Morphology of bainite and widmanstätten ferrite

Morphology of bainite and Widmanstätten ferrite in various steels has been investigated by means of microstructural and surface relief observations. It was shown that upper and lower bainite should be classified by ferrite morphology,i.e., lathlike or platelike, and that the morphology of cementite precipitation cannot be the index for the classification. Widmanstätten ferrite formed in the upper C-nose where ferrite grain-boundary allotriomorphs nucleate exhibits quite similar appearance with bainitic ferrite that forms in the lower C-nose of bainitic reaction. The only difference between them exists in the fact that Widmanstätten ferrite laths grow in the temperature range where primary ferrite forms and often terminate at a grain boundary ferrite but that bainitic ferrite has its own C-curve at temperatures belowB _s and nucleates directly at an austenite grain boundary. The mechanisms for their formations are discussed.     

Bainite formation in low carbon Cr-Ni steels

A low carbon Cr-Ni steel has been used to investigate the formation of upper bainite. Experimental results indicate that the start temperatures of the three morphologies of upper bainite in this steel,i.e., carbide-free bainite, bainite with carbide between and within ferrite laths, are about 600°, 500δ, and 425 °C, respectively; the habit plane of bainitic ferrite in this steel is close to (1 7 11)_α, which is 13.3 deg away from (0 ll)_α; and the orientation relationship between cementite and ferrite is consistent with Bagaryatskii’s. By means of the superelement approach, a thermodynamic treatment which applies to Fe-C alloys is extended into that suitable for low alloy steels, and calculation shows that the driving force for bainite formation at B_S temperatures is insufficient to compensate for shear strain energy. Formerly Graduate Student, Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, People’s Republic of China.     

Effects of Start and Finish Cooling Temperatures on Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of Low-Carbon High-Strength and Low-Yield Ratio Bainitic Steels

The effects of start and finish cooling temperatures on microstructure and mechanical properties of low-carbon high-strength and low-yield ratio bainitic steels were investigated in this study. Four kinds of low-carbon high-strength and low-yield ratio bainitic steels were fabricated by varying the start and finish cooling temperatures and cooling rates, and their microstructure and mechanical properties such as tensile and Charpy impact properties were measured. In the steels cooled down from the high start cooling temperature above Ar₁ [978 K (705 °C)], the volume fraction of acicular ferrite is lower than in the steels cooled down from the low start cooling temperature below Ar₁ [978 K (705 °C)]. The finish cooling temperatures and cooling rates affect the formation of bainitic ferrite, granular bainite, and martensite–austenite (MA) constituents. According to the correlation between microstructure and mechanical properties, the tensile strength increases with increasing the volume fractions of bainitic ferrite and MA constituents, whereas the elongation decreases. The yield ratio decreases as the volume fraction of MA constituents increases. Charpy impact absorbed energy is proportional to the volume fraction of acicular ferrite, and is inversely proportional to the volume fraction of granular bainite.     

The morphology,crystallography, and mechanism of carbide precipitation in an Fe-0.12 Pct C-3.28 Pct Ni alloy

Carbide precipitation during the eutectoid decomposition of austenite has been studied in an Fe-0.12 pct C-3.28 pct Ni alloy by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) supplemented by optical microscopy. Nodular bainite which forms during the latter stages of austenite decomposition at 550 °C exhibits two types of carbide arrangement: (a) banded interphase boundary carbides with particle diameters of about 20 to 90 nm and mean band spacings between 180 and 390 nm and (b) more randomly distributed (“nonbanded”) elongated particles exhibiting a wide range of lengths between 33 and 2500 nm, thicknesses of approximately 11 to 50 nm, and mean intercarbide spacings of approximately 140 to 275 nm. Electron diffraction analysis indicated that in both cases, the carbides are cementite, obeying the Pitsch orientation relationship with respect to the bainitic ferrite. The intercarbide spacings of both morphologies are significantly larger than those previously reported for similar microstructures in steels containing alloy carbides other than cementite (e.g., VC, TiC). Both curved and straight cementite bands were observed; in the latter case, the average plane of the interphase boundary precipitate sheets was near {110}_α//{011}_c consistent with cementite precipitation on low-energy {110}_α//{111}_γ ledge terrace planes (where α,β, andc refer to ferrite, austenite, and cementite, respectively). The results also suggest that the first stage in the formation of the nonbanded form of nodular bainite is often the precipitation of cementite rods, or laths, in austenite at the α:γ interfaces of proeutectoid ferrite secondary sideplates formed earlier. Although these cementite rods frequently resemble the “fibrous” microstructures observed by previous investigators in carbide-forming alloy steels, they are typically much shorter than fibrous alloy carbides. The bainitic microstructures observed here are analyzed in terms of a previously developed model centered about the roles of the relative nucleation and growth rates of the product phases in controlling the evolution of eutectoid microstructures.     

