Hot Deformation Behavior and Microstructural Evolution of a Nickel-Free Austenitic Steel with High Nitrogen Content

In current study, the effect of microstructure on hot ductility of nickel-free austenitic high nitrogen steel DIN EN 1.4452 was investigated. Phase transformations and precipitation were modeled as well as experimentally determined via microstructural evaluation. Hot tensile and compression tests were used to simulate the hot deformation behavior at temperatures between 1173 K and 1573 K (900 °C and 1300 °C). Hot tensile test determined the high-temperature properties. The effect of temperature on cracking sensibility during hot deformation was investigated using hot compression test. The results showed that better hot ductility is observed at temperatures ranging from 1423 K to 1523 K (1150 °C to 1250 °C). The increase of hot ductility depends on grain refinement due to dynamic recrystallization at this temperature range.     

Dynamic Recrystallization and Precipitation in 13Cr Super-Martensitic Stainless Steels

The influence of precipitation on the kinetics of static and dynamic recrystallization (DRX) was investigated in AISI 403 and 403Nb martensitic stainless steels. Hot compression tests were performed in the temperature range of 1073 K to 1473 K (800 °C to 1200 °C) and strain rates of 0.001 and 0.1 s^?1 to study DRX and precipitation behaviors. In parallel, stress relaxation tests were conducted with pre-strains of 0.1, 0.15, 0.2, and 0.25, a strain rate of 0.1 s^?1, and in the 1073 K to 1473 K (800 °C to 1200 °C) temperature range to study the kinetics of precipitation and recrystallization. Samples of hot compression and stress relaxation tests were quenched and the evolution of the microstructure was examined using optical and scanning electron microscopy. The results indicated that DRX interacts with dynamic precipitation (DP) over the temperature range of 1173 K to 1273 K (900 °C to 1000 °C). Hot compression testing results, confirmed by EBSD analysis, indicated that partial DRX occurs before precipitation in 403Nb, at 1073 K (800 °C). By contrast, no DRX was observed in 403 steel. At higher temperatures, i.e., over 1273 K (1000 °C), DRX preceded DP in both steels. Increasing the strain rate raised the temperature range of interaction between DRX and DP up to 1373 K (1100 °C). Strain-induced precipitation (SIP) was observed over the entire range of investigated test temperatures. Static recrystallization (SRX) took place predominantly in the temperature range of 1173 K to 1373 K (900 °C to 1100 °C), at which SIP significantly delayed the SRX finishing time. The results are analyzed in the framework of the classical nucleation theory and the underlying mechanisms are identified.     

Fracture Behavior of High-Nitrogen Austenitic Stainless Steel Under Continuous Cooling: Physical Simulation of Free-Surface Cracking of Heavy Forgings

18Mn18Cr0.6N steel was tension tested at 0.001 s^?1 to fracture from 1473 K to 1363 K (1200 °C to 1090 °C, fracture temperature) at a cooling rate of 0.4 Ks^?1. For comparison, specimens were tension tested at temperatures of 1473 K and 1363 K (1200 °C and 1090 °C). The microstructure near the fracture surface was examined using electron backscatter diffraction analysis. The lowest hot ductility was observed under continuous cooling and was attributed to the suppression of dynamic recrystallization nucleation.     

Hot Ductility and Compression Deformation Behavior of TRIP980 at Elevated Temperatures

The hot ductility tests of a kind of 980 MPa class Fe-0.31C (wt pct) TRIP steel (TRIP980) with the addition of Ti/V/Nb were conducted on a Gleeble-3500 thermomechanical simulator in the temperatures ranging from 873 K to 1573 K (600 °C to 1300 °C) at a constant strain rate of 0.001 s^?1. It is found that the hot ductility trough ranges from 873 K to 1123 K (600 °C to 850 °C). The recommended straightening temperatures are from 1173 K to 1523 K (900 °C to 1250 °C). The isothermal hot compression deformation behavior was also studied by means of Gleeble-3500 in the temperatures ranging from 1173 K to 1373 K (900 °C to 1100 °C) at strain rates ranging from 0.01 s^?1 to 10 s^?1. The results show that the peak stress decreases with the increasing temperature and the decreasing strain rate. The deformation activation energy of the test steel is 436.7 kJ/mol. The hot deformation equation of the steel has been established, and the processing maps have been developed on the basis of experimental data and the principle of dynamic materials model (DMM). By analyzing the processing maps of strains of 0.5, 0.7, and 0.9, it is found that dynamic recrystallization occurs in the peak power dissipation efficiency domain, which is the optimal area of hot working. Finally, the factors influencing hot ductility and thermal activation energy of the test steel were investigated by means of microscopic analysis. It indicates that the additional microalloying elements play important roles both in the loss of hot ductility and in the enormous increase of deformation activation energy for the TRIP980 steel.     

