Effect of solidification conditions on the solidification sequence of austenitic chromium-nickel stainless steels

Unlike the well-known effect of alloy elements in promoting the ferritic or austenitic solidification of stainless and acid-resisting chromium-nickel steels, kinetic effects have as yet not been so widely looked into. For this reason, the impact of the solidification rate on the ratio of the amounts of ferritic and austenitic liquid solidification was investigated for the steels of grades X8CrNiTi18.10 and X8CrNiMoTi18.11. A microanalysis for the determination of the primary ferrite content of samples taken from ingots of different size and at different distances from the ingot surface for a total of 161 heats revealed the following:

• – Increasing solidification rate causes the primary ferrite content produced during solidification to rise for steels with peritectic solidification sequence due to the resultant approach of the distribution coefficient to unity.
• – Increasing solidification rate causes the austenite content to rise for steels with a primary simultaneous crystallization of austenite and ferrite due to a low total segregation in case of austenite crystallization as compared with ferrite crystallization.
• – The effect of an elevated solidification rate is qualitatively equivalent to a shift of the saturation lines of the three-phase space l+δ+γ in the Fe—Ni—Cr ternary system for liquid and γ-crystals in the direction S with the two saturation lines approaching each other. Hence, contrary to what is expected according to the equilibrium diagram of Schürmann and Brauckmann, austenitic Cr—Ni steels solidify primarily in peritectic mode and, in the area of the line of the double-saturated liquid, through a primary simultaneous crystallization of austenite and ferrite.
• – The boundary composition between primary ferritic and primary austenitic crystallization changes with an increase in cooling rate by seven orders of magnitude from 1.25 to 1.70 as expressed in the ratio of the Cr—Ni equivalents according to Hammar and Svensson.

     

Fe-5Mn-2Al-0.15C中锰钢连铸凝固偏析及粒子析出行为

为研究Fe-Mn-Al-C系中锰钢连铸凝固偏析及粒子析出特性,采用光学显微镜观察Fe-5Mn-2Al-0.15C中锰钢的显微组织,并通过Thermo-Calc热力学软件研究了其凝固模式、溶质元素偏析及粒子析出行为。结果表明,该中锰钢铸锭的显微组织主要为板条状马氏体,且含有少量铁素体;其凝固模式为L→L+δ→L+δ+γ→δ+γ→γ;Al元素的平衡分配系数大于1,发生负偏析,偏聚到δ-铁素体枝晶内部;而Mn、Nb、V、S等溶质元素发生正偏析,均偏聚到枝晶间。AlN主要在枝晶内析出,其析出温度为1 448 ℃;MnS、Nb和V的富集物主要在枝晶间析出,且MnS和Nb的富集物均在1 400 ℃以上开始析出,而V的富集物的析出温度为760 ℃。     

高合金钢Vanadis4凝固过程及组织

通过激光扫描共焦显微镜、X射线衍射、扫描电镜、电子探针、微区成分能谱分析和差示扫描量热法,研究了高合金Vanadis4(V4)模具钢(%:1.5C、8.0Cr、1.5Mo、4.0V)的凝固过程及其微观组织。结果表明,V4钢基体为马氏体和残余奥氏体,基体中碳化物主要为MC与M₇C₃型。杆状、棒状或团块状VC分布在晶界。该钢在凝固时,首先发生结晶过程L→γ从液相中析出初生γ相,随着γ相不断析出,剩余液相中合金元素含量不断富集,达到共晶成分后将先后发生L→γ+MC与L→γ+M₇C₃共晶反应。     

冷却速率对奥氏体不锈钢凝固过程影响的原位观察

通过采用激光共聚焦扫描显微镜对AISI304奥氏体不锈钢的凝固过程进行了原位动态观察研究.发现当冷却速率为0.05℃·s-1时,奥氏体不锈钢以胞状晶方式凝固,其凝固模式为FA模式,即δ铁素体相先从液相中形核并长大,γ相在1 448.9℃时通过与液相发生包晶反应(L+δ→γ)在δ铁素体相界形成,当温度降到1 431.3℃时液相消失,δ铁素体相通过固态相变转变为γ相,富Cr贫Ni的残留铁素体位于胞状晶之间.当冷却速率为3.0℃·s-1时,奥氏体不锈钢以枝晶方式生长,冷却到1346.4℃时包晶反应在液相与δ铁素体相界之间进行,其残留铁素体位于枝晶干,与冷却速率为0.05℃·s-1时相比,其残留铁素体的数量增多,残留铁素体富Cr贫Ni的程度减轻.      