Structure and mechanical properties of Fe−Cr−C−Co steels

As part of a continuing program concerning the microstructures and mechanical properties of steels in which particular attention is given to transformation substructures, the present work is concerned with martensite and bainite in Fe−Cr−C steels with and without cobalt. Although cobalt raises theM _s temperature it does not affect the extent of twinning for the same carbon level and so M _s temperature alone does not control transformation substructure. Thus cobalt is not effective in retaining dislocated martensite as carbon is increased and in this regard cobalt is not beneficial to toughness. TheM _s temperatures of the steels were relatively high and hence isothermal transformation yielded mixtures of bainites and tempered martensite depending on the temperature of transformation. The mechanical properties of the isothermally transformed steels were inferior to those of the tempered steels due to the interference of upper bainite or (tempered) martensite during the isothermal transformation. Thus, in the steels having highM _s temperatures the twinning tempered martensitic structure had relatively better mechanical properties compared to the isothermally transformed steels. Attempts to produce desirable autotempered structures by air cooling (single heat treatments) were not successful and did not improve the mechanical properties since the structure consisted of a mixture of bainite and martensite. This paper is based upon a thesis submitted by M. RAGHAVAN in partial fulfillment of the requirements of the degree of Master of Science at the University of California.     

A Study of the Influence of Thermomechanical Controlled Processing on the Microstructure of Bainite in High Strength Plate Steel

Steels with compositions that are hot rolled and cooled to exhibit high strength and good toughness often require a bainitic microstructure. This is especially true for plate steels for linepipe applications where strengths in excess of 690 MPa (100 ksi) are needed in thicknesses between approximately 6 and 30 mm. To ensure adequate strength and toughness, the steels should have adequate hardenability (C. E. >0.50 and Pcm >0.20), and are thermomechanically controlled processed, i.e., controlled rolled, followed by interrupted direct quenching to below the Bs temperature of the pancaked austenite. Bainite formed in this way can be defined as a polyphase mixture comprised a matrix phase of bainitic ferrite plus a higher carbon second phase or micro-constituent which can be martensite, retained austenite, or cementite, depending on circumstances. This second feature is predominately martensite in IDQ steels. Unlike pearlite, where the ferrite and cementite form cooperatively at the same moving interface, the bainitic ferrite and MA form in sequence with falling temperature below the Bs temperature or with increasing isothermal holding time. Several studies have found that the mechanical properties may vary strongly for different types of bainite, i.e., different forms of bainitic ferrite and/or MA. Thermomechanical controlled processing (TMCP) has been shown to be an important way to control the microstructure and mechanical properties in low carbon, high strength steel. This is especially true in the case of bainite formation, where the complexity of the austenite-bainite transformation makes its control through disciplined processing especially important. In this study, a low carbon, high manganese steel containing niobium was investigated to better understand the effects of austenite conditioning and cooling rates on the bainitic phase transformation, i.e., the formation of bainitic ferrite plus MA. Specimens were compared after transformation from recrystallized, equiaxed austenite to deformed, pancaked austenite, which were followed by seven different cooling rates ranging between 0.5 K/s (0.5 °C/s) and 40 K/s (40 °C/s). The CCT curves showed that the transformation behaviors and temperatures varied with starting austenite microstructure and cooling rate, resulting in different final microstructures. The EBSD results and the thermodynamics and kinetics analyses show that in low carbon bainite, the nucleation rate is the key factor that affects the bainitic ferrite morphology, size, and orientation. However, the growth of bainite is also quite important since the bainitic ferrite laths apparently can coalesce or coarsen into larger units with slower cooling rates or longer isothermal holding time, causing a deterioration in toughness. This paper reviews the formation of bainite in this steel and describes and rationalizes the final microstructures observed, both in terms of not only formation but also for the expected influence on mechanical properties.     

