High Strength and Retained Ductility Achieved in a Nitrided Strip Cast Nb-Microalloyed Steel

The current study investigates the strengthening of an Nb-microallyed CASTRIP^® steel at 798 K (525 °C) by nitriding in a KNO₃ salt bath. Nitriding up to 1 hour dramatically increased the yield strength of the steel by ~35 pct (from 475 to 645 MPa) with no sacrifice of ductility (~16 pct). Further nitriding led to brittle fracture. Hardness profiles of the nitrided steels through the thickness reveal hard surfaces and a relatively softer core. The hardening of the shell in the nitrided steels is thought to be the combined effect of solid solution strengthening from nitrogen and dispersion strengthening from clusters and precipitates. The retained ductility is attributed to the hard-shell–soft-core structure through nitriding.     

Optimization of mechanical properties of high-carbon pearlitic steels with Si and V additions

Systematic research has been undertaken on the effects of single and combined additions of vanadium and silicon on the mechanical properties of pearlitic steels being developed for wire rod production. Mechanical test results demonstrate that the alloy additions are beneficial to the mechanical properties of the steels, especially the tensile strength. Silicon strengthens pearlite mainly by solid-solution strengthening of the ferrite phase. Vanadium increases the strength of pearlite mainly by precipitation strengthening of the pearlitic ferrite. When added separately, these elements produce relatively greater strengthening at higher transformation temperatures. When added in combination the behavior is different, and substantial strength increments are produced at all transformation temperatures studied (550 °C to 650 °C). The addition of silicon and vanadium to very-high-carbon steels (>0.8 wt pct C) also suppresses the formation of a network of continuous grain-boundary cementite, so that these hypereutectoid materials have high strength coupled with adequate ductility for cold drawing. A wire-drawing trial showed that total drawing reductions in area of 90 pct could be obtained, leading to final tensile strengths of up to 2540 MPa in 3.3-mm-diameter wires.     

The effect of the precipitation of coherent and incoherent precipitates on the ductility and toughness of high-strength steel

The effect of the coexistence of coherent and incoherent precipitates, such as M₂C and NiAl, on the ductility and plane strain fracture toughness of 5 wt pct Ni-2 wt pct Al-based high-strength steels was studied. In order to disperse coherent and incoherent precipitates, the heat treatments were carried out as follows: (a) austenitizing at 1373 K, (b) tempering at 1023 or 923 K for dispersing the incoherent precipitates of M₂C and NiAl, and then (c) aging at 843 K for 2.4 ks to disperse the coherent precipitate of NiAl into the matrix, which contains incoherent precipitates, such as M₂C and NiAl. The results were obtained as follows: (a) when the strengthening precipitates consist of coherent ones, such as M₂C and/or NiAl, the ductility and toughness are extremely low, and (b) when the strengthening precipitates consist of coherent and incoherent precipitates, such as M₂C and NiAl, the ductility and fracture toughness significantly increase with no loss in strength. It is shown that the coexistence of coherent and incoherent precipitates increases homogeneous deformation, thus preventing local strain concentration and early cleavage cracking. Accordingly, the actions of coherent precipitates in strengthening the matrix and of incoherent precipitates in promoting homogeneous deformation can be expected to increase both the strength and toughness of the material.     

A Novel Single-Step Surface-Treatment Process for Forming Cr-Nitride Coatings on Steels

A novel single-step surface-treatment process is demonstrated for forming Cr-nitride coatings on steels. The process was carried out at 1327 K (1100 °C) for two steel grades with differing carbon concentrations. For steel grade with 0.42 to 0.5C (wt pct), the coatings formed consisted of an outer Cr₂N layer and an inner Cr-carbide layer with a Cr-enriched interdiffusion zone underneath. However, for steel grade with C ≤ 0.17 wt pct, the inner Cr-carbide layer was absent.     

The relative influence of dynamic and static precipitation on the hot ductility of microalloyed steels

The hot ductility of a series of micro-alloyed steels has been obtained after solution treating and cooling to test temperatures in the range 750 to 1000 °C. Various holding times were given prior to testing to vary the amount of prior precipitation from 0 to 100 pct. For temperatures corresponding to those giving the maximum rate of precipitation, hot ductility improved with holding time for the Nb containing steels but deteriorated for the V and Al containing steels. It is concluded that dynamic precipitation is most effective in reducing hot ductility for Nb containing steels while static precipitation impairs ductility the most for V containing steels. Whereas precipitation of NbCN and VCN readily occurred, precipitation of A1N was found to be slow and the supersaturation of Al and N had to be high to start the precipitation reaction. There was no evidence for dynamic precipitation of A1N, but static precipitation at γ grain boundaries was effective in reducing hot ductility. Although differences inR of A between samples having no and substantial precipitation prior to deformation were most marked at the temperature corresponding to that giving the maximum rate of precipitation, the temperature range over which significant differences remained could be quite marked. Formerly Research Student at The City University, is Investigator, British Steel Corporation, Swinden Laboratories, Moorgate, Rotherham, S60 3R, England.     

