Comparison of magnetic Barkhausen noise and ultrasonic velocity measurements for microstructure evaluation of SAE 1040 and SAE 4140 steels

The aim of this study is to compare the performance of magnetic Barkhausen noise and ultrasonic methods for the evaluation of the microstructure of commercial steels. Following the austenitization of the specimens made of SAE 1040 and SAE 4140, various heat treatments were carried out to obtain microstructures consisting of martensite, tempered martensite, fine pearlite–ferrite, and coarse pearlite–ferrite. The microstructures were initially characterized by SEM investigation and hardness measurements. The magnitude and position of Barkhausen noise peaks were determined via a commercial system. The propagation rates of longitudinal waves were determined with the ultrasonic pulse-echo technique. Barkhausen noise response and sound velocity goes to minimum for the as-quenched martensite, and both tend to increase in the following sequence: tempered martensite, fine pearlite–ferrite, and coarse pearlite–ferrite. However, the magnetic features are more sensitive to the microstructure variations than to the sound velocity.     

Effect of Post-weld Heat Treatment on Microstructure and Fracture Toughness of 30CrMnSiNi2A Steel Welded Joints

The electron beam local post-weld heat treatment (EBLPWHT) is a rather new method that provides the advantages of high precision, flexibility and efficiency, energy saving and higher productivity. This paper studies the effect of two post-weld heat treatment processes on the microstructure, mechanical properties and fracture toughness of an electron beam welded joints in 30CrMnSiNi2A steel. EBLPWHT, in a vacuum chamber, immediately after welding and a traditional furnace whole post-weld heat treatment (FWPWHT) were compared. The experimental results show that, after EBLPWHT treatment, the main microstructure of weld was changed from coarse acicular martensite into lath rnartensite, HAZ was changed from lath martensite, bainite into lower bainite, and base metal was changed from ferrite and pearlite into upper bainite and residual austenite. The microstructures of different zones of joints in FWPWHT condition were tempered sorbite. The properties of welded joints can be improved by the EBLPWHT in some extent, and especially largely for the fracture toughness of welded joints. However the value of fracture toughness of base metal is comparatively low, so appropriate heat treatment parameters should be explored in the future.     

Friction stir lap welded advanced high strength steels: Microstructure and mechanical properties

Friction stir welding was carried out under different heat input and cooling rates to produce lap joints between high strength martensitic steel sheets. The microstructure of the welds was characterized, and microhardness was evaluated. Joint efficiency was determined by lap shear test. Variation in processing conditions governed total heat input, peak temperature and cooling rate during friction stir welding. Weld nugget microstructure depended principally on cooling rate. The slowest cooling rate promoted ferrite-pearlite and the fastest cooling rate resulted in martensite formation in the weld nugget. The weakest region of all the joints was the heat affected zone, which consists of ferrite with small quantities of pearlite. Fracture during shear testing occurred along the heat affected zone of welded joints. The width and grain size of ferrite in heat affected zone controlled the joint efficiency.     

显微组织对X80钢氢致裂纹敏感性和氢捕获效率的影响

对以针状铁素体为主的X80管线钢进行不同工艺的热处理,分别得到具有多边形铁素体组织或板条马氏体组织的试样。研究了显微组织对不同试样在饱和H_2S环境中的氢致裂纹(HIC)敏感性和氢渗透行为的影响。结果表明:具有不同显微组织的X80钢其HIC敏感性从大到小的排序为:1水淬处理的板条马氏体组织试样,2空冷处理的多边形铁素体组织试样,3原始针状铁素体组织试样;氢在材料中的捕获效率是影响材料HIC敏感性的主要因素之一,渗氢通量J_∞、氢扩散系数D_(eff)越低,氢捕获效率越高,管线钢的氢致裂纹敏感性越高。     

Role of microstructure in sucker rod string failures in oil well production

Sucker-rod pumps are operating in very aggressive environments in oil well production. The combined effect of a corrosive environment and significant mechanical loads contribute to frequent cases of failure of the rod string during operation. Standards and recommendations have been developed to control and avoid those failures. This study presents various failure cases of sucker rods in different applications. The heat treatment of the steel material and the resulting microstructure are an important factor in the behavior of the sucker rod. A spheroidized microstructure presents a weaker resistance to corrosion affecting the rod life. Non-metallic inclusions are a pitting preferential site leading to fatigue crack initiation. Heterogenous microstructure as banded martensite and ferrite/pearlite decreases the ductility of the material affecting the fatigue propagation resistance.     