Effects of B and Cu Addition and Cooling Rate on Microstructure and Mechanical Properties in Low-Carbon, High-Strength Bainitic Steels

The effects of B and Cu addition and cooling rate on microstructure and mechanical properties of low-carbon, high-strength bainitic steels were investigated in this study. The steel specimens were composed mostly of bainitic ferrite, together with small amounts of acicular ferrite, granular bainite, and martensite. The yield and tensile strengths of all the specimens were higher than 1000?MPa and 1150?MPa, respectively, whereas the upper shelf energy was higher than 160?J and energy transition temperature was lower than 208?K (?C65?°C) in most specimens. The slow-cooled specimens tended to have the lower strengths, higher elongation, and lower energy transition temperature than the fast-cooled specimens. The Charpy notch toughness was improved with increasing volume fraction of acicular ferrite because acicular ferrites favorably worked for Charpy notch toughness even when other low-toughness microstructures such as bainitic ferrite and martensite were mixed together. To develop high-strength bainitic steels with an excellent combination of strength and toughness, the formation of bainitic microstructures mixed with acicular ferrite was needed, and the formation of granular bainite was prevented.     

Recent Development of Air-Cooled Bainitic Steels Containing Manganese

The superiorities of air-cooled bainitic steels were described. A series of air-cooled bainitic steels containing manganese were developed and presented, which include low carbon granular bainitic steels, low carbon grain-boundary allotriomorphic ferrite/granular bainite dual phase steels, medium and medium high carbon bainite/martensite dual phase steel, low carbon carbide free bainite/martensite dual phase steels and casting bainitic steels.The development of ultra-low carbon bainitic steels in China was also introduced.     

Short‐term Creep Behavior of an X 37 Cr Mo V 5‐1 Hot‐work Tool Steel with almost Bainitic and fully Martensitic Microstructures

In this study two different heat treatments were conducted on an X 37 Cr Mo V 5‐1 hot‐work tool steel, resulting either in a tempered fully martensitic matrix or a matrix almost consisting of tempered bainite. Short‐term creep tests were performed at a high stress level of 800 MPa and at temperatures in the range from 450 °C to 500 °C. Creep specimens consisting of a tempered fully martensitic microstructure exhibited a three times longer creep‐to‐rupture time, than those consisting of a tempered almost bainitic microstructure. Microstructural investigations of creep specimens were performed by transmission electron microscopy. Results of these investigations revealed that due to a lower cooling rate, which is necessary to form bainite, the tempered bainitic microstructure consists of large former bainitic plates, whereas tempered martensite shows fine former martensitic laths. Tempered bainite also exhibits a higher number density of large M₃C, M₇C₃ and MC carbides than tempered martensite. Small M₂C carbides appear in both microstructures in the same quantity, however, nanometer‐sized MC carbides could only be found in tempered martensite. Thus poor short‐term creep behavior of the tempered almost bainitic microstructure can be explained by the lesser amount of strengthening relevant precipitates, a smaller size‐effect due to distance of bainitic interfaces as well as lower solid solution hardening.     

Characteristics of lath martensite: Part I. crystallographic and substructural features

This investigation, using an Fe-20 pct Ni-5 pct Mn (wt pct) alloy, was carried out to provide more detailed and accurate information on the crystallographic features of ferrous lath martensite than is presently available. The martensite observed was typical of that found in low carbon steels, but with the present alloy substantial amounts of retained austenite are found, which can be used as a crystallographic reference basis. Analysis of some twenty laths showe_d_the average austenite-martensite orientation relationship to be (lll)_f ‖ (011)_b: [•101]_f 3.9 deg from [•1•1l]_b, using an electron diffraction method involving an error of only a fraction of a degree. Adjacent laths within a packet of lath martensite were found to exhibit the same variant of the orientation relationship although such laths may be misoriented relative to each other by up to 2 deg. Thick layers of austenite found between adjacent laths indicate that the laths do not form by self-accommodation. The lath martensite habit plane is irrational, close to (575)_f [equivalently (•154)_b], but since the habit plane is of the type hkh, 12 apparent habit planes are observed although 24 variants of the orientation relationship may be found. The martensite-austenite interface on one side of a given lath is relatively planar, while that on the opposite side is irregular, suggesting that the laths thicken mainly in one direction. The martensite laths contain screw dislocations in all four ( 111 )_b directions, but one set of the four with Burgers vector α/2 [•111]_b is clearly dominant as a result of accommodation deformation imposed by the large lath martensite shape strain. Austenite dislocation arrays associated with the straight and irregular lath interfaces are very different, again suggesting that the thickening of a lath takes place mainly in one direction away from the initial straight interface.     

