Effects of Widmanstätten ferrite on the mechanical properties of a 0.2 pct C-0.7 pct Mn steel

Laboratory melted and rolled C-Mn steel plates were austenitized at either 925 °C or 1150 °C to produce nominal austenite grain sizes of 60 and 200 μm, resspectively. The plates were then cooled at rates in the range of about 2 °C/min to 400 °C/min to produce mixed polygonal ferrite/Widmanst?tten ferrite/pearlite microstructures. The percentage of Widmanst?tten structure (a Widmanst?tten ferrite/pearlite aggregate) increases with increasing prior austenite grain size and cooling rate. Both yield strength and impact toughness increase with decreasing austenite grain size and increasing cooling rate. This simultaneous improvement in strength and toughness is attributed to overall refinement of both the polygonal ferrite and Widmanst?tten structure. Both yield and tensile strength increase with an increase in the volume fraction of Widmanst?tten ferrite and a reduction in ferrite grain size. In contrast, the toughness level achieved in these polygonal ferrite/Widmanst?tten ferrite/pearlite microstructures depends largely on the ferrite grain size; the finer the grain size, the better the toughness.     

Effect of Niobium on Transformations From Austenite to Ferrite in Low Carbon Steels

Niobium has an important effect on the transformation behaviour,grain size refinement and precipitation strengthening during hot rolling and subsequent cooling in low carbon steels,with even a low content of niobium having a strong effect on the transformation rate from austenite to ferrite.However,the effects of niobium on transformation behaviour have not been fully characterised and understood to date.This paper examines in detail austenite grain growth as a function of austenitisation time in high strength low alloy (HSLA) steels with three different niobium contents,together with the effect of niobium on the isothermal transformation kinetics from austenite to ferrite as a function of temperature.It is shown that austenite has the slowest grain growth rate in the steel with the highest niobium content.When austenite grain sizes are consistent,the steel with the highest niobium content was found to have the slowest transformation rate from austenite to ferrite.     

Austenite decomposition during continuous cooling of an HSLA-80 plate steel

Decomposition of fine-grained austenite (10-μm grain size) during continuous cooling of an HSLA-80 plate steel (containing 0.05C, 0.50Mn, 1.12Cu, 0.88Ni, 0.71Cr, and 0.20Mo) was evaluated by dilatometric measurements, light microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and microhardness testing. Between 750 °C and 600 °C, austenite transforms primarily to polygonal ferrite over a wide range of cooling rates, and Widmanst?tten ferrite sideplates frequently evolve from these crystals. Carbon-enriched islands of austenite transform to a complex mixture of granular ferrite, acicular ferrite, and martensite (all with some degree of retained austenite) at cooling rates greater than approximately 5 °C/s. Granular and acicular ferrite form at temperatures slightly below those at which polygonal and Widmanst?tten ferrite form. At cooling rates less than approