT is preceded by an intercritical annealing treatment – for TRIP steels. This effort is motivated by experiments performed in a conventional TRIP steel alloy (Fe–0.32C–1.42Mn–1.56Si) that suggest that thermodynamics alone are not sufficient to predict the amount of retained austenite after BIT. The model implemented in this work considers the non-homogeneous distribution of carbon – resulting from finite carbon diffusion rates – within the retained austenite during bainitic transformation. This non-homogeneous distribution is responsible for average austenite carbon enrichments beyond the so-called T₀ line, the temperature at which the chemical driving force for the bainitic transformation is exhausted. In order to attain good agreement with experiments, the existence of carbon-rich austenite films adjacent to bainitic ferrite plates is posited. The presence of this austenite film is motivated by earlier experimental work published by other groups in the past decade. The model is compared with experimental results and good qualitative agreement is found.     

钢中贝氏体长大方式的TEM研究

利用ＴＥＭ考察了钢中贝氏体铁素体／奥氏体相界面台阶结构及奥氏体精细结构。用ＴＥＭ温台发现在贝氏体增厚过程中新形成的贝氏体中存在奥氏体预存孪晶；在贝氏体铁素体／奥氏体相界面存在台阶结构，但台阶阶面可对应于母相奥氏体中孪晶面或层错面，表明台阶的阶面为共格的滑移界面。因而贝氏体铁素体／奥氏体相界面可通过界面台阶沿面缺陷进行保守滑移，贝氏体长大具有滑移切变特征。根据实验结果提出了贝氏体二次层错切变模型及组织形貌示意图。     

灰铸铁同质焊缝电弧冷焊接头冷裂纹研究进展

从焊缝石墨形态及焊缝组织对冷裂纹的影响、铸铁型焊缝冷裂纹产生机理及裂纹萌生与扩展的微观过程、热影响区冷裂纹研究、铸铁焊接接头冷裂纹试验方法等四个方面综述了国内外灰铸铁同质焊缝电弧冷焊焊接接头冷裂纹的研究进展,研究发现,石墨呈球状的可以大为改善焊缝的抗裂性;利用贝氏体马氏体二次相变应力松驰效应可以降低灰铸铁焊缝裂纹敏感性;裂纹容易在相邻石墨间的窄铁素体基体桥处萌生与扩展;扩散氢对灰铸铁接头热影响区冷裂纹影响小而马氏体相变影响大。在灰铸铁焊接冷裂纹试验方法方面,重点讨论了能定量评定焊缝抗裂性的铸铁焊缝拘束裂纹试验及平板刚性拘束裂纹（PRRC）试验。     

Effect of austempering time on mechanical properties of a low manganese austempered ductile iron

An investigation was carried out to examine the influence of austempering time on the resultant microstructure and the room-temperature mechanical properties of an unalloyed and low manganese ductile cast iron with initially ferritic as-cast structure. The effect of austempering time on the plane strain fracture toughness of this material was also studied. Compact tension and round cylindrical tensile specimens were prepared from unalloyed ductile cast iron with low manganese content and with a ferritic as-cast (solidified) structure. These specimens were then austempered in the upper (371 °C) and lower (260 °C) bainitic temperature ranges for different time periods, ranging from 30 min. to 4 h. Microstructural features such as type of bainite and the volume fraction of ferrite and austenite and its carbon content were evaluated by X-ray diffraction to examine the influence of microstructure on the mechanical properties and fracture toughness of this material. The results of the present investigation indicate that for this low manganese austempered ductile iron (ADI), upper ausferritic microstructures exhibit higher fracture toughness than lower ausferritic microstructures. Yield and tensile strength of the material was found to increase with an increase in austempering time in a lower bainitic temperature range, whereas in the upper bainitic temperature range, time has no significant effect on the mechanical properties. A retained austenite content between 30 to 35% was found to provide optimum fracture toughness. Fracture toughness was found to increase with the parameter (XγCγ/d)^1/2, where Xγ is the volume fraction of austenite, Cγ is the carbon content of the austenite, and d is the mean free path of dislocation motion in ferrite.     

On the role of martensitic transformation on damage and cracking resistance in TRIP-assisted multiphase steels

The damage resistance, fracture toughness and austenite transformation rate in transformation-induced plasticity (TRIP)-assisted multiphase steel sheets were comparatively characterised on two steel grades differing by the volume fractions of the phases (i.e. ferrite, bainite, retained austenite) and by the mechanical stability of retained austenite. The influence of stress triaxiality on austenite transformation kinetics and the coupling between martensitic transformation and damage were investigated using double edge notched (or cracked) plate specimens tested in tension. The map of the distribution of transformation rates measured locally around the notch (or the crack) was compared with the map of the effective plastic strains and stress triaxialities computed by finite element simulations of the tests. The mechanically-activated martensitic transformation was found to progress continuously with plastic straining and to be strongly influenced by stress triaxiality. Fracture resistance was characterised by means of J_R curves and CTOD measurements using DENT specimens. The fracture toughness at cracking initiation was found to be lower for the steel with higher tensile strength and ductility. The contrasted influence of the TRIP effect, which improves formability by delaying plastic localisation but reduces fracture toughness at cracking initiation, is shown to result from parameters such as the volume fraction of non-intercritical ferrite phases or the mechanical properties of martensite.     