基于磁性测定法研究奥氏体不锈钢波纹管的形变马氏体含量

根据形变诱发马氏体磁性的变化,针对SUS304和SUS316L奥氏体不锈钢分步机械胀压成型波纹管以及未经固溶处理与经固溶处理SUS304奥氏体不锈钢液压成型波纹管,采用MP30E—S型铁素体测定仪定量测定了波纹管母材区及焊缝区的形变马氏体含量。结果表明：形变马氏体含量的大小与波纹管材料、相对变形量以及热处理状态等均有很大关系;在相同变形量条件下SUS316L不锈钢的形变马氏体含量比SUS304不锈钢要小得多;相对变形量越大,形变马氏体含量也越大,且波峰处的形变马氏体含量较波谷处的要大得多;与未固溶处理波纹管相比,经固溶处理后波纹管的形变马氏体含量显著减小。     

前驱体对含Cu低碳钢I&Q&P处理后组织性能的影响

采用IQP工艺和EPMA、SEM和XRD等手段,研究了3种前驱体对含Cu低碳钢残余奥氏体含量及力学性能的影响。结果表明,双相区保温初期试验钢奥氏体长大由C配分控制,后期由合金元素Mn、Cu配分控制;双相区保温奥氏体化后,双相区配分后形成弥散分布的局部高浓度Mn、Cu区域仍保留富集效果,在随后的淬火-碳配分阶段易于形成残余奥氏体。经IQP处理后,前驱体为P+F的钢室温组织中马氏体板条较粗,原始奥氏体晶界并不明显;前驱体为F+M钢得到的马氏体板条有序细密;前驱体为M的钢室温组织中马氏体板条更加细密。其中,前驱体组织为M的钢中残余奥氏体量最高,延伸率为24.1%,强塑积可达25 338 MPa·%,综合性能最好。     

Effect of quenching temperature on microstructure and performance of Al‐bearing cast boron steel

The effects of quenching temperature on microstructure and performance of Al‐bearing cast boron steel (ACBS) containing 0.25–0.45%C, 1.5–1.8%B and 1.4–1.6%Al were investigated by means of the optical microscopy (OM), the scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X‐ray diffraction (XRD), Rockwell hardness and Vickers micro‐hardness tester. The results show that the solidification structures of cast steel consist of high hardness boride, ferrite, pearlite and a small quantity of martensite when 1.5–1.8%B and 1.4–1.6%Al are added into the carbon steel. The metallic matrix of ACBS changes into single martensite from the mixed structure of ferrite, pearlite and martensite along with the increase of quenching temperature. The increase of quenching temperature also leads to the transformation of boride from continuous shape to isolated shape. Moreover, the micro‐hardness of matrix and macroscopical hardness increase with the increase of quenching temperature. When the quenching temperature excels 1000°C, the hardness has a slight decrease. ACBS has good comprehensive properties after heat treatment at 1000°C.     

Effect of Nb-Mo additions on precipitation behaviour in V microalloyed TRIP-assisted steels

The microstructural evolution and precipitation behaviour of Nb-V-Mo and single V containing transformation-induced plasticity-assisted steels with an acicular/bainitic ferrite matrix were investigated by a heat treatment up to the austenite formation range. It was found that during the heating stage the acicular/bainitic ferrite matrix resisted recrystallisation, while cementite and martensite were decomposed and austenite was formed in the acicular/bainitic ferrite. Both Nb-V-Mo and V containing steels after the heat treatment showed a microstructure consisting of a polygonal ferrite matrix with small islands of pearlite. During these transformations, the microscopy observations showed that 0.04 wt% Nb and 0.08 wt% Mo additions to the 0.16 wt% V microalloyed steel considerably reduced the growth-coarsening of microalloy precipitates.     

Effect of martensite content,its dispersion,and epitaxial ferrite content on Bauschinger behaviour of dual phase steel

Abstract

Dual phase microstructures were produced in a low carbon steel, in which the martensite volume fraction was kept constant at two levels, of 18 and 25%, while the epitaxial ferrite content was varied independently. The microstructures were produced with two dispersions of martensite, a relatively coarse dispersion by intercritical annealing of a ferrite/pearlite starting microstructure and a finer dispersion from an initial martensitic microstructure. Bauschinger tests were conducted using prestrains in both tension and compression of 0.4, 1, and 2.2%. Prestrain direction had no measurable effect on plastic flow behaviour after strain reversal. Mean back stresses increased with increasing strain and martensite content, and were higher for the finer martensite dispersion. They decreased significantly with increasing epitaxial ferrite content in the case of the finer dispersion, but less significantly in the coarser dispersion. These effects of microstructure are discussed in terms of stress transfer to martensite, work hardening, and tensile properties. It is concluded that about half of the mean back stress developed during early plastic deformation was generated by stress transfer to the martensite, the remainder arising from strain hardening of the matrix. A small permanent softening in the Bauschinger test resulted from a reduction of effective stress in the ferrite matrix when the strain path was reversed.     

Simulation of hot-rolled dual-phase weathering steel 09CuPCrNi

The continuous cooling transformation diagram of deformed austenite for steel 09CuPCrNi was constructed by means of a combined method of dilatometry and metallography. The diagram exhibits an elongated polygonal ferrite C-curve with a delayed pearlite start and a metastable austenite gap between the polygonal ferrite and pearlite regions and between the ferrite and bainite regions. For this experimental steel, it is possible to obtain a dual-phase microstructure directly by hot rolling and appropriate cooling. Based on the diagram, the technical process of a hot-rolled dual-phase treatment was established and simulated using a thermal simulation testing machine. Dual-phase microstructures were obtained that show some bainite phase and are characterized by an irregular distribution of island-shaped martensite in a matrix of equiaxed ferrite grains. The morphology of the martensite phase is essentially of the lath type, with small areas of micro-twins appearing.     

Study on microstructure of low carbon 12% chromium stainless steel in high temperature heat-affected zone

Coarsening, embrittlement and corrosion sensitization in high temperature heat-affected zone (HTHAZ) are the major problems when low carbon 12% chromium stainless steel is being welded, which induce deterioration of the impact toughness at low temperature and intergranular corrosion resistance. This study investigated the corresponding microstructures in HTHAZ with different chemical compositions and heat inputs through thermal simulation tests. There are several primary conclusions: (1) When ferrite factor (FF) is above 9.0, the microstructure in HTHAZ is fully ferrite or a small amount of martensite net likely distributing along delta ferrite grain boundaries. On the other hand, if FF is below 9.0, the martensite content increases with the decreasing of FF. (2) Heat input influences the microstructure of high FF steel in HTHAZ. The martensite content and its distribution of low FF steel are not sensitive to heat inputs, but the grain size grows up with the increase of heat inputs. (3) The coarse Ti-rich particles in low FF steels containing Ti can promote intragranular austenite formation inside delta ferrite resulting in packet morphology of martensite. On the other hand, martensite of low FF steels only stabilized with Nb is characterized by grain boundary allotriomorphs, Widmanstätten structures and secondary sawteeth. This martensite reticularly distributes along ferrite grain boundaries.     

Tensile properties of iron-based P/M steels with ferrite + martensite microstructure

The effect of intercritical heat treatments on the tensile properties of iron-based P/M steels was investigated. For this purpose, atomized iron powder (Ancorsteel 1000) was admixed with 0.3 wt.% graphite powder. Tensile test specimens were cold pressed at 700 MPa and sintered at 1120 °C for 30 min under pure argon gas atmosphere. After sintering, ∼20% pearlite volume fraction in a ferrite matrix was obtained. To produce coarse ferrite + martensite microstructures, the sintered specimens were intercritically annealed at 724 and 760 °C and quenched in water. To obtain fine ferrite + martensite microstructures, the sintered specimens were first austenitized at 890 °C and water-quenched to produce a fully martensitic structure. These specimens were then intercritically annealed at 724 and 760 °C and re-quenched. After the intercritical annealing at 724 and 760 °C and quenching, martensite volume fractions were ∼ 18% and 43%, respectively, in both the coarse- and fine-grained specimens. Although the intercritically annealed specimens exhibited higher yield and tensile strength than the as-sintered specimens, their elongation values were lower. Specimens with a fine ferrite + martensite microstructure showed high yield and tensile strength and ductility in comparison to specimens with a coarse ferrite + martensite microstructure. The strength values of specimens increased with increasing martensite volume fraction.     

Monitoring the Microstructural Evolution in Spheroidized Steels by Magnetic Barkhausen Noise Measurements

The aim of this study is to monitor nondestructively the degree of spheroidization in steels by Magnetic Barkhausen Noise (MBN) method. Various series of specimens consisting of either lamellar pearlite or partially/completely spheroidized carbides were produced from AISI 1060 steel by appropriate heat treatments. All specimens were characterized by metallographic examinations, hardness and MBN measurements. The results show that MBN signals are very sensitive to the variations in the microstructure caused by the spheroidizing heat treatment. The change of microstructure, from coarse lamellar carbides to uniformly dispersed spherical carbides in ferrite matrix, is reflected as higher Barkhausen activity due to less effective pinning of domain walls.     

Laser surface modification of carburized and borocarburized 15CrNi6 steel

The paper presents the results of laser heat treatment (LHT) of carburized and borocarburized 15CrNi6 low-carbon steel. Laser tracks were arranged by CO₂ laser beam as multiple tracks formed in the shape of a helical line. The microstructure and properties of these diffusion layers were compared with those obtained after through-hardening. The microstructure after carburizing and LHT consists of adjacent characteristic zones: re-melted zone (coarse-grained martensite), carburized layer with heat affected zone (fine acicular martensite), carburized layer without heat treatment and the substrate (ferrite and pearlite). The highest measured microhardness (about 820 HV) was observed in re-melted and heat affected zones. The increase of distance from the surface was accompanied by a gradual decrease of microhardness up to 400 HV beneath the HAZ and up to 250 HV in the core of steel. The carburized layer after LHT exhibited a higher resistance to frictional wear compared to a carburized layer after through-hardening. The microstructure after borocarburizing and LHT consists of the following characteristic zones: iron borides of laser-modified morphology (FeB and Fe₂B), carburized layer with heat affected zone (martensite and alloyed cementite), carburized layer without heat treatment and the substrate (ferrite and pearlite). The highest microhardness was obtained in the iron boride zone. The microhardness of FeB boride extended up to 2200 HV and for the Fe₂B boride up to about 1300–1600 HV. With increased distance from the surface, the microhardness gradually decreases to 800 HV in HAZ, 400–450 HV in the carburized layer without heat treatment and to 250 HV in low-carbon substrate. The iron borides after LHT assume a globular shape, which leads to a lower texture and porosity of the borided layers. The increased resistance to friction wear of the borocarburized layers is certified in comparison with the borided layer after conventional heat treatment (through-hardening).     

Pitting susceptibility of induction-quenched pipeline with microstructural heterogeneity

Pitting corrosion was found to be the immature failure mechanism for a slurry pipe that has an internal surface hardened with induction-quenching technique. The metallographic examination shows that the microstructure of surface layer is a banded mixture of martensite, ferrite, and pearlite. The pits initiate preferably in the ferrite bands. Electrochemical measurements are conducted to evaluate the pitting susceptibility of each constituent. When the small amount of chloride is present, the breakdown potential of ferrite is lower than those of martensite and pearlite. The high likelihood of metastable pit initiation in ferrite is also demonstrated by the electrochemical noise records. The development of pits in ferrite in the mixed microstructure is further promoted by the galvanic effect when ferrite is coupled with pearlite or martensite. The passive film of steel is an n-type semiconductor. The Mott–Schottky measurements indicate that the passive film formed on the ferrite specimen contains more oxygen vacancies, suggesting that the lower breakdown resistance is likely due to a highly defective film structure. The high-to-low pitting susceptibility is ferrite?>?martensite?>?pearlite. The experimental observations of this study imply that a practical approach to improve the performance of tailing pipes is to eliminate the microstructural heterogeneity in the surface layer by modifying the induction-heating process.     

Role of microstructure and testing conditions in sulphide stress cracking of X52 and X60 API steels

The resistance of X52 and X60 API steels to sulphide stress cracking (SSC) was tested by tensile tests at a constant load and also by slow strain rate tensile (SSRT) tests. Both steels were tested after hot-rolling, when they had a microstructure which consisted predominantly of ferrite and pearlite. They were then tested after laboratory quenching and tempering, when their microstructure was predominantly of tempered bainite or martensite. The results showed that the resistance of the steel to SSC depended strongly on the microstructure when it was tested under a constant load. In this case, the quenching and tempering considerably increased the resistance of the steel to SSC. The results of SSRT tests were similar regardless of the heat treatment used. Non-metallic inclusions seemed to play an important role as crack initiation sites during the SSRT tests; this may be due to the hydrogen–deformation interaction. The resistance to SSC varied as a function of the specimen's orientation during the SSRT tests. This may be related to the geometric characteristics of the non-metallic inclusions.     