Effect of Si on δ-Ferrite/γ-Austenite Transformation and M23C6 Precipitation During Solidification of X10CrAlSi18 Ferritic Heat-Resistant Stainless Steel

Herein, the δ-ferrite/γ-austenite transformation and the precipitation behavior of M₂₃C₆ carbides in X10CrAlSi18 ferritic heat-resistant stainless steel (FHSS) with various Si contents at a cooling rate of 100 °C min⁻¹ using confocal scanning laser microscopy (CSLM) are investigated. The findings reveal that γ-austenite preferentially forms along the δ-ferrite phase boundaries, and it progressively precipitates into the δ-ferrite phase as the temperature decreases. The increase in the Si content reduces the δ-ferrite/γ-austenite transformation temperature. It also inhibits the martensite transformation in the subsequent cooling process, decreasing the volume fraction of γ-austenite/martensite. M₂₃C₆ carbides are mostly found at the δ-ferrite and γ-austenite/martensite phase boundaries. Meanwhile, the nucleation of M₂₃C₆ carbides becomes more difficult as the volume fraction of γ-austenite/martensite decreases. Furthermore, the complex solidification mechanism of the nucleus is addressed.     

Nucleation of intragranular ferrite in Fe-Ni-P alloys

The nucleation of intragranular ferrite from austenite in Fe-Ni-P alloys was investigated in order to understand the development of the Widmanstätten pattern in iron meteorites. Alloys containing 5 to 10 wt pct Ni and 0 to 1 wt pct P were used to simulate iron meteorite compositions. In the isothermal and controlled cooling experiments the reaction path γ → α+ γ serves only to nucleate ferrite along austenite grain boundaries. It is necessary for (FeNi)₃P to be present within y grains in order to nucleate intragranular ferrite. The reaction path γ → γ+ phosphide → α + γ + phosphide yields rod shaped ferrite nuclei that bear a near Kurdjumov-Sachs orientation relationship with the surrounding matrix. The precipitation of ferrite, both along grain boundaries and within the austenite grains, is suppressed in the absence of P.     

冷却速率对δ-TRIP钢包晶相变的影响

在钢的凝固过程中冷却速率对钢的相变具有不可忽视的影响。本研究采用Thermo-calc热力学软件,模拟计算了含Al 3.52%（质量分数）的δ铁素体相变诱导塑性（δ-TRIP）钢的相转变过程,并分别使用差示扫描量热法（DSC)和Ohnaka微观偏析模型,分析了不同冷却速率对3.52%Al δ-TRIP钢凝固过程中的包晶相变温度,以及溶质元素偏析的影响。结果表明,冷却速率越小,DSC试验所得的相变温度越接近Thermo-calc计算的热力学平衡值。随着冷却速率从10、30增加到50 ℃·min–1,L→L+δ的转变温度降低,L+δ→L+δ+γ和L+δ+γ→δ+γ的转变温度先降低后升高,前者主要受过冷度的影响,后者主要受元素偏析的影响。冷却速率对C、Mn、S的偏析影响很小,对Si、P、Al的偏析影响较大,并且随着冷却速率的增加,Si、P、Al偏析程度增加。Si和P的偏析会小幅度延缓包晶反应的进程;Al对改变包晶反应进程作用明显,随着冷却速率的增加,包晶反应区域逐渐下移,且下移趋势渐缓。      

Elemental partitioning and microstructural development in duplex stainless steel weld metal