预相变马氏体对超级贝氏体钢组织热稳定性的影响

为明确超级贝氏体组织失稳机制以及探索提高超级贝氏体钢中残余奥氏体热稳定性的方法,通过预相变马氏体工艺,即在等温贝氏体相变前引入预相变马氏体,制备了中碳超级贝氏体钢。对比分析了回火前后中碳超级贝氏体钢显微组织和力学性能的变化,研究了预相变马氏体对中碳超级贝氏体钢中贝氏体组织及残余奥氏体热稳定性的影响。结果表明：预相变马氏体的存在能够细化贝氏体铁素体板条,提高残余奥氏体含量和热稳定性。预相变马氏体的引入及其对超级贝氏体组织的细化作用使得试验钢的屈服强度超过1 000 MPa,伸长率大于20%;300～600℃回火1 h后,高碳薄膜状残余奥氏体首先发生分解,形成细小的碳化物,然后贝氏体铁素体板条发生回复和再结晶,形成沿原板条方向的铁素体晶粒;600℃回火后试验钢的屈服强度仍与回火前相当,主要是预相变马氏体周围的薄膜状残余奥氏体未发生明显分解,能够抑制相邻贝氏体铁素体板条的回复。     

Phase transformation theory: A powerful tool for the design of advanced steels

An innovative design procedure based on phase transformation theory alone has been successfully applied to design steels with a microstructure consisting of a mixture of bainitic ferrite, retained austenite, and some martensite. An increase in the amount of bainitic ferrite is needed in order to avoid the presence of large regions of untransformed austenite, which under stress decompose to brittle martensite. The design procedure addresses this diffi culty by adjusting the T′_o curve to greater carbon concentrations with the use of substitutional solutes such as manganese and chromium. The concepts of bainite transformation theory can be exploited even further to design steels with strength in excess of 2.5 GPa and considerable toughness.     

Isothermal Transformation of a Commercial Super-Bainitic Steel: Part I Microstructural Characterization and Hardness

The effects of isothermal treatment on the microstructure and hardness of commercial super-bainitic steel were investigated. A series of isothermal treatments were carried out at temperatures of 210-250 °C for different time periods. The results indicate that the bainitic reaction and hardness were very sensitive to the isothermal transformation temperature. The fine super-bainitic microstructure, containing the carbide-free bainitic ferrite lath and the carbon-enriched retained austenite film, can be produced by heating to 210 °C for 30 h, resulting in a hardness of 662 HV. By increasing the isothermal transformation temperature, the bainitic transformation kinetic is accelerated; however, this is at the expense of coarsening bainitic ferrite laths and decreasing the bainitic ferrite quantity. The relationship between hardness and microstructures obtained under different isothermal treatments, which is correlated with the carbon concentration, dislocation density, bainitic amount and super-bainite size, is discussed in detail.     

不同碳含量贝氏体合金钢等温淬火后的组织与性能

研究了3种碳含量(0.22C、0.34C、0.45C)的贝氏体钢在960℃奥氏体化+Ms点以上10～50℃等温淬火工艺下碳含量对贝氏体组织转变和力学性能的影响。结果表明,3种试验钢经过等温淬火处理后均获得由贝氏体铁素体和残留奥氏体相间分布组成的无碳化物贝氏体组织;随着碳含量的降低,贝氏体相变时间显著缩短,贝氏体铁素体板条变厚,硬度和抗拉强度呈下降趋势,但冲击性能显著提高,这主要是与低碳钢贝氏体转变温度更高,贝氏体铁素体板条粗大但高碳含量的大块状残留奥氏体减少有关。     

低温回火态新型贝氏体钢的组织性能

研究了回火工艺对新型低合金贝氏体钢组织和性能的影响,了解了该材料的回火特性.结果表明:正火和低于400℃回火后的组织由贝氏体、铁素体和残余奥氏体组成,具有较好的力学性能、回火抗性、良好的焊接性和机械加工性;在高于500℃回火后出现回火脆性,由新型贝氏体组织转变为典型贝氏体组织,其原因与回火过程中残余奥氏体和贝氏体铁素体的分解、碳化物析出有关.通过研究回火后的组织转变、残余奥氏体热稳定性、机械稳定性的变化,探讨了无碳贝氏体韧化及脆化机理,提出了适于该钢的最佳回火工艺.     

