Microalloyed Steels for Heat Treating Applications at Higher Process Temperatures

The potential is considered for use of microalloyed bar steels,in conjunction with thermomechanical processing,to enhance the properties of steels heat treated at higher process temperatures than have been used historically.Two examples are highlighted:microalloyed spring steels with enhanced resistance to tempering and Nb-modified gear steels for high temperature vacuum carburizing,e.g.on the order of 1050℃ versus 930℃ for a typical gas carburizing operation.In the spring steel example,the Nb+V steel results in significantly finer prior austenite grain sizes than the other steels considered,enhanced fatigue performance,and improved toughness.In the Nb-modified carburizing steel,Nb additions up to 0.1 wt pct to a Ti-modified 8620 steel,in conjunction with thermomechanical processing to control initial precipitate distributions prior to carburizing,are shown to lead to materials with improved resistance to abnormal austenitic grain growth at the higher process temperatures.Alloy content and heating rate to the carburizing temperature were shown to be important variables and suppression of abnormal grain growth was correlated with the development of a critical distribution of fine NbC precipitates,stable at the austenitizing temperature leading to improved fatigue performance in steels with fine and uniform grain structures.Opportunities for extending the results of this study to alloy design and controlled rolling in bar mills are assessed.     

In-situ observation on austenite grain growth of a Nb microalloyed high-carbon steel

It was reported in previous studies that the growth of austenite was inhibited by the pinning effect of Nb containing precipitates and the solute dragging effect of solute Nb. The effect of Nb on austenite grain growth of high carbon steel was investigated by laser scanning confocal microscope (LSCM). Microstructure evolution during heating process of the tested steel was observed by in situ observation. The results show that even without the pinning effect of Nb containing precipitates (at high temperatures), Nb can hinder the growth of austenite grains due to the solute dragging effect of Nb. Two models were used to fit the austenite grain growth process, and the Beck growth models of Nb microalloyed high carbon steels at different heating temperatures were established. The austenite grain growth kinetics model considering the influence of heating temperature and holding time can accurately predict the austenite grain growth process of Nb microalloyed high carbon steels.     

Nb微合金化高碳钢奥氏体晶粒长大原位观察

摘要：以往研究表明Nb析出相钉扎和固溶Nb溶质拖曳作用共同阻碍奥氏体晶粒长大。采用高温共聚焦显微镜研究了Nb对一种高碳含Nb钢奥氏体晶粒长大的影响,对含Nb钢加热过程组织演变进行原位观察。结果表明,Nb在没有钉扎作用下（即高温条件下）仍能起到阻碍奥氏体晶粒长大的作用,该阻碍效果主要是固溶Nb的溶质拖曳作用引起的。采用2种模型对奥氏体晶粒长大行为进行拟合,给出了不同加热温度下Nb微合金化高碳钢的Beck长大方程,同时考虑到加热温度和保温时间的共同影响,根据原位观察结果得到实验钢的奥氏体晶粒长大动力学模型,该模型能够较准确地预测Nb微合金化高碳钢奥氏体晶粒长大行为。     

高温渗碳齿轮钢的研究进展

常用齿轮钢渗碳温度为930℃,提高渗碳温度至1000～1050℃能显著缩短渗碳时间,但易引起晶粒长人,因此发展了通过Nb、Ti、B微合金化,细化钢原奥氏体晶粒的高温渗碳齿轮钢。文中介绍了国内外高温渗碳齿轮钢的钢种成分、工艺特点、高温渗碳层组织控制和钢的疲劳性能的研究进展。     

高温渗碳齿轮钢铝氮含量对奥氏体尺寸的影响

轨道交通用高端齿轮钢往往要求长时间高温渗碳处理以提高其表面硬度与耐磨性,利用合适的铝、氮含量实现AlN粒子对奥氏体晶界的有效钉扎对保证齿轮的晶粒度、力学性能与尺寸精度至关重要。在通常的渗碳温度下,AlN已经发生了部分固溶,为了保证高温渗碳后奥氏体晶粒细小,齿轮钢中的酸溶铝质量分数一般需要保持在0.02%～0.055%以保证析出足量细小的AlN第二相粒子来钉扎晶界,且氮质量分数要求为0.01%～0.016%。这一元素含量范围较广,因此有必要研究钢在高温渗碳时所需要的恰当铝氮积与铝氮比,也就是钢中w(Al)与w(N)的乘积和比值的取值范围,还需要研究AlN粒子对于奥氏体的钉扎作用。针对不同含铝含氮轨道交通用齿轮钢进行了伪渗碳试验与AlN第二相粒子Ostwald熟化和Gladman钉扎模型计算研究,揭示了奥氏体晶粒不均匀性因子Z与加热温度T的定量关系式。研究了含铝含氮齿轮钢高温保温过程奥氏体晶粒半径R_A的变化规律,以及不同铝氮积和铝氮比对奥氏体晶粒生长的影响。结果表明,加热温度T在1 173～1 273 K范围内,此类微合金高强钢的奥氏体晶粒长大不均匀性因子服从线性规律...     

Abnormal Grain Growth in Austenite Structure Reversely Transformed from Ferrite/Pearlite-Banded Structure

The grain growth behavior of austenite reversely transformed from ferrite/pearlite (F/P)-banded and non-banded steels has been studied. It was found that the grain-coarsening temperature [the temperature at which abnormal grain growth (AGG) occurs] of the initially banded F/P structure is quite low compared with that of the non-banded sample. In the F/P-banded sample, the abnormal grains always originate from the former ferrite region. The occurrence of AGG is essentially attributable not to the austenite nucleation process during heating but to the grain growth process after the completion of austenizing. It was proposed that the lowered grain-coarsening temperature in the banded structure is due to the non-uniform pinning-effect of AlN precipitates between former ferrite and pearlite regions.     

Nb微合金化对齿轮钢高温渗碳奥氏体晶粒度的影响

摘要：通过Nb微合金化提高渗碳温度是当前发展高端齿轮钢的重要思路。以20Cr钢为基准成分,通过实验室熔炼、锻造以及977~1134℃范围内高温伪渗碳实验,研究了0.02%、0.04%、0.06%、0.08%等不同Nb质量分数下渗碳后的奥氏体晶粒结构。在此基础上,依据热力学计算及析出颗粒熟化模型,对AlN、Nb(C,N)颗粒的钉扎强度进行估算并与晶粒尺寸建立联系,得到了适用于含Al、Nb齿轮钢的奥氏体晶粒度控制预测模型。最后,依据此模型分析了Nb含量对20Cr钢渗碳温度的影响,并基于高温渗碳目标提出了Nb微合金化的成分建议。     

Effect of Nb on Microstructure Evolution in Cold Rolled Dual-Phase Steels:Interaction of Recovery,Recrystallization and Phase Transformations

The effects of Nb addition,individually and in combination with Ti,were evaluated over a range of coiling temperatures.Coiling temperature influences the ratio of soluble and precipitated Nb in the hot rolled steel containing 0.08 % C and 2.2 % Mn.Nb bearing precipitates can co-precipitate on TiN and impact the microstructure and mechanical properties of the steel after annealing treatment.Microstructure characterization revealed that recovery and recrystallization processes preceded austenite formation.The effects of Nb on austenite formation in cold rolled steels during heating and isothermal holding and on austenite decomposition during subsequent cooling were investigated using dilatometry.The addition of Nb retarded ferrite recrystallization starting temperature,but had no significant effect on the starting temperature of austenite formation during heating.The Nb addition also accelerated austenite formation once the transformation started,and was beneficial for the formation of a finer and homogeneous microstructure.     

析出粒子对钛微合金化高强钢奥氏体晶粒长大的影响

通过析出粒子与奥氏体晶粒尺寸的定量关系,建立奥氏体晶粒长大模型,计算TiN和TiC析出粒子共同作用下钛微合金化钢奥氏体晶粒尺寸.根据析出相质点理论计算结果表明:随着加热温度的升高,析出粒子体积分数逐渐减少,粒子半径逐渐增大,TiC粒子强烈阻止奥氏体晶粒长大,TiN粒子对奥氏体晶粒长大钉扎效果一般.采用实验测试手段测量不同加热温度下保温30 min后实验钢的奥氏体晶粒尺寸,与理论计算结果吻合较好.      

Influence of TiN particles distribution on static recrystallisation in structural steels at reheating temperature

Results of investigations concerning the influence of Ti and N contents on static recrystallisation kinetics are presented. By means of torsion tests, and applying the back extrapolation method, the statically recrystallised fraction has been determined for four structural steels with different Ti and N contents, at different temperatures, equivalent strain of 0.35 and strain rate of 3.63 s^?1. Two reheating temperatures have been used to obtain different austenite grain sizes and different precipitate mean size in steels containing Ti. The results show that a low precipitated volume and a relatively large size of precipitates, at reheating temperature, did not impede grain boundary self‐diffusion during the static recrystallisation, the main mechanism governing static recrystallisation. Nevertheless, the smaller size of the precipitates acted as an obstacle to grain boundary self‐diffusion. These effects were measured by calculation of the activation energy for static recrystallisation. On the other hand, the influence of austenite grain size in steels containing Ti can not be correctly determined, as at each reheating temperature, in addition to a different austenite grain, the distribution of precipitates is also different, affecting the activation energy and making it impossible to clearly appreciate the influence of austenite grain size.     

晶粒尺寸对表面渗碳钢疲劳极限的影响

利用旋转弯曲疲劳试验方法,研究了渗碳钢的晶粒尺寸与其疲劳极限之间的定量关系。结果表明,晶粒尺寸越小,渗碳钢的疲劳极限越高,晶粒尺寸与疲劳极限之间存在类似Hall-Petch关系。疲劳试样断口观察发现,疲劳裂纹起源于渗碳层,并沿原奥氏体晶界扩展,细化渗碳层晶粒有利于提高疲劳裂纹扩展阻力,因此改善疲劳性能。     

铌对高钢级管线钢中第二相析出与奥氏体晶粒长大行为的影响

基于双亚点阵模型,计算了两种不同铌含量的高钢级管线钢在不同温度下Nb、Ti和Al的析出量,测定了不同加热温度和保温时间下奥氏体晶粒尺寸,建立两种钢奥氏体晶粒长大模型.发现Nb含量增加提高了其全固溶温度,并且温降过程中Nb析出量显著增多,在晶界两边析出的细小碳氮化物对奥氏体晶粒长大有显著的阴碍作用.高铌钢加热温度为1250℃时奥氏体晶粒显著粗化,预测模型也不同于1050~1200℃的模型,但相同保温温度下晶粒尺寸明显小于低铌实验钢.通过数据拟合计算出高铌钢的长大激活能远远高于低铌钢,再次证明高Nb的管线钢在1200℃以下能够有效地细化奥氏体晶粒,预测模型与实验值吻合较好.      

Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of Gear Steels After High Temperature Carburization

High temperature carburization is becoming more and more attractive because it can remarkably reduce processing time and increase productivity. However, the commonly used gear steels which are microalloyed by Al are not suitable for high temperature carburization due to abnormal grain coarsening. The gear steel 20CrMnTiNb, which is microalloyed with 0. 048% Nb and 0. 038% Ti, has been compared with the gear steel 20CrMn in terms of microstructure in the case of hardened layer and in the core after carburizing at 1000 °C for 4 h and mechanical properties after carburizing and pseudo-carburizing. The results indicate that the fine austenite grains exist in the carburized case of 20CrMnTiNb steel, while there is abnormal coarsening and duplex grain structure in the case and core of steel 20CrMn. The average prior austenite grain sizes are 19.5 and 34.2 μm for the steels 20CrMnTiNb and 20CrMn, respectively. In addition, the mechanical properties of 20CrMnTiNb steel are superior to those of 20CrMn steel. In particular, the HV hardness of the former is higher than that of the latter by about 40–70 in the range of less than 0.7 mm in depth. Therefore, the steel 20CrMnTiNb is suitable for high temperature carburization.     