低温临界区退火时间对22MnB5钢组织和性能的影响

为了研究22MnB5钢在退火过程中的组织演变规律,细化热冲压成形后马氏体板条束,通过扫描电镜(SEM)、能谱分析、电子背散射衍射(EBSD)分析技术和拉伸实验等方法,研究了不同低温临界区退火时间对22MnB5钢显微组织和力学性能的影响,并阐述了不均匀奥氏体在退火过程中的转变机制及合金元素对粒状珠光体形成的影响.研究表明,经低温临界区不同退火时间保温及随后等温处理后,得到不同的珠光体形态,在770℃保温0.5 h,并在700℃等温处理后,得到铁素体基体上分布颗粒状碳化物的粒状珠光体组织;随着临界区保温时间的延长,奥氏体转变逐渐均匀,使部分奥氏体在随后的等温过程中发生共析转变,得到多边形铁素体+片层状珠光体组织.粒状珠光体组织有利于细化淬火后的马氏体板条束,提高综合力学性能.     

Evaluation of properties and microstructure as a function of tempering time at intercritical temperatures in HY-80 steel castings

Prior work on a failed HY-80 Bridge Access Trunk (BAT) casting indicated the cause of failure to be improper processing techniques. As-received HY-80 casting material showed a non-homogenous microstructure with two distinct microconstituents present: undertempered martensite and a layered martensite–ferrite structure. Heat treatment temperatures from in the intercritical range (721–799 °C) produced microstructures that differ from the desired uniform microstructure of tempered martensite and were similar to those found in the failed casting. In order to further examine the relationship between processing and microstructure, it was decided to vary the time for which the steel was held in the intercritical temperature range. This additional work was warranted by the medium intercritical heat treatment results in the previous study [Holthaus JE, Koul MG, Moran AL. Property and microstructure evaluation as a function of processing parameters: large hy-80 steel casting for a US navy submarine. Eng Fail Anal 2006;13(1):1397–409] and its similarity to the failed casting microstructures. An important finding of this study is that, contrary to normal behavior during tempering, HY-80 steel tempered in the intercritical range demonstrates a severe loss of toughness; which can be exaggerated for longer hold times and higher temperatures. To confirm the hypothesis that the presence of brittle martensite formed by improper heat treatment was the cause of failure, SEM section fractography was employed to directly examine the microstructure underlying the fracture surface and to identify a correlation between microstructure and fracture mode.     

Multiscale prediction of mechanical behavior of ferrite–pearlite steel with numerical material testing

Multiscale mechanical behaviors of ferrite–pearlite steel were predicted using numerical material testing (NMT) based on the finite element method. The microstructure of ferrite–pearlite steel is regarded as a two‐component aggregate of ferrite crystal grains and pearlite colonies. In NMT, the macroscopic stress–strain curve and the deformation state of the microstructure were examined by means of a two‐scale finite element analysis method based on the framework of the mathematical homogenization theory. The microstructure of ferrite–pearlite steel was modeled with finite elements, and constitutive models for ferrite crystal grains and pearlite colonies were prepared to describe their anisotropic mechanical behavior at the microscale level. While the anisotropic linear elasticity and the single crystal plasticity based on representative characteristic length have been employed for the ferrite crystal grains, the constitutive model of a pearlite colony was newly developed in this study. For that reason, the constitutive behavior of the pearlite colony was investigated using NMT on a smaller scale than the scale of the ferrite–pearlite microstructure, with the microstructure of the pearlite colony modeled as a lamellar structure of ferrite and cementite phases with finite elements. On the basis of the numerical results, the anisotropic constitutive model of the pearlite colony was formulated based on the normal vector of the lamella. The components of the anisotropic elasticity were estimated with NMT based on the finite element method, where the elasticity of the cementite phase was numerically evaluated with a first‐principles calculation. Also, an anisotropic plastic constitutive model for the pearlite colony was formulated with two‐surface plasticity consisting of yield functions for the interlamellar shear mode and yielding of the overall lamellar structure. After addressing the microscopic modeling of ferrite–pearlite steel, NMT was performed with the finite element models of the ferrite–pearlite microstructure and with the microscopic constitutive models for each of the components. Finally, the results were compared with the corresponding experimental results on both the macroscopic response and the microscopic deformation state to ascertain the validity of the numerical modeling. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.