Influence of Isothermal Bainite Transformation Time on Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of Hot-Dip Galvanized TRIP Steel

The influence of isothermal bainitic transformation (IBT) time on microstructure and mechanical properties of hot-dip galvanized TRIP steel with 0.20C-1.50Mn-1.2Al-0.26Si was investigated using optical microscopy, x-ray diffraction (XRD), Transmission Electron Microscope (TEM), dilatometry, and mechanical testing. This steel has high tensile strength of over 780 MPa with elongation more than 22%. The microstructure of the steel mainly consisted of ferrite, bainite, retained austenite, and martensite. The metastable austenite remaining after bainitic transformation will be transformed into martensite at the final cooling stage. The IBT time affects retained austenite content. When the IBT increased from 10 to 60 s, the amount of retained austenite increased from 9.40 to 15.42%, correspondingly. The IBT time also affects the strain hardening behavior. The n value characteristics of samples for IBT time from 10 to 30 s are similar to those of DP steel; however, the n value of specimen with IBT of 60 s shows features typical of TRIP steel.     

Feasibility of laser surface treatment of pearlitic and bainitic ductile irons for hot rolls

The effects of laser surface treatment on the microstructure, crackability and stresses generated on laser hardened layers produced in several ductile cast iron materials were investigated. Two kinds of alloys having pearlitic (SGP) and acicular (SGA) matrix microstructures were selected. Hardened layers with thicknesses ranging from 1.5 to 2.5 mm were obtained by means of laser remelting (LSRm) or laser hardening (LSH). Thermal stresses generated upon laser processing have been estimated by a simple thermal model. For energy densities delivered onto the material at above 40 J/mm², extensive cracking was developed in SGA and SGP irons due to the contribution of thermal stresses. By lowering the energy density, crack formation was avoided in SGP irons only. At low energy densities, crack formation is controlled by the generation of transformational stresses due to excessive austenite retention. An increase of the surface temperature or the alloying content gave rise to an increase of the retained austenite and the formation of lower bainite at the remelted zone and the heat affected zones, respectively. K_C fracture toughness of Fe₃C carbides embedded in pearlitic and acicular matrixes was measured by means of the nano-indentation technique. Fracture toughness of cementite in SGP irons was slightly higher than in SGA irons, which can help to reduce the crackability of LSH layers.     

关于60Si2MnA钢奥氏体中温转变的研究

60Si2MnA钢过冷奥氏体的中温转变产物为贝氏体铁素体和残余奥氏体,贝氏体铁索体的形成与自催化效应密切相关。在回火过程中,贝氏体中的奥氏体以扩散转变方式分解为铁素体和渗碳体。从而说明奥氏体的等温转变与回火转变是本质不同的转变。     

Effect of Intercritical Dislocation Multiplication to Mn Partitioning and Microstructure Evolution of Bainite in Low Carbon SteelEI北大核心CSCD

The volume fraction and stabilization of retained austenite at room temperature were determined by the degree of stable element partitioning of austenite. The element diffusion behaviors usually had a close relationship with crystal defects, and dislocation multiplication caused by high temperature deformation might also increase the vacancy concentration, which contributed to the diffusion of substitutional atoms and interstitial atoms. By adopting a new treatment process of intercritical deformation-hold-quenching (DIQ), the effect of Mn partitioning and the structure evolution of bainite under the deformation in intercritical area were studied. The microstructure, dislocation density and distribution of alloy elements, especially the volume fraction of retained austenite, were characterized by means of OM, SEM, TEM, EPMA and XRD. The results indicated that the grains of ferrite and the lathes of martensite were refined, the number of the block martensite was decreased, and dislocation density was increased from 0.36x10(14) m(-2) to 1.20x10(14) m(-2) after deformation. The mutual movement of dislocation slip increased vacancy concentration and the number of interstitial solute atoms, accelerated the diffusive rate of C atoms and Mn atoms from alpha phase to gamma phase, and promoted the partitioning effect of Mn element in the critical region. Eventually, the contents and areas of C and Mn enrichment were increased. By adopting the process of intercritical deformation-hold-austenitizing-quenching-partitioning in bainitic region-quenching (DI&Q&PB), the volume fraction of retained austenite was increased from 11.5% to 13.9%, and the carbon content in retained austenite was increased from 1.14% to 1.28%.     

准下贝氏体的孪晶及形成机制

透射电镜实验证实在含硅钢准下贝氏体组织中存在孪晶亚结构,贝氏体中脊亦存在孪晶。中脊与残余奥氏体孪晶是贝氏体铁素体切变共格长大时协调均匀切变形成的变形挛晶。     

贝氏体转变过程的阶段性及类调幅分解

含有阻碍碳化物析出的合金元素的钢，贝氏体转变过程可以分为二个阶段：准贝氏体阶段和典型贝氏体阶段，准贝氏体阶段组织为贝氏体铁素体和残余奥氏体，典型贝氏体阶段组织为贝氏体铁素体和碳化物。用透射电子显微镜分析表明间隙型65Si2MnMo合金及置换型Ni28Mn合金贝氏体转变过程存在间隙原子(C)和置换原子(Ni)的类调幅分解现象。典型贝氏体转变过程中碳化物的析出源来自过饱和的贝氏体铁素体及残余奥氏体。