低碳钢中贝氏体组织在A1温度以下重加热过程中的演化与热稳定性

通过原位追踪金相观察、维氏硬度测试、透射电子显微术、电子背散射衍射等实验手段研究了低碳钢中贝氏体组织在550~675℃范围内重加热过程中的演化与热稳定性.实验结果表明:贝氏体组织通过回复与再结晶方式演化为多边形铁素体,在该过程中粒状贝氏体首先演化为多边形铁素体,然后多边形铁素体再吞噬贝氏体铁素体,贝氏体铁素体表现出了高于粒状贝氏体的热稳定性;在回复过程中,贝氏体铁素体中相邻铁素体板条之间的小角度晶界部分撤除,铁素体板条发生倾转与合并;贝氏体组织在重加热过程中的演化存在一个稳定阶段,处于回复与再结晶之间,其持续时间随温度的降低而显著延长.      

Effect of microstructure on plane-strain fracture toughness of aisi 4340 steel

Commercially available AISI 4340 steel has been studied to determine the effect of transformation structures on plane-strain fracture toughness (K _IC). Martensitic and bainitic steels with wide variation in the prior austenitic grain size, and steels having two different mixed structures of martensite and bainite were investigated. Microstructures were examined by optical and transmission electron microscopy. Fracture morphologies were characterized by scanning electron microscopy. The significant conclusions are as follows: in a martensitic or lower bainitic steel in which well-defined packets were observed, the packet diameter is the primary microstructural factor controllingK _IC. The steel's property is improved with increased packet diameter. If the steel has an upper bainitic structure, the packet is composed of well-defined blocks, and the block size controls theK _IC property. When the steel has a mixed structure of martensite and bainite, the shape and distribution of the second phase bainite have a significant effect on theK _IC property. A lower bainite, which appears in acicular form and partitions prior austenite grains of the parent martensite, dramatically improves theK _IC in association with tempered martensite. If an upper bainite appearing as masses that fill prior austenite grains of the parent martensite is associated with tempered martensite, it significantly lowers the K_IC.     

等温淬火温度对超细贝氏体钢组织及耐磨性的影响

设计了一种0.7C的低合金超细贝氏体钢,并通过膨胀仪、二体磨损实验、光学显微镜、扫描电镜、X射线衍射、激光扫描共聚焦显微镜及能谱仪,研究了不同等温淬火温度对超细贝氏体钢的贝氏体相变动力学、微观组织以及干滑动摩擦耐磨性的影响,揭示超细贝氏体钢在二体磨损条件下的耐磨性能和磨损机理.研究结果表明,不同等温温度下的超细贝氏体钢都由片层状贝氏体铁素体和薄膜状以及块状的残留奥氏体组成;随着等温温度的升高,超细贝氏体的相变速率提高,相变孕育期及相变完成时间缩短,但贝氏体铁素体板条厚度增加,残留奥氏体含量增加,硬度值有所降低;超细贝氏体钢磨损面形貌以平直的犁沟为主,主要的磨损机理为显微切削;不同等温温度下所获得的超细贝氏体的耐磨性能都优于回火马氏体,且随着等温温度的降低,耐磨性能提高.其中在250℃等温所获得的超细贝氏体钢具有最优的耐磨性能,其相对耐磨性为回火马氏体的1.28倍.这主要与超细贝氏体钢中贝氏体铁素体板条的细化及磨损过程中残留奥氏体的形变诱导马氏体相变（TRIP）效应有关.      

Bainite morphologies in a 0.2 C–1.5 Mn steel

The isothermal transformation products of austenite over a wide range of temperatures and times in the bainitic range in a 0.2 wt.% C–1.5 wt.% Mn steel have been studied by transmission electron microscopy in order to characterise the bainitic microstructures in low-carbon low-alloy steels. Widmanstätten ferrite has formed with alternate layers of austenite (martensite) as a transition product at 600 and 500°C that has finally transformed on further isothermal transformation to either pearlite (at 600°C) or upper bainite (at 500°C). This type of transformation product was referred to as BI bainite by earlier investigators, but on the basis of the present investigation it is concluded that such ferrite-austenite (martensite) structures are not bainitic as this is not the final transformation product either at 600 or 500°C. Both upper bainite and lath-type lower bainite are formed at 450°C while the transformation product has been only lath-type lower bainite at 400°C.     