Mechanical Behavior and Microstructural Change of a High Nitrogen CrMn Austenitic Stainless Steel during Hot Deformation

The hot deformation behavior of a high nitrogen CrMn austenitic stainless steel in the temperature range 1173 to 1473 K (900 to 1200 °C) and strain rate range 0.01 to 10 s⁻¹ was investigated using optical microscopy, stress-strain curve analysis, processing maps, etc. The results showed that the work hardening rate and flow stress decreased with increasing deformation temperature and decreasing strain rate in 18Mn18Cr0.5N steel. The dynamic recrystallization (DRX) grain size decreased with increasing Z value; however, deformation heating has an effect on the DRX grain size under high strain rate conditions. In the processing maps, flow instability was observed at higher strain rate regions (1 to 10 s⁻¹) and manifested as flow localization near the grain boundary. Early in the deformation, the flow instability region was at higher temperatures, and then the extent of this unstable region decreased with increasing strain and was restricted to lower temperatures. The hot deformation equation as well as the quantitative dependence of the critical stress for DRX and DRX grain size on Z value was obtained.     

Effect of Boron on the Hot Ductility Behavior of a Low Carbon Advanced Ultra-High Strength Steel (A-UHSS)

This research work studied the effect of boron additions (14, 33, 82, 126, and 214 ppm) on the hot ductility behavior of a low carbon advanced ultra-high strength steel. For this purpose, specimens were subjected to a hot tensile test at different temperatures [923 K, 973 K, 1023 K, 1073 K, 1173 K, and 1273 K (650 °C, 700 °C, 750 °C, 800 °C, 900 °C, and 1000 °C)] under a constant true strain rate of 10^?3 s^?1. The reduction of area (RA) of the tested samples until fracture was taken as a measure of the hot ductility. In general, results revealed a marked improvement in hot ductility from 82 ppm B when the stoichiometric composition for BN (0.8:1) was exceeded. By comparing the ductility curve of the steel with the highest boron content (B5, 214 ppm B) and the curve for the steel without boron (B0), the increase of hot ductility in terms of RA is over 100 pct. In contrast, the typical recovery of hot ductility at temperatures below the Ar₃, where large amounts of normal transformation ferrite usually form in the structure, was not observed in these steels. On the other hand, the fracture surfaces indicated that the fracture mode tends to be more ductile as the boron content increases. It was shown that precipitates and/or inclusions coupled with voids play a meaningful role on the crack nucleation mechanism, which in turn causes hot ductility loss. In general, results are discussed in terms of boron segregation and precipitation on austenitic grain boundaries during cooling from the austenitic range and subsequent plastic deformation.     

Structure formation in high-strength nitrogen-bearing steel on hot deformation

The resistance to deformation of nitrogen-bearing Cr–Ni–Mn steel at 800–1200°C is investigated by means of the Gleeble 3800 system. By analysis of the deformation diagrams—in particular, determination of the threshold strain for dynamic recrystallization—the temperature and strain corresponding to the onset of dynamic recrystallization are established as a function of the strain rate, and optimal temperatures for hot stamping, forging, and rolling are recommended for industrial conditions. With true strain e = 0.9, the dynamic recrystallization in the steel at strain rates of 10^–2–2 s^–1 occurs at temperatures no lower than 900°C. Metallographic data confirm the experimental results and show that the structure formation in the steel on isothermal deformation at different rates is different above 900°C. With increase in temperature and decrease in strain rate, relaxation processes are more developed. At a strain rate of 0.01 s^–1 (stamping on a press), dynamic recrystallization begins at around e = 0.1 (relative reduction around 10%) in the range 1100–1200°C. Strain of around 20 and 30%, respectively, is required with decrease in temperature to 1000 and 900°C. With increase in strain rate to 0.1 s^–1 (forging), dynamic recrystallization begins with around 20% strain above 1100°C, 28% at 1000, and 35% at 900°C. At a strain rate of 1–2 s^–1 (rolling), dynamic recrystallization begins at around 30% strain in the range 1000–1100°C. In that case, the threshold strain is 36% at both 900 and 1200°C.     

Deformation Behavior and Evolution of Microstructure and Texture During Hot Compression of AISI 304LN Stainless Steel

Deformation behavior of hot-rolled AISI 304 LN austenitic stainless steel was studied by hot axisymmetric compression tests at 1173 K, 1273 K, and 1373 K (900 °C, 1000 °C, and 1100 °C) at strain rates of 0.01, 0.1, and 1 s^?1. The flow curves were examined to understand the deformation characteristics. The influence of Zener–Holloman parameter was analyzed using appropriate constitutive models. The activation energy for deformation was found to be 473 kJ/mol. Quantitative microstructural analysis was carried out using Electron backscattered diffraction. Compression at 1173 K (900 °C) at all true strain rates gave rise to partially dynamic recrystallized microstructure with strong α-fiber texture. The deformation texture is characterized by the formation of Brass component, and partial dynamic recrystallization (DRX) led to the development of Goss, S, and ube components. Necklace structure of small equiaxed recrystallized grains could be observed surrounding the large, elongated deformed grains. Compressions at 1273 K and 1373 K (1000 °C and 1100 °C) resulted in fully recrystallized microstructure consisting of mostly Σ3 and Σ9 coincidence site lattice high-angle boundaries. Compression at 1273 K (1000 °C) leads to the formation of low-intensity diffused α-fiber. DRX was confirmed by the presence of Goss, S, Cube, and rotated Cube components. Compression performed at 1373 K (1100 °C) resulted in nearly random texture with traces of α-fiber and prominent Cube/rotated Cube components. The microstructures of the 1173 K (900 °C)-compressed samples were partitioned using grain size and misorientation criteria to quantify DRX.     

Hot workability of nimonic 115 as a function of strain rate

The hot workability of Nimonic 115 was studied by means of very high strain rate stress rupture tests in the temperature interval 1323 to 1473 K (1050 to 1200°C) at strain rates of 10⁻⁴ to 10 per s. Hot plasticity, measured as elongation and reduction of area at fracture, increased generally with decreasing strain rates. Maximum values of about 40 pct elongation and 70 pct reduction of area were obtained between 1398 to 1448 K (1125 to 1175°C) for strain rates below about 1 per s. For higher rates of strain than about 1 per s, ductility at fracture fell sharply. Ductility above 1448 K (1175°C) was poor at all strain rates and fell to a minimum at 1473 K (1200°C) regardness of strain rate. The highest ductility values are associated with intermediate temperatures and intermediate strain rates where conditions are optimum for significant recovery without encountering grain growth. The presence of excess phases leads to severe intergranular embrittlement at the highest temperatures and strain rates.     

Hot workability of nimonic 115 as a function of strain rate

The hot workability of Nimonic 115 was studied by means of very high strain rate stress rupture tests in the temperature interval 1323 to 1473 K (1050 to 1200°C) at strain rates of 10^?4 to 10 per s. Hot plasticity, measured as elongation and reduction of area at fracture, increased generally with decreasing strain rates. Maximum values of about 40 pct elongation and 70 pct reduction of area were obtained between 1398 to 1448 K (1125 to 1175°C) for strain rates below about 1 per s. For higher rates of strain than about 1 per s, ductility at fracture fell sharply. Ductility above 1448 K (1175°C) was poor at all strain rates and fell to a minimum at 1473 K (1200°C) regardness of strain rate. The highest ductility values are associated with intermediate temperatures and intermediate strain rates where conditions are optimum for significant recovery without encountering grain growth. The presence of excess phases leads to severe intergranular embrittlement at the highest temperatures and strain rates.     

Microstructural control in hot working of IN-718 superalloy using processing map

The hot-working characteristics of IN-718 are studied in the temperature range 900 °C to 1200 °C and strain rate range 0.001 to 100 s⁻¹ using hot compression tests. Processing maps for hot working are developed on the basis of the strain-rate sensitivity variations with temperature and strain rate and interpreted using a dynamic materials model. The map exhibits two domains of dynamic recrystallization (DRX): one occurring at 950 °C and 0.001 s⁻¹ with an efficiency of power dissipation of 37 pct and the other at 1200 °C and 0.1 s⁻¹ with an efficiency of 40 pct. Dynamic recrystallization in the former domain is nucleated by the δ(Ni₃Nb) precipitates and results in fine-grained microstructure. In the high-temperature DRX domain, carbides dissolve in the matrix and make interstitial carbon atoms available for increasing the rate of dislocation generation for DRX nucleation. It is recommended that IN-718 may be hot-forged initially at 1200 °C and 0.1 s⁻¹ and finish-forged at 950 °C and 0.001 s⁻¹ so that fine-grained structure may be achieved. The available forging practice validates these results from processing maps. At temperatures lower than 1000 °C and strain rates higher than 1 s⁻¹ the material exhibits adiabatic shear bands. Also, at temperatures higher than 1150°C and strain rates more than 1s⁻¹, IN-718 exhibits intercrystalline cracking. Both these regimes may be avoided in hotworking IN-718.     

Microstructure Evolution During Hot Deformation of a Micro-Alloyed Steel

In the present investigation, hot deformation by uniaxial compression of a microalloyed steel has been carried out, using a deformation dilatometer, after homogenization at 1200 °C for 20 min up to strains of 0.4, 0.8 and 1.2 at different temperatures of 900, 1000 and 1100 °C, at a constant strain rate of 2 s^?1 followed by water quenching. In all the deformation conditions, initiation of dynamic recrystallization (DRX) is observed, however, stress peaks are not observed in the specimens deformed at 900 and 1000 °C. The specimens deformed at 900 °C showed a combination of acicular ferrite (AF) and bainite (B) microstructure. There is an increase in the acicular ferrite fraction with increase in strain at all these deformation temperatures. At high deformation temperature of 1100 °C, coarsening of DRXed grains is observed. This is attributed to the common limitations involved in fast quenching of the DRXed microstructure, which leads to increase in grain size by metadynamic recrystallization (MDRX). The strain free prior austenite grains promote the formation of large fraction of both bainite and martensite in the transformed microstructures during cooling. The length and width of bainitic ferrite laths also increases with increase in deformation temperature from 900 to 1100 °C and decrease in deformation strain.     

Microstructural Evolution and Flow Analysis during Hot Working of a Fe-Ni-Cr Superaustenitic Stainless Steel

Hot compression tests were conducted in a temperature range of 1173 K to 1323 K (900 °C to 1050 °C) and strain rates of 0.001 seconds⁻¹ to 1 second⁻¹ to investigate the hot deformation behavior of the austenitic stainless steel type 1.4563. The results showed that hot deformation at low temperatures, i.e., 1173 K to 1223 K (900 °C to 950°C), and at low and medium strain rates, i.e., 0.001 seconds⁻¹ to 0.1 seconds⁻¹, results in the dynamic formation of worm-like precipitates on existing grain boundaries. This in turn led to the restriction or even inhibition of dynamic recrystallization. However, at higher temperatures and strain rates when either the time frame for dynamic precipitation was too short or the driving force was low, dynamic recrystallization occurred readily. Furthermore, at low strain rates and high temperatures, there was no sign of particles, but the interactions between solute atoms and mobile dislocations made the flow curves serrated. The strain rate sensitivity was determined and found to change from 0.1 to 0.16 for a temperature increase from 1173 K to 1323 K (900 °C to 1050 °C). The variations of mean flow stress with strain rate and temperature were analyzed. The calculated apparent activation energy for the material was approximately 406 kJ/mol. The hyperbolic sine function correlated the Zener-Hollomon parameter and flow stress successfully at intermediate stress levels. However, at low levels of flow stress a power-law equation and at high stresses an exponential equation well fitted the experimental data.     

