Effect of intercritical temperature and cold-deformation on the kinetics of austenite formation during the intercritical annealing of dual-phase steels

The objective of this investigation was to study the effect of the intercritical temperature and percentage of cold-deformation on the kinetics auf austenite formation during the intercritical annealing in the alpha + gammy (α + γ) phase field of the iron-carbon phase diagram. This investigation was carried out on an Fe–0.11 C–1.58Mn–0.4 Si ferritic-pearlitic alloy with different structures of 0% (hot-rolled), 25% and 50% cold-deformation. The intercritical annealing temperatures were 735, 750°C and the intercritical annealing time ranged from 15 to 1815 s. It has been observed that recrystallization of the deformed ferrite was completed before any austenite formation. Surprisingly, it was noted that the recrystallized ferrite grain size was independent of percentage cold-deformation. Furthermore, it was expected that cold-deformation accelerates the kinetics of austenite formation. Nevertheless, the amounts of austenite formed from pearlite dissolution were mostly equal, irrespective of the starting condition. As has been previously reported, increasing the intercritical annealing temperature was found to increase the amount of austenite.     

Austenitization during intercritical annealing of an Fe-C-Si-Mn dual-phase steel

Partial austenitization during the intercritical annealing of an Fe-2.2 pct Si-1.8 pct Mn-0.04 pct C steel has been investigated on four kinds of starting microstructures. It has been found that austenite formation during the annealing can be interpreted in terms of a carbon diffusion-limited growth process. The preferential growth of austenite along the ferrite grain boundaries was explained by the rapid carbon supply from the dissolving carbide particles to the growing fronts of austenite particles along the newly formed austenite grain boundaries on the prior ferrite grain boundaries. The preferential austenitization along the grain boundaries proceeded rapidly, but the austenite growth became slowed down after the ferrite grain boundaries were site-saturated with austenite particles. When the ferrite grain boundaries were site-saturated with austenite particles in a coarse-grained structure, the austenite particles grew by the mode of Widmanstätten side plate rather than by the normal growth mode of planar interface displacement.     

Influence of intercritical annealing on the texture formation in low-carbon steel strips

Cold rolled low carbon steels are often recrystallized in continuous annealing lines. This procedure is accompanied by partial austenitization. Up to 40 % phase transformation the {111} texture is enhanced, whereas at higher austenitization grades this texture is weakened. The underlying mechanisms of texture formation by phase transformation are investigated by means of quantitative texture analysis.     

Fe-C-Mn系冷轧双相钢两相区奥氏体化过程模拟

在对双相钢两相区奥氏体化过程进行热力学与动力学分析的基础上,建立了两相区奥氏体化过程的扩散模型,并采用显式有限体积法对740℃与780℃下的奥氏体化过程进行了数值求解.模拟结果表明:奥氏体长大初期受C元素在奥氏体中的扩散控制并很快达到亚平衡.该阶段奥氏体长大速度较快.奥氏体长大后期受Mn元素在铁素体中的扩散控制.该过程由于Mn元素的扩散速率比C元素的扩散速率低几个数量级而持续数千秒.当Mn元素在两相中的扩散通量相等时,奥氏体停止长大,Mn元素继续从铁素体向奥氏体中转移以完成其在两相中的均化.     

Enhanced mechanical properties of dual-phase steel by repetitive intercritical annealing

The effect of repetitive intercritical annealing on the mechanical properties and work-hardening response of a typical C–Mn dual-phase (DP) steel was studied by consideration of different pre-intercritical annealing microstructures and martensite volume fractions. It was revealed that the DP steels produced from the initial martensitic microstructure have much better mechanical properties compared with those originated from the ferritic–pearlitic banded microstructure. The repetitive intercritical annealing of the initial martensitic microstructure was effective for the enhancement of strength–ductility balance, where at a comparable ductility; a twofold increase in the tensile strength was obtained. Finally, these results were discussed based on the Crussard–Jaoul work-hardening rate analysis.     

Simulation of intercritical annealing in low‐alloy TRIP steels

A coupled thermodynamic/kinetic calculation of austenite formation during intercritical annealing of low‐alloy TRIP steels is presented. The simulation was performed with the use of Dictra computational kinetics software, which employs a procedure for the numerical solution of the coupled diffusion equations involved, as well as mobility databases for the retrieval of the appropriate kinetic data. Calculated results are compared with available experimental data, in order to evaluate the model. Simulation results, regarding the amount and composition of austenite, the rate of transformation and the effect of annealing temperature and heating conditions, are presented and discussed. It is concluded that the simulation can assist the design of the intercritical annealing in these steels.     