Metallography of bainitic transformation in silicon containing steels

The formation of carbide in lower bainite was studied in two silicon containing carbon steels by transmission electron microscopy and diffraction techniques. Epsilon carbide was identified in the low temperature isothermally transformed bainite structure. The crystallographic relationship between epsilon carbide and bainitic ferrite was found to follow the Jack orientation relationship,viz, (0001)ε l l(011)α, (101l)ε l 1(101)α. The cementite observed in lower bainite was in the shape of small platelets and obeyed the Isaichev orientation relationship with the bainitic ferrite,viz, (010) cl 1(1-11)α, (103) cl 1 (011)α. Direct evidence showing the sequence of carbide formation from aus-tenite in bainite has also been obtained. Based on the observations and all the crystallo-graphical features, it is strongly suggested that in silicon containing steels the bainitic carbide precipitated directly from austenite instead of from ferrite at the austenite/fer-rite interface as has been proposed by Kinsman and Aaronson (Ref. 1). The uniformity of the carbide distribution is thus envisaged to be the outcome of precipitation at the aus-tenite-ferrite interphase boundary. DER-HUNG HUANG, formerly with the Department of Materials Science and Mineral Engineering, University of California     

Mechanism of Secondary Hardening in Rapid Tempering of Dual-Phase Steel

Dual-phase steel with ferrite-martensite-bainite microstructure exhibited secondary hardening in the subcritical heat affected zone during fiber laser welding. Rapid isothermal tempering conducted in a Gleeble simulator also indicated occurrence of secondary hardening at 773 K (500 °C), as confirmed by plotting the tempered hardness against the Holloman–Jaffe parameter. Isothermally tempered specimens were characterized by analytic transmission electron microscopy and high-angle annular dark-field imaging. The cementite (Fe₃C) and TiC located in the bainite phase of DP steel decomposed upon rapid tempering to form needle-shaped Mo₂C (aspect ratio ranging from 10 to 25) and plate-shaped M₄C₃ carbides giving rise to secondary hardening. Precipitation of these thermodynamically stable and coherent carbides promoted the hardening phenomenon. However, complex carbides were only seen in the tempered bainite and were not detected in the tempered martensite. The martensite phase decomposed into ferrite and spherical Fe₃C, and interlath-retained austenite decomposed into ferrite and elongated carbide.     

The crystallography of bainite in a medium-carbon steel containing Si,Mn, and Mo

A composite microstructure consisting of upper bainite laths and lower bainite plates, both carbide-free, plate (twinned) martensite, and carbon-enriched retained austenite, was produced by air-cooling a medium-carbon alloy steel (0.55 pct C, 1.35 pct Si, 0.78 pct Mn, 0.45 pct Mo) from 900 °C. Well-defined midribs and subunits were found to be associated with both the upper bainite laths and lower bainite plates, clearly showing that the two kinds of bainite growvia a sympathetic nucleation and growth process. The orientation relationship between the bainite and austenite, as determined by electron diffraction, showed that the close-packed planes in the two phases were separated by 0.5 deg and the close-packed directions were 1.9 apart. The habit plane determined from the midrib was (5 127)_f, about 20 deg away from the nearly parallel close-packed planes (111)_f/(011)_b. The experimentally determined orientation relation-ship and habit plane (as defined by the midrib) were in good agreement with the predictions of the phenomenological theory of martensite crystallography.     

Interrelations of cooling rate,microstructure, and mechanical properties in four HSLA steels

The present study was carried out on four steels containing 0.1 pct C-1.5 pct Mn-0.003 pct B* in common, with additions of 1 pct Cr, 0.5 pct Mo, 0.25 pct Mo + 1 pct Cr, 0.2 pct Ti + 1 pct Cr. They were designated, accordingly, as Cr, Mo, Mo-Cr, and Cr-Ti steels. All the steels exhibited a complete lath martensite microstructure with thin interlaths of retained austenite (≈0.05 pct) in the quenched condition. The normalized microstructures, granular bainite, contained massive areas of ferrite and granules of bainite laths. Both microconstituents contained a fine dispersion of cementite particles (size ≈50 Å) together with high dislocation densities. A mechanism explaining their for-mation has been given. The Cr steel, due to its low hardenability, showed in addition polygonal ferrite in the neighborhood of the so-called M-A constituent (twinned martensite and/or austenite). The annealed microstructure (using a cooling rate of 0.033 °C s^?1) of the Cr steel consisted of coarse ferrite-pearlite. Addition of 0.2 pct Ti to the Cr steel markedly refined the structure, whereas an addition of 0.25 pct Mo altered the microstructure to ferrite-lower bainite. In the 0.5 pct Mo steel, polygonal ferrite was found to be completely missing. The mechanical properties of the four steels after quenching, normalizing, and annealing were investigatedvia hardness and tensile test mea-surements. An empirical equation, relating the ultimate tensile strength to the steel composition, for steels that had granular bainite microstructures in the normalized condition, was proposed. The fracture surfaces exhibited cleavage and variable-size dimples depending on the microstructure and steel composition.