A thermodynamic analysis which is capable of estimating the austenite/ferrite equilibria in duplex stainless steels has been carried out using the sublattice thermodynamic model. The partitioning of alloying elements between the austenite and ferrite phases has been calculated as a function of temperature. The results showed that chromium partitioning was not influenced significantly by the temperature. The molybdenum, on the other hand, was found to partition preferentially into ferrite phase as the temperature decreases. A strong partitioning of nickel into the austenite was observed to decrease gradually with increasing temperature. Among the alloying elements, average nitrogen concentration was found to have the most profound effect on the phase balance and the partitioning of nitrogen into the austenite. The partitioning coefficient of nitrogen (the ratio of the mole fraction of nitrogen in the austenite to that in the ferrite) was found to be as high as 7.0 around 1300 K. Consequently, the volume fraction of austenite was influenced by relatively small additions of nitrogen. The results are compared with the experimentally observed data in a duplex stainless steel weld metal in conjunction with the solid state δ → δ + γ phase transformation. Particular attention was given to the morphological instability of grain boundary austenite allotriomorphs. A compariso between the experimental results and calculations indicated that the instability associated with irregular austenite perturbations results from the high degree of undercooling. The results suggest that the model can be used successfully to understand the development of the microstructure in duplex stainless steel weld metals.     

镍基高温合金GH4738的凝固偏析和碳化物析出行为

高温合金铸锭凝固过程内部各区域散热条件不同,冷却速率存在明显差异。采用差示扫描量热分析(DSC)、高温共聚焦显微镜(HT-CLSM)原位观察和定向凝固(DS)的方法,研究了宽冷速范围下GH4738合金的凝固偏析和碳化物析出行为。结果表明, GH4738合金的凝固顺序为L→γ+L,L→γ+L+MC,L→γ+MC+η+(γ+γ′),其中MC型碳化物、η相和(γ+γ′)共晶相为合金凝固过程中的主要偏析产物;Ti、Mo元素是合金的主要枝晶间偏析元素;提高冷却速率能有效降低凝固前沿残余液相中的溶质富集程度;铸态组织中的的碳化物主要为富Ti的MC型碳化物(TiC、Ti(N)C)和以TiN或Al₂O₃为核心的MC型复合碳化物(Al₂O₃-TiC、TiN-TiC);随着冷却速率降低,碳化物平均尺寸增大,体积分数减小,形貌由小块状向长条状、汉字状和大块状演变。     

高碳马氏体不锈钢8 Cr13 MoV钢铸态组织及碳化物

利用Thermo-Calc软件对8Cr13MoV马氏体不锈钢的凝固过程进行计算,利用光学显微镜、扫描电子显微镜和X射线衍射分析仪对铸态组织和碳化物形貌以及类型进行观察与分析,利用Gleeble热模拟试验机测定材料的静态连续冷却转变曲线.结果表明,8Cr13MoV在平衡凝固条件下组织为铁素体和M₂₃C₆型碳化物,而在实际的凝固条件下,组织为铁素体、马氏体、残余奥氏体、M₇C₃型和M₂₃C₆型碳化物,由于偏析导致最终组织中碳化物以M₇C₃型为主,少量M₂₃C₆以薄片或树枝状分布在晶界上.由于较高的C和Cr含量,以0.1℃·s-1的冷却速率冷却时,奥氏体也会发生马氏体转变.      

Influence of austenite and martensite strength on martensite morphology

The martensite morphology and austenite flow strength have been determined in a variety of ferrous alloys chosen so that the austenites were paramagnetic, ferromagnetic, substitutional strengthened, and interstitial strengthened. It is demonstrated that two of the most important variables in determining the habit plane (and thus morphology) of martensite in a given alloy are the resistances to dislocation motion in austenite and in ferrite (i. e., martensite). In the wide variety of alloys where martensite with a {259}_γ habit plane was observed, the austenite flow strength atM _s is greater than 30,000 psi. At lower austenite strengths, either {225}_γ or {111}_γ habit planes are found depending on the resistance to dislocation motion in ferrite. Thus, {225} martensites are not always found as part of the spectrum between {111} and {259} martensites but only in the cases (e. g., interstitial strengthening) where ferrite is preferentially strengthened relative to austenite. All of the observations are consistent with the idea that the habit plane observed in a given alloy is the one involving the minimum plastic work for the lattice invariant shear.     