两相区退火温度对TRIP钢组织性能的影响

 针对600 MPa级别TRIP钢,进行了760、780、800、820、840、860 ℃两相区退火温度试验,利用扫描电镜和拉伸试验机等设备,分析了其对应的组织比例和力学性能检验结果,得出结论：随着两相区退火温度的升高,铁素体体积分数逐渐减少,钢板的抗拉强度值不断增加,但伸长率值却先下降再升高,在820 ℃伸长率有最大值,这与820 ℃时较高残余奥氏体体积分数和最大残奥中碳质量分数相对应,说明TRIP效应可以改善钢板的塑性指标,获得最佳强塑组合;在800～820 ℃的两相区转变温度范围内,强塑积可以达到2.17×104 MPa·%,为600 MPa级TRIP钢退火工艺提供了实际指导。     

中锰钢两相区退火奥氏体逆转变的数值分析

根据中锰钢热轧组织结构确立两相区奥氏体化的几何模型和初始条件,利用DICTRA动力学分析软件对中锰钢马氏体基体奥氏体化过程进行计算分析.在奥氏体化初期的形核过程中,马氏体中过饱和的碳锰元素从铁素体迅速转移到奥氏体并在相界面奥氏体一侧聚集.后续的相变过程中,碳在奥氏体中快速均化,但锰在相界面奥氏体一侧的聚集加剧.相变初期奥氏体界面推移速度比中后期高出若干个数量级,但随时间推移迅速衰减.相变初期相界面推移是碳扩散主导,相变后期界面推移受到锰在奥氏体中扩散速度制约.温度升高可显著提高相界面推移速度.达到相同数量奥氏体的情况下,低温长时退火有利于锰从铁素体向奥氏体转移并提高其在奥氏体中的富集度,从而提高奥氏体的稳定性.     

The effect of intercritical annealing temperature on the structure of niobium microalloyed dualphase steel

The structures produced in a Nb-microalloyed steel by oil quenching after intercritical anneals at 760 and 810 °C have been examined by light and transmission electron microscopy. After both anneals, the periphery of the austenite pool transforms on cooling to ferrite in the same orientation as the ferrite retained during intercritical annealing. Thus the ferrite forms by an epitaxial growth mechanism without the formation of a new interface or grain boundary. The new ferrite is precipitate-free in contrast to the retained ferrite which develops a very dense precipitate dispersion during intercritical annealing. In the carbonenriched interior of the austenite pool beyond the epitaxial ferrite only martensite forms in specimens annealed at 760 °C but various mixtures of ferrite and cementite form in specimens annealed at 810 °C. The latter structures include lamellar pearlite, a degenerate pearlite, and cementite interphase precipitation. All Nb is in solution in the austenite formed at 810 °C, and therefore the low hardenability of the specimens annealed at that temperature is best explained by the effect of low austenite carbon content.     

Effect of intercritical annealing on phosphorus segregation in hot- rolled medium- manganese TRIP steel

Field emission scanning electron microscope and transmission electron microscope combined with energy dispersive spectrometer were used to observe the phosphorus segregation behavior in hot- rolled medium- manganese TRIP steel. The samples were annealed at different temperatures, followed by the same aging process at 560?? for 50h. The results show that particle- like phosphorus is dispersively distributed in the samples annealed at 650??, while the sample annealed at 750?? shows uneven narrow- band- like phosphorus distribution. The entire phosphorus segregation zone overlaps with carbides precipitation. Both 650 and 750?? are intercritical region (ferrite + austenite) temperatures. The segregation usually occurs at ferrite grain boundaries. At the same temperature, the diffusion coefficient of phosphorus in ferrite is 26 times than in austenite. However, it is insufficient to explain the effect of annealing temperature on phosphorus segregation by diffusion coefficient. According to the Kikuchi line analysis in the electron backscatter diffraction, the phosphorus- containing precipitate phase is mainly FeP in orthogonal crystal system and MnxFe1-xP solid solution, which is in accord with the calculation results in Fe- Mn- C- P system by Factsage software.     

Development of ultra-fine grained dual phase microalloyed steels through severe cold rolling and intercritical annealing

A Nb-microalloyed structural steel with ferrite-pearlite microstructure was subjected to cold rolling and intercritical annealing to produce ultra-fine grained dual phase microstructure. Optical and transmission electron microscopy techniques were employed to characterise the microstructure. Initial results showed that the intercritical annealing (at 790°C for 90s) of samples rolled to a true strain of 2.4 resulted in a significant grain refinement from the average initial grain size of 20 μm to 1–2 microns. The microstructure primarily consisted of UFG ferrite matrix with homogeneously distributed islands of plate martensite with volume fraction of 27%.     