Effect of Purity Levels on the High-Temperature Deformation Characteristics of Severely Deformed Titanium

In the present investigation, high-temperature compression tests were conducted at strain rates of 0.001 to 0.1 s^?1 and at temperatures of 873 K to 1173 K (600 °C to 900 °C) in order to study the hot deformation characteristics and dynamic softening mechanisms of two different grades of commercial purity titanium after severe plastic deformation. It was observed that the effects of deformation rate and temperature are significant on obtained flow stress curves of both grades. Higher compressive strength exhibited by grade 2 titanium at relatively lower deformation temperatures was attributed to the grain boundary characteristics in relation with its lower processing temperature. However, severely deformed grade 4 titanium demonstrated higher compressive strength at relatively higher deformation temperatures (above 800 °C) due to suppressed grain growth via oxygen segregation limiting grain boundary motion. Constitutive equations were established to model the flow behavior, and the validity of the predictions was demonstrated with decent agreement accompanied by average error levels less than 5 pct for all the deformation conditions.     

Processing map for controlling microstructure in hot working of hot isostatically pressed powder metallurgy NIMONIC AP-1 superalloy

The hot deformation behavior of hot isostatically pressed (HIP) NIMONIC AP-1 superalloy is characterized using processing maps in the temperature range 950 °C to 1200 °C and strain rate range 0.001 to 100 s^•1. The dynamic materials model has been used for developing the pro-cessing maps which show the variation of the efficiency of power dissipation given by [2m/ (m + 1)] with temperature and strain rate, withm being the strain rate sensitivity of flow stress. The processing map revealed a domain of dynamic recrystallization with a peak efficiency of 40 pct at 1125 °C and 0.3 s^•1, and these are the optimum parameters for hot working. The microstructure developed under these conditions is free from prior particle boundary (PPB) de-fects, cracks, or localized shear bands. At 100 s^•1 and 1200 °C, the material exhibits inter-crystalline cracking, while at 0.001 s^•1, the material shows wedge cracks at 1200 °C and PPB cracking at 1000 °C. Also at strain rates higher than 10 s^•1, adiabatic shear bands occur; the limiting conditions for this flow instability are accurately predicted by a continuum criterion based on the principles of irreversible thermodynamics of large plastic flow.     

Tensile Properties and Fracture Behavior of ATI 718Plus Alloy at Room and Elevated Temperatures

The effect of temperature over the range of ambient to 704 °C and strain rate from 10⁻⁴ to 10⁻² s⁻¹ on the tensile properties and fracture behavior of ATI 718Plus was investigated. The results showed that with increase in temperature at a strain rate 10⁻⁴ s⁻¹, there is a small reduction in the yield strength, but a large drop in ductility at 704 °C. This reduction was accompanied by a change in fracture mode from ductile transgranular to brittle intergranular cracking. Detailed analysis of the microstructure and microchemistry of the areas around the crack using electron microscopy showed that the driving mechanism behind the failure at elevated temperatures and slow strain rates is oxygen-induced intergranular cracking, a dynamic embrittlement mechanism. In addition, the results suggest that the δ precipitates on the grain boundaries tend to oxidize and may facilitate the oxygen-induced intergranular cracking. Finally, an increase in strain rate at 704 °C caused a small increase in the yield strength and a huge increase in ductility. This increase in ductility was accompanied by a change in fracture mode from brittle-to-ductile failure. Possible mechanisms for the deformation, failure mechanisms, and strain rate dependence are discussed.