Swing back in kinetics nearM s in hypereutectoid steels

The kinetics and metallography of isothermal transformations in four hypereutectoid steels (0.85 to 1.80 wt pct C) have been studied in the temperature range between 623 and 333 K. Isothermal transformation diagrams for each steel were constructed by means of dilatometry and microscopy. It was found that the C curve, the reverse in kinetics, which has been called “Swing Back”, appeared at the temperature near the in each steel. This paper focuses on the swing back phenomena appearing in four steels. The nose temperatures of C curves nearin 0.85, 1.10, 1.45, and 1.80 wt pct C steels were determined to be about 520, 440, 400, and 375 K, respectively. It was clarified that the C curves near in 1.45 and 1.80 wt pct C steels were associated with the formations of lower bainite with midrib (LBm), thin-plate isothermal martensite (TIM), and leaf-like isothermal martensite (LIM), but those in 0.85 and 1.10 wt pct C steels were related to the formation of LBm. On the basis of the kinetics and metalography, the temperatureJcarbon-contentJtransformation diagram was constructed in the hypereutectoid range of steel.     

Influence of microalloying on the mechanical properties of medium carbon forging steels after a newly designed post forging treatment

For more than twenty years the classical quench and tempering of medium carbon Cr-alloyed steels has been substituted in the production of drop-forged parts for the automotive industry by a direct continuous cooling of less expensive V-microalloyed steels with lower carbon content. However, this simplified treatment has serious limitations concerning the yield strength and ductility if compared with the properties after quench and tempering. On a group of such V-bearing steels additionally microalloyed with Ti and Nb and with different N contents, an alternative two-step-cooling (TSC) strategy after forging, combined with an additional annealing (AN), has been applied. This new post forging treatment results in a significant improvement of the final mechanical properties. The paper is focused on the particular contributions of a different microalloying in the optimized deformation schedules to improve mechanical properties after TSC + AN. The aim of this additional microalloying is to achieve a more homogeneous distribution of ferrite in the final multi-phase microstructure due to a proper austenite conditioning as well as to make a full use of the strengthening potential of vanadium in these forging steel grades.     

Enhanced Mechanical Properties in a Low-Carbon Ultrafine Grain Steel by Niobium Addition

The microstructure and mechanical behavior of low-carbon ultrafine grain steel (UFG; 0.165 wt pct carbon) after niobium (Nb) addition were investigated. It was found that the addition of 0.028 wt pct of Nb resulted in the optimal tensile strength of 990.8 MPa with an adequate elongation of 15.5 pct. In comparison to the normal UFG steel (without Nb), the strength of Nb-UFG steel was substantially enhanced without any sacrifice of its elongation. The main increased strengthening mechanisms of Nb-UFG steel were precipitation and dislocation strengthening. The improved work hardening and adequate elongation of Nb-UFG steel could be ascribed to geometrically necessary dislocations and heterogeneous ferrite grains. Discontinuous static recrystallization occurred by a small rolling reduction on hardened martensite laths, resulting in the formation of heterogeneous ferrite grains. Ultrafine ferrite grains were surrounded by high-angle grain boundaries, and nanoscale Nb(C, N) carbonitrides providing precipitation strengthening were precipitated mainly in the α-phase.

     

变形量及N含量对油井管用中碳V-Ti-N微合金钢显微组织的影响

采用Gleeble-1500热模拟试验机,研究了某油井管生产工艺中张力减径过程变形量以及C和N含量对中碳V-Ti-N微合金非调质钢室温组织的影响.结果表明:HCLN钢在800℃变形量为20%、40%和60%时,对应的室温组织中铁素体的体积分数依次为17.2%、19.7%和29.9%.N质量分数为2.3×10^-4时,800℃变形60%后控冷钢中铁素体的体积分数为含低N(1.1×10^-4)钢的1.7倍左右,使含C 0.34%的钢中铁素体含量接近于含C 0.26%的钢,并使铁素体平均晶粒尺寸降低到3μm左右.变形量和钢中N含量二者增大均有利于增加钢中铁素体的数量,且二者综合运用的效果更有效.通过分析可知,800℃变形量的增大,可以提高未再结晶奥氏体晶粒内的缺陷密度,有利于过冷奥氏体连续冷却转变时为晶内铁素体形核提供更多的形核位置.N含量的增大,能够促进第二相析出物的析出,诱导晶内铁素体的析出,提高铁素体含量,并细化其晶粒尺寸.     