Effects of silicon content and intercritical annealing on the manganese partitioning in dual phase steels

 Steels of constant manganese and carbon contents with 0.34-2.26 wt. % silicon content were cast. The as-cast steels were then hot rolled at 1100°C in five passes to reduce the cast ingot thickness from 80 to 4 mm, air cooled to room temperature and cold rolled to 2 mm thickness. Dual-phase microstructures with different the volume fraction of martensite were obtained through the intercritical annealing of the steels at different temperatures for 15 min followed by water quenching. In addition of intercritical annealing temperature, silicon content also altered the volume fraction of martensite in dual-phase steels. The partitioning of manganese in dual-phase silicon steels were investigated using energy-dispersive X-ray spectrometry (EDS). The partitioning coefficient, defined as the ratio of the amounts of alloying element in the austenite to that in the adjacent ferrite, for manganese increased with increasing intercritical annealing temperature and silicon content of steels. It was also shown that the solubility of manganese in ferrite and austenite decreased with increasing intercritical temperature. The results were discussed by the diffusivity and the solubility of manganese in ferrite and austenite present in dual-phase silicon steels.     

临界区退火温度对Nb-Cr-RE系微碳DP钢组织及性能的影响

实验室设计了Nb-Cr-RE系微碳DP钢,利用扫描电镜以及拉伸试验机,观察与分析了退火温度对微碳DP钢组织与性能的影响.结果表明:微碳DP钢退火板主要由铁素体及其晶界上附着的细小马氏体所构成;随退火温度的上升,DP钢的抗拉强度先升后降,屈服强度逐渐降低,伸长率先增加后降低;铁素体再结晶越充分,晶粒尺寸分布越均匀,等轴化越明显,DP钢屈服强度越小,伸长率越高;另外高温退火时的较大尺寸短棒状碳化物会明显恶化伸长率.      

Influence of intercritical annealing temperature on microstructure and mechanical properties of medium Mn TRIP steel

The transformation, microstructure and mechanical properties of the 0. 2C- 5Mn TRIP steel after intercritical annealing were investigated using dilatometer, scanning electronic microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy(TEM), X- ray diffraction (XRD), and tensile testing machine. The phase transformation thermodynamics of the investigated steel after intercritical annealing was calculated by Factsage software and the characteristics of the transformation were discussed. The results show that the reversed austenite content increases with the increasing of the intercritical annealing temperature, the carbon content in reversed austenite firstly increases and then decreases, manganese content in reversed austenite decreases, which results in the decreasing of the thermal stability of reversed austenite. When the intercritical annealing temperature is 700??, an obvious martensitic transformation occurs during the cooling process. With the increasing of intercritical annealing temperature, cementite is gradually dissolved, but it cannot be completely dissolved due to the short transformation time. When the intercritical annealing temperature is 600-675??, the microstructure after intercritical annealing consists of ferrite, cementite and retained austenite. When the intercritical annealing temperature is 700??, the microstructure after intercritical annealing consists of ferrite, retained austenite, martensite and a small amount of undissolved cementite. The engineering stress and strain curves of the investigated steel are significantly changed with increasing intercritical annealing temperature. At the same time, the optimal mechanical properties with tensile strength of 1138MPa and total elongation of 23% can be obtained after annealed at 675?? for 3min.     

Effect of warm- rolling and intercritical annealing on microstructure and mechanical properties of medium- Mn steel

Effect of warm- rolling and subsequent intercritical annealing time at 650?? on microstructure and mechanical properties of a medium- Mn steel 0. 1C- 5Mn was investigated by using uniaxial tensile testing, transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and X- ray diffraction (XRD) analysis. The results show that a duplex microstructure having both equiaxed and lamellar morphologies of reverted austenite and ferrite is obtained after intercritical annealing of the warm- rolled steel sheet. The amount of reverted austenite and its size increase with increasing annealing time, which causes a decrease of the mechanical stability of austenite and thus an increase of ultimate tensile strength (UTS) while a decrease of yield strength, total elongation (TEL) and the product of UTS to TEL (UTS??TEL). An excellent combination of strength and ductility of 40GPa??% could be obtained after a short time annealing of 5min. The combination of strength and ductility (UTS??TEL) could be increased by about 20% for the warm- rolled steel sheet compared to that of the cold- rolled steel sheet. It is thus proposed that warm- rolling is a promising way to simplify the traditional multi- stage rolling and annealing processes of medium- Mn steels as well as further enhancing it mechanical properties.