     

Microstructural Evolution During the Hot Deformation of Ti-55Ni (at. pct) Intermetallic Alloy

The hot deformation behavior of Ti-55Ni (at. pct) alloy was studied using compression testing at 1173 K (900 °C) to 1323 K (1050 °C) and at the strain rates of 0.001 to 0.35 s⁻¹. The microstructure evolution was characterized using optical and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The influences of hot-working parameters on the flow stress and microstructural features of this alloy were then analyzed. The results indicate that, depending on the temperature and strain rate, the dynamic recrystallization (DRX) is the dominate mechanism. Besides, the particle-stimulated nucleation (PSN) mechanism could partially recrystallize the structure. The PSN phenomenon is of significant importance for the Ti-55Ni (at. pct) that suffers from insufficient workability because of its high content of intermetallic phases. It is of interest that the discontinuous yielding phenomenon has been observed when the specimens were deformed at 1173 K (900 °C). Finally, the optimum parameters for hot working of Ti-55Ni (at. pct) alloy are determined as well.     

Flow and fracture of a multiphase alloy MP35N for study of workability

The flow and fracture of MP35N (35 Co, 35 Ni, 20 Cr, 10 Mo) has been studied by uniaxial com-pression and plane strain bending in the temperature range 1000 to 1200 °C and strain rate range 0.01 to 10 s^•1. This covers the normal bar rolling production conditions (∼1100 °C and 1 to 5 s“^•1). The strain to fracture in plane strain bending was found to increase with increasing strain rate, roughly coinciding with the increase of the strain to the peak stress in the flow curves. Within most of the temperature and strain rate ranges investigated and under plane strain bending deformation conditions, microvoid nucleation was found to be concurrent with or greatly enhanced by the onset of dynamic recrystallization. Under these deformation conditions, flow concentration or localization along the soft layers of newly recrystallized grains oriented along the maximum shear stress directions near the surface generated microvoid nucleation and damage, in effect overriding the stress relieving and crack isolation effects normally associated with the occurrence of dynamic recrystallization. As the tem-perature was decreased toward 1000 °C and the strain rate was increased toward 10 s^•1, an apparent transition to a microvoid nucleation mode by wedge cracking was observed, even at the maximum rate of 10 s^•1. A further decrease in deformation temperature to 900 °C at a strain rate of 10 s^•1, however, removed all evidence of microvoid nucleation (of the wedge type or otherwise) as well as any trace of dynamic recrystallization within the maximum strain imposed in the plane strain bending tests.     

Deformation Behavior and Dynamic Recrystallization of Biomedical Co-Cr-W-Ni (L-605) Alloy

The mechanical behavior of Co-20Cr-15W-10Ni alloy is studied by compression tests at high temperature. Microstructures after deformation are evaluated using SEM-EBSD. Significant grain refinement occurs by dynamic recrystallization for high temperatures and low strain rates [T > 1373 K (1100 °C), strain rate <0.1 s^?1], and at high strain rates (strain rate ~10 s^?1). Dynamic recrystallization is discontinuous and occurs by nucleation of grain boundaries, leading to a necklace-like structure. The nucleation mechanism is most likely bulging of grain boundaries. However, recrystallization occurs also by rotation of annealing twins, which can bulge as well. Modeling of the observed mechanical behavior gives a fair quantification of flow softening due to dynamic recrystallization, indicating the progress of dynamic recrystallization with deformation.     

Hot Deformation Behavior and Microstructure Evolution of 2Cr12Ni4Mo3VNbN Steel Used for Last-Stage Large Blades of Steam Turbine

The hot deformation behavior and microstructure evolution of a recently developed 2Cr12Ni4Mo3VNbN martensitic stainless steel are examined through hot compression tests conducted within the temperature range of 900–1200 °C and the strain rate range of 0.01–10 s⁻¹. The constitutive equation and processing maps corresponding to hot deformation are established. The activation energy for hot deformation of 2Cr12Ni4Mo3VNbN steel is determined to be ≈457491.77 J mol⁻¹. Simultaneously, the microstructure evolution during hot deformation is studied. Based on the processing maps and microstructure evolution analysis, it is concluded that the optimal windows for hot processing are within the temperature range of 1106–1150 °C and the strain rate range of 0.01–2.7 s⁻¹, as well as at 1200 °C within the strain rate range of 1–2.7 s⁻¹, exhibiting a power dissipation efficiency of 0.32. As the temperature increases and the strain rate decreases, the degree of dynamic recrystallization escalates.