A study of the hydrogen-induced degradation of two steels differing in sulfur content

Two steels with different sulfur contents: 0.003 and 0.024 wt pct, were cathodically charged under three different conditions and brought to fracture in tension immediately after charging or after aging at room temperature. All hydrogen charged specimens showed embrittlement, with a little higher loss of ductility in the high sulfur steel. The hydrogen embrittlement was reversible in both steels when specimens were charged in arsenic-free sulfuric acid solution at room temperature but was irreversible when charged in arsenic-containing acid at the same temperature. After charging in molten salts at 200 °C, some of the low sulfur steel specimens exhibited irreversible hydrogen damage with the appearance of quasicleavage fractures, while all high sulfur steel specimens were restored to the uncharged ductility by aging at room temperature. These results are interpreted by assuming that an increased sulfur content in steel increases the density of trapping sites for hydrogen at the sulfide/matrix interfaces. These traps are inactive above 150 °C and become operative after cooling. Therefore, at the same hydrogen content in steel after cooling, the greater content of sulfur results in a decreased activity of the lattice dissolved hydrogen, hence in reduced embrittlement.     

Influence of Isothermal Treatment on MnS and Hot Ductility in Low Carbon,Low Mn Steels

Hot ductility tests were used to determine the hot-cracking susceptibility of two low-carbon, low Mn/S ratio steels and compared with a higher-carbon plain C-Mn steel and a low C, high Mn/S ratio steel. Specimens were solution treated at 1623 K (1350 °C) or in situ melted before cooling at 100 K/min to various testing temperatures and strained at 7.5 × 10^?4 s^?1, using a Gleeble 3500 Thermomechanical Simulator. The low C, low Mn/S steels showed embrittlement from 1073 K to 1323 K (800 °C to 1050 °C) because of precipitation of MnS at the austenite grain boundaries combined with large grain size. Isothermal holding for 10 minutes at 1273 K (1000 °C) coarsened the MnS leading to significant improvement in hot ductility. The higher-carbon plain C-Mn steel only displayed a narrow trough less than the Ae₃ temperature because of intergranular failure occurring along thin films of ferrite at prior austenite boundaries. The low C, high Mn/S steel had improved ductility for solution treatment conditions over that of in situ melt conditions because of the grain-refining influence of Ti. The higher Mn/S ratio steel yielded significantly better ductility than the low Mn/S ratio steels. The low hot ductility of the two low Mn/S grades was in disagreement with commercial findings where no cracking susceptibility has been reported. This discrepancy was due to the oversimplification of the thermal history of the hot ductility testing in comparison with commercial production leading to a marked difference in precipitation behavior, whereas laboratory conditions promoted fine sulfide precipitation along the austenite grain boundaries and hence, low ductility.     

Structure of continuously cooled low-carbon vanadium steels

The structures of four 0.15 pct carbon steels containing vanadium, nitrogen, and aluminum separately and together were studied systematically, with the help of transmission electron microscopy, by cooling suitable steels at four different rates ranging from 120 °C/min to 3.6 °C/ min from temperatures giving a common austenite grain size of 35 μm. Except for the steel containing only vanadium and that containing only aluminum and nitrogen cooled at the fastest rate used, the observed microstructures were all essentially mixtures of polygonal ferrite and expected amounts for pearlite. For all the steels studied, except the one containing aluminum and nitrogen, it was found that general precipitation was more common than interphase precipitation, although the extent of the latter increased at lower cooling rates. Moreover, in some cases, both general and interphase precipitation were present in the same area. The presence of aluminum was observed to enhance the formation of interphase precipitates at all cooling rates, and the spacing between parallel rows of precipitates increased as the cooling rate was decreased. The dislocation density was high at all cooling rates in all the steels, but it was found to decrease with decreasing cooling rates. Very fine precipitates were found in all the steels, except the steel containing aluminum and nitrogen. At the fast cooling rates, the segregation of vanadium and interstitial elements, which led to locally lower transformation temperatures and higher supersaturations, resulted in clusters of fine particles of vanadium carbonitride, V(C, N). At the slower cooling rates, all the steels showed severe heterogeneity in precipitate morphology which was more pronounced in the steel containing aluminum and nitrogen, while a needlelike morphology of V(C, N) precipitate was occasionally found in steels containing either vanadium and nitrogen or vanadium, nitrogen, and aluminum. As the cooling rate decreased, particle coarsening and growth occurred, causing a reduction in the number of particles/unit area. The coarsening rate of V(C,N) in the presence of aluminum is considerably lower than that of vanadium carbide, VC, or of V(C, N) in the absence of aluminum. Because of the unfavorable precipitation kinetics, any aluminum nitride (A1N) formed during cooling did not nucleate separately but was deposited on the pre-existing A1N particles, thus causing them to be coarsened very rapidly with decreasing cooling rate. Formerly with the Department of Metallurgy, The University of Sheffield, Sheffield, England     