钛铌微合金化齿轮钢的奥氏体晶粒长大研究

 采用热模拟渗碳方法研究了Ti、Ti-Nb微合金化的20CrMnTi和20CrMnTiNb渗碳齿轮钢在930~1200℃的奥氏体晶粒长大规律。结果表明,添加0. 038%(质量分数,下同)的钛和0. 048%的铌的20CrMnTiNb钢中含有铌和钛的析出相,其粒子间距为0. 361μm;而含0. 054%的钛的20CrMnTi钢中仅含有较大尺寸的TiN析出相,粒子间距为0. 471μm,前者奥氏体晶粒粗化倾向明显低于后者。20CrMnTiNb钢经1000℃奥氏体化10h后奥氏体晶粒长大不明显,且无混晶现象,适合高温渗碳工艺。     

Equilibrium Model of Precipitation in Microalloyed Steels

The formation of precipitates during thermal processing of microalloyed steels greatly influences their mechanical properties. Precipitation behavior varies with steel composition and temperature history and can lead to beneficial grain refinement or detrimental transverse surface cracks. This work presents an efficient computational model of equilibrium precipitation of oxides, sulfides, nitrides, and carbides in steels, based on satisfying solubility limits including Wagner interaction between elements, mutual solubility between precipitates, and mass conservation of alloying elements. The model predicts the compositions and amounts of stable precipitates for multicomponent microalloyed steels in liquid, ferrite, and austenite phases at any temperature. The model is first validated by comparing with analytical solutions of simple cases, predictions using the commercial package JMat-PRO, and previous experimental observations. Then it is applied to track the evolution of precipitate amounts during continuous casting of two commercial steels (1004 LCAK and 1006Nb HSLA) at two different casting speeds. This model is easy to modify to incorporate other precipitates, or new thermodynamic data, and is a useful tool for equilibrium precipitation analysis.     

High cycle fatigue behavior of gas-carburized medium carbon Cr-Mo steel

High cycle fatigue properties of gas-carburized 4140 steel were assessed to compare with those of 8620 steel which is widely used as a carburizing steel. Fatigue limit was evaluated associated with microstructure, case depth, and distribution of retained austenite and compressive residual stress near the surface. Test results indicated that the reheat quenching method of 4140 and 8620 steels produced a reduction in grain size, retained austenite level, and compressive residual stress at the surface and an increase in fatigue limit. The fatigue limit of direct-quenched 4140 steel shows substantially lower value than that of direct-quenched 8620 steel due to larger grain size of direct-quenched 4140 steel. However, the fatigue limit of reheat-quenched 4140 steel is greatly improved and is comparable to the reheat-quenched 8620 steel. This is attributed to the larger reduction ratio in grain size and deeper case depth of reheat-quenched 4140 steel as compared to direct-quenched and reheat-quenched 8620 steels.     

Precipitation and Recrystallization in Some Vanadium and Vanadium-Niobium Microalloyed Steels

Static precipitation and recrystallization following hot compression of austenite and the interactions between the two processes have been studied in a set of aluminum-killed HSLA steels containing 0.1 pct carbon, [0.016 - 0.026] pct nitrogen and 0.1 or 0.2 pct vanadium. Two steels containing both vanadium (0.1 and 0.2 pct) and niobium (0.03 pct) were included for purposes of comparison. The compression and the static tests were all carried out isothermally at temperatures between 800 and 900 °C. The course of recrystallization was followed by measurements of the rate of softening and by optical metallography of specimens quenched from the test temperature after different times. Precipitation was studied by measurements of the rate of hardening, by transmission electron microscopy of thin foils, carbon and aluminum extraction replicas, and by X-ray dispersion and energy-loss spectroscopy from individual precipitates. The temperature of the nose of theC-curve for precipitation in vanadium steels is much lower than that in niobium steels, as is the temperature, T_R, below which no recrystallization occurs in short times. Precipitation occurs both at austenite grain boundaries and in the grains (matrix precipitation). The former starts early and the precipitates grow rapidly to an approximately constant size; the matrix precipitates grow more slowly and are responsible for the observed hardening of the austenite. The relevance of various models proposed for the retardation and arrest of recrystallization of austenite are discussed. In the steels containing vanadium and niobium the precipitates contain both heavy elements: (V,Nb) (C,N). The Nb/V ratio in the matrix precipitates is different than in the parent austenite. The grain-boundary precipitates, however, contain the same Nb/V ratio as the parent austenite. The rate of hardening exhibits a reverseC-curve behavior, being more rapid than in the corresponding vanadium steels at higher temperatures and about the same at lower temperatures. Formerly Research Associate at MIT     