The partitioning of alloying elements in vacuum arc remelted,Pd-modified PH 13-8 Mo alloys

The partitioning of alloying elements in as-solidified PH 13-8 Mo stainless steel containing up to 1.02 wt pct Pd has been investigated. The as-solidified structure is composed of two major phases, martensite and ferrite. Electron probe microanalysis reveals that Mo, Cr, and Al partition to the ferrite phase while Fe, Ni, Mn, and Pd partition to the martensite (prior austenite) during solidification and cooling from the solidus. In addition to bulk segregation between phases, precipitation of the intermetallic, PdAI, in the retained ferrite is observed. Precipitation of the normal hardening phase, β-NiAl, is also observed in the retained ferrite. Partition ratios of the various alloying elements are determined and are compared with those observed previously in duplex Fe-Cr-Ni stainless steel solidification structures. The martensite start temperature (M_s) was observed to decrease with increasing Pd concentration.     

The effect of cooling rate on the microstructures formed during solidification of ferritic steel

This article describes in detail the effect of cooling rate on the microstructure of a low-carbon Fe-12 pct Cr alloy. The alloy was prepared using a relatively simple technique, i.e., rapid cooling of the melt in a copper wedge mold. The dependence of microstructure on the cooling rate (∼40 to 10⁵ K/s) has been determined by X-ray diffraction (XRD), microhardness measurement, optical microscopy (OM), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). It has been found that the matrix structure over a large cooling rate range is composed of columnar ferrite grains, the size of which decreases with increasing cooling rate. Precipitation of second phases has been observed at either the ferrite grain boundaries or within the ferrite grains. The former takes place along the entire wedge sample, whereas the latter characterizes a region 12 mm away from the tip of the wedge sample. The essential structure of the grain boundary precipitates was identified as martensite, which is a transformation product of austenite precipitated at high temperatures. Retained austenite was identified at the tip region as isolated particles (<4 μm). The precipitates within the ferrite grains appeared as planar colonies consisting of two sets of needles. The density of these precipitates increases with increasing the cooling rate while their size decreases. Characteristic precipitate-free zones (PFZs) at the ferrite grain boundaries were observed and are discussed.     

Formation of Delta Ferrite in 9 Wt Pct Cr Steel Investigated by <Emphasis Type="Italic">In-Situ</Emphasis> X-Ray Diffraction Using Synchrotron Radiation

In-situ X-ray diffraction (XRD) measurements using high energy synchrotron radiation were performed to monitor in real time the formation of delta ferrite in a martensitic 9 wt pct chromium steel under simulated weld thermal cycles. Volume fractions of martensite, austenite, and delta ferrite were measured as a function of temperature at a 10 K/s heating rate to 1573 K (1300 °C) and subsequent cooling. At the peak temperature, the delta ferrite concentration rose to 19 pct, of which 17 pct transformed back to austenite on subsequent cooling.     

Hot rolling texture development in CMnCrSi dual-phase steels

The amount of strain below the temperature of nonrecrystallization, T _nr , has an important influence on the phase fractions and the final crystallographic texture of a hot-rolled dual-phase ferrite+martensite CMnCrSi steel. The final texture is influenced by three main microstructural processes: the recrystallization of the austenite, the austenite deformation, and the austenite-to-ferrite transformation. The amount of strain below T _nr plays a major role in the relative amounts of deformed and recrystallized austenite after rolling. Recrystallized and deformed austenite have clearly different texture components and, due to the specific lattice correspondence relations between the parent austenite phase and its transformation products, the resulting ferrite textures are different as well. In addition, austenite deformation textures result from either dislocation glide or the combination of dislocation glide and mechanical twinning, depending on the stacking fault energy (SFE). The texture components in hot-rolled dual-phase steels were studied by means of X-ray diffraction (XRD) measurements and orientation imaging microscopy (OIM). A clear crystallographic orientation difference was observed between the ferrite phase, transformed at temperatures near A _r3 , and the ferritic bainite and martensite phases, formed at lower temperatures. The results suggest that the primary ferrite, nucleated at temperatures close to A _r3 , transformed from the deformed austenite. The low-temperature constituents, bainite and martensite, form in the recrystallized austenite.     

Phase evolution of AISI 321 stainless steel during directional solidification

Abstract

The phase evolution of AISI 321 stainless steel was studied by directional solidification and quenching techniques. Two interfaces, solid/liquid and the peritectic reaction interface, were found to exist in the directional solidification structure. With increasing growth velocity the solid/liquid interface changed in the sequence of planar, cellular, dendritic and the primary phase changed from austenite to ferrite. The phase and morphology selection was verified by the interface response functions (IRFs) and the maximum growth temperature criterion. The ferritic island banding structure was observed, not only in the austenite cellular primary growth condition (3 μm s^?1), but also in the dendritic ferrite primary growth one at relatively low growth velocity (5 μm s^?1). It is deemed that the former resulted from the nucleation of ferrite in the continuous matrix of austenite phase, yet the latter is the residual primary ferrite attributed to the growth of austenite. Both of them do not come from the nucleation near the solid/liquid interface.     

15MnVB钢160 mm xl60 mm铸坯热变形奥氏体连续冷却转变行为

采用Gleble-1500热模拟机测定了15MnVB钢在0.05～20℃/s冷速下连续冷却转变的膨胀曲线,结合光学显微镜的微观组织观察,测绘了该钢热变形奥氏体连续冷却转变过程中的动态CCT曲线;研究了其连续冷却转变产物的组织形态和硬度。实验结果表明,15MnVB钢在0.05-20℃/s冷却速率下的组织主要由铁素体+珠光体、铁素体+珠光体+贝氏体、铁素体+珠光体+贝氏体+马氏体、贝氏体+马氏体组成。     

Solidification modeling and solid-state transformations in high-energy density stainless steel welds

The solidification and solid-state transformations which occur during the high-energy density (HED) welding of austenitic stainless steel were studied. Comparisons were made between structures observed in gas tungsten arc (GTA) welds and those of electron beam (EB) and laser welds using Fe-Ni-Cr ternary alloys with Cr/Ni ratios ranging from 1.5 to 1.85. Weld solidification and microsegregation was modeled using a finite difference analysis and compared with experimental results. These calculations were also used to help interpret the origin of the observed microstructures. Calculations showed that little solid-state diffusion occurs during the solidification and cooling of primary austenite solidified welds, whereas structures which solidify as ferrite may become almost completely homogenized as a result of diffusion. A change in solidification mode from primary austenite to primary ferrite was found to occur at higher Cr/Ni ratios with the HED welds than with GTA welds and is attributed to dendrite tip undercooling. A nearly segregation-free, single-phase austenite structure which appears to be unique to the rapid solidification velocities and cooling rates of HED welds was also observed. It is suggested that this structure is a product of ferrite solidification which transforms to austenitevia a massive transformation.     

Effect of magnesium addition in low-carbon steel part 1: behaviour of austenite grain growth

To reveal the effect of Mg addition on the austenite grain growth in low-carbon steel, the steels containing different Mg contents were refined with a vacuum induction furnace. First, the steels were subjected to the temperature range of 1000–1300°C for a holding time of 30?min. Moreover, using a confocal scanning laser microscope, the growth of austenite grains was investigated under isothermal holding conditions (1400°C), and the γ–α phase transformation was also identified after the samples were subjected to a cooling rate of 5°C?s^?1. It reveals that the grain growth is inhibited by Mg addition after increasing the temperature to 1300°C. The kinetic equations of austenite grain growth were further established by regression analysis based on the experimental results. Furthermore, a significant increase in the proportion of intra-granular ferrite takes place in 0.0026%Mg-added steel at the initial stage of γ?→?α with a cooling rate of 5°C?s^?1. This is mainly attributed to the plenty of Mg-containing inclusions, which are demonstrated to be effective nuclei for acicular ferrite, being in the Mg-added steel.     

Isochronal Phase Transformations of Low‐Carbon High Strength Low Alloy Steel upon Continuous Cooling

Aimed to acquire optimum comprehensive properties for the oil and gas pipeline steels, thermal treatment should be controlled to achieve ideal microstructures. Effects of cooling rates on transformation kinetics and microstructures of the low‐carbon high strength low alloy (HSLA) steel were investigated to obtain an optimized thermal treatment technology. Dilatometric measurements, light microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and transmission electron microscopy were employed in present work. The transformed microstructures contained polygonal ferrite + pearlite, acicular ferrite (AF), and bainitic ferrite (BF) due to the cooling rates increasing from 5 to 3000°C min^?1, in present investigated HSLA steel. The result shows that, the increase of cooling rate accelerates AF transformation and refines the steel's matrix. The morphology of martensite/austenite structures transformed from islands in AF to films in BF with the increase of cooling rate.