Tempering of Mn and Mn-Si-V Dual-Phase Steels

Changes in the yield behavior, strength, and ductility of a Mn and a Mn-Si-V dual-phase (ferrite-martensite) steel were investigated after tempering one hour at 200 to 600 °C. The change in yield behavior was complex in both steels with the yield strength first increasing and then decreasing as the tempering temperature was increased. This complex behavior is attributed to a combination of factors including carbon segregation to dislocations, a return of discontinuous yielding, and the relief of residual stresses. In contrast, the tensile strength decreased continuously as the tempering temperature was increased in a manner that could be predicted from the change in hardness of the martensite phase using a simple composite strengthening model. The initial tensile ductility (total elongation) of the Mn-Si-V steel was much greater than that of the Mn steel. However, upon tempering up to 400 °C, the ductility of the Mn-Si-V decreased whereas that of the Mn steel increased. As a result, both steels had similar ductilities after tempering at 400 °C or higher temperatures. These results are attributed to the larger amounts of retained austenite in the Mn-Si-V steel (9 pct) compared to the Mn steel (3 pct) and its contribution to tensile ductility by transforming to martensite during plastic straining. Upon tempering at 400 °C, the retained austenite decomposes to bainite and its contribution to tensile ductility is eliminated.     

(C+N)复合强化的Fe-Cr-Mn(W,V)钢高温性能的研究

研究了用于核反应推低放射性结构材料Ｆｅ－Ｃｒ－Ｍｎ（Ｗ,Ｖ）奥氏体钢。通过（Ｃ＋Ｎ）复合强化有效地提高Ｆｅ－１２％Ｃｒ０１５％Ｍｎ（Ｗ,Ｖ）钢高温强度和蠕变断裂寿命,并改善高温塑性。在温度６７３Ｋ以下,合金比ＳＵＳ３１６钢和ＪＰＣＡＳ钢强度和塑性优良。合金强度和塑性与形变的相互关系是和合金形变组织变化;密切相关。对６７３Ｋ以上塑性降低的原因进行断口和显微组织分析,控制晶界碳化物粗化是进一步提高高温     

Effects of vanadium and nitrogen on recovery and recrystallization during and after hot-working some HSLA steels

The effects of vanadium/nitrogen additions on dynamic and static recovery and recrystallization have been studied in a set of aluminum-killed HSLA steels containing 0.1 pct carbon, 0.01 to 0.02 pct nitrogen, and either vanadium (0.1 or 0.2 pct), niobium (Cb) (0.03 pct), or vanadium and niobium together. Most, but not all, of the tests were carried out at 1173 K (900°C), a temperature at which precipitation of VN might be expected under some conditions. The net effect of dynamic recovery, recrystallization, and precipitation was monitored by measuring the change in compressive flow stress with strain at a constant temperature. Static changes were followed by measuring the change in compressive flow stress on isothermally holding unloaded specimens after a hot precompression. These kinetic data were supplemented by metallographic and electron-microscopic examinations of quenched specimens and of carbon extraction replicas taken from them. Evidence is presented which indicates that, at a holding temperature of 1173 K (900°C), static recrystallization occurs in vanadium steels containing 0.1 pct vanadium before any precipitation is detected. The progress of this recrystallization is arrested by the precipitation of vanadium nitride. At a higher vanadium concentration, 0.2 pct, recrystallization does not start. The effects of V/N ratio, austenitizing temperature (between 1373 K (1100°C) and 1523 K (1250°C), and isothermal holding temperature (between 1173 K (900°C) and 1273 K (1000°C)) on the kinetics of static softening and hardening are compared in some vanadium steels and plain-carbon and niobium steels of similar base-composition.     