加热工艺对Nb-Ti微合金钢奥氏体晶粒长大的影响

 为了解加热制度对Nb Ti微合金钢的奥氏体晶粒长大和析出行为的影响,采用OM、TEM和EDS分析技术,研究了Nb Ti微合金钢在不同加热温度和保温时间的奥氏体晶粒长大行为,以及微合金元素碳氮化物析出行为。结果表明,随加热温度升高,奥氏体晶粒尺寸逐渐长大,当加热温度超过1 200 ℃时奥氏体晶粒尺寸快速长大。随保温时间延长,奥氏体晶粒尺寸逐渐长大,当保温时间超过2.0 h时奥氏体晶粒尺寸快速长大。EDS分析显示Nb Ti钢中的析出物为(Nb,Ti)(C,N)复合相,随着加热温度升高和保温时间延长,析出相体积分数减少,尺寸增大,从而减弱对奥氏体晶粒的细化作用;Nb Ti微合金试验钢合适的加热温度范围为1 150～1 200 ℃,保温时间低于2.0 h。     

Pearlite phase transformation in Si and V steel

Systematic research has been undertaken on the effects of single and combined additions of vanadium and silicon on the phase transformation and microstructure of pearlitic steels. Both alloy additions were found to result in the formation of nonlamellar products in the vicinity of austenite grain boundaries in hypereutectoid compositions (0.77 to 0.95 wt pct C). The products comprise discrete initial cementite particles and grain boundary ferrite, which is embedded with interphase precipitates of vanadium carbide. As the carbon content is increased further (up to 1.05 wt pct), the amount of grain boundary ferrite gradually decreases without any dramatic change in the morphology of the initial cementite particles. No continuous embrittling grain boundary cementite network was formed. The aspect ratios of the grain boundary cementite particles were decreased from 60:1 to 25:1 by the addition of the alloy elements. A compre-hensive model has been suggested to explain these effects. Other effects of these alloy elements on the microstructure of pearlitic steels have also been examined. For given austenitization conditions, an increase in carbon and vanadium content produced a decrease in austenite grain size. Silicon was found to increase the rate of interphase precipitation of vanadium carbides. Formerly Graduate Student, Department of Materials, Oxford University Formerly University Lecturer, Department of Materials, Oxford University     

加热参数对T122高铬耐热钢奥氏体晶粒异常长大的影响

 12Cr 2W Mo Nb V Cu N B钢(简称T122钢)是一种新开发、用于超超临界火电机组的马氏体耐热钢。在奥氏体化过程中,发现该钢种有异常晶粒长大现象。为此,研究了950~1 250 ℃奥氏体化温度下,保温时间和加热速率对奥氏体晶粒长大的影响,同时热力学计算的平衡相转变被用于更好了解加热过程中组织的演变。为了检测异常晶粒长大,系统研究了晶粒尺寸分布,并采用晶粒尺寸相对差(RD)比较了不同加热参数下奥氏体晶粒长大行为。结果表明,加热速率对奥氏体化晶粒长大有显著影响。当加热速率大于临界值时,存在一个异常晶粒长大的温度范围,此温度范围为1 000~1 100 ℃;加热速率小于临界值时,则不会出现异常晶粒长大现象。随着保温时间的增加,异常晶粒长大所造成的晶粒不均匀程度逐渐降低。