Kinetics of Z-Phase Precipitation in 9 to 12 pct Cr Steels

The Z-phase nitride is seen as a detrimental phase in 9 to 12 pct Cr steels as it is in competition with the beneficial MX particles. Two model steels, with 9 pct Cr and 12 pct Cr content, respectively, were designed to study the effect of Cr on Z-phase precipitation kinetics. The steels were isothermally aged at 873 K, 923 K, and 973 K (600 °C, 650 °C, and 700 °C) for up to 30,000 hours in order for Z-phase to replace MX. X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis of extracted precipitates was used to quantitatively follow the evolution of the nitrides population. It was found that the 12 pct Cr steel precipitated Z-phase 20 to 50 times faster than the 9 pct Cr steel. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) was applied to follow the Z-phase precipitation, using energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) line scans and atomic resolution imaging.     

Formation and Thermal Stability of Large Precipitates and Oxides in Titanium and Niobium Microalloyed Steel

As-cast CC slabs of microalloyed steels are prone to surface and sub-surface cracking. Precipitation phenomena initiated during solidification reduce ductility at high temperature. The unidirectional solidification unit is employed to simulate the solidification process during continuous casting. Precipitation behavior and thermal stability are systematically investigated. Samples of adding titanium and niobium to steels have been examined using field emission scanning electron microscope （FE-SEM）, electron probe X-ray microanalyzer （EPMA）, and transmission electron microscope （TEM）. It has been found that the addition of titanium and niobium to high-strength low-alloyed （HSLA） steel resulted in undesirable large precipitation in the steels, i. e. , precipitation of large precipitates with various morphologies. The composition of the large precipitates has been determined, The effect of cooling rate on （Ti, Nb）（C, N） precipitate formation is investigated. With increasing the cooling rate, titanium-rich （Ti,Nb）（C,N） precipitates are transformed to niobium-rich （Ti,Nb）（C,N） precipitates. The thermal stability of these large precipitates and oxides have been assessed by carrying out various heat treatments such as holding and quenching from temperature at 800 and 1 200℃. It has been found that titanium-rich （Ti,Nb）（C,N） precipitate is stable at about 1 200 ℃ and niobium-rich （Ti,Nb）（C,N） precipitate is stable at about 800 ℃. After reheating at 1 200℃ for 1 h, （Ca,Mn）S and TiN are precipitated from Ca-Al oxide. However, during reheating at 800 ℃ for l h, Ca-Al-Ti oxide in specimens was stable. The thermodynamic calculation of simulating the thermal process is employed. The calculation results are in good agreement with the experimental results.     

Fabrication of ultrahigh nitrogen austenitic steels by nitrogen gas absorption into solid solution

For the purpose of fabricating ultrahigh nitrogen austenitic steels (>1 mass pct N), the phenomenon of nitrogen absorption into solid solution was thermodynamically analyzed and applied to Fe-Cr-Mn system ternary alloy. During the annealing of the steel in a nitrogen gas atmosphere of 0.1 MPa at 1473 K (nitrogen absorption treatment), the nitrogen content of the steel was increased with the absorption of nitrogen gas from the material surface and then saturated when the system reached a state of equilibrium. Effect of the steel composition on an equilibrium nitrogen content was formulated taking account of interactions among Cr, Mn, and N atoms, and the condition for fabrication of ultrahigh nitrogen austenitic steels was clarified. The nitrogen addition to ultrahigh content markedly increased proof stress and tensile stress of the austenitic steels without losing moderate ductility. For example, Fe-24Cr-10Mn-1.43N (mass pct) alloy has 830 MPa in 0.2 pct proof stress, 2.2 GPa in true tensile stress, and 75 pct in total elongation. As a result of tensile tests for various nitrogen-bearing austenitic steels, it was found that the proof stress is increased in proportion to (atomic fraction of nitrogen)^2/3.     

Evolution of Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of Thermomechanically Processed Ultrahigh-Strength Steel

In the present study, low carbon microalloyed ultrahigh-strength steel was manufactured on a pilot scale. Transformation of the aforesaid steel during continuous cooling was assessed. The steel sample was thermomechanically processed followed by air cooling and water quenching. Variation in microstructure and mechanical properties at different finish rolling temperatures (FRTs) was studied. A mixture of granular bainite and bainitic ferrite along with interlath and intralath precipitation of (Ti, Nb)CN particles is the characteristic microstructural feature of air-cooled steel. On the other hand, lath martensitic structure along with a similar type of microalloying precipitates of air-cooled steels is obtained in the case of water-quenched steel also. The best combination of strength (1440 to 1538 MPa) and ductility (11 to 16 pct) was achieved for the selected range of FRTs of water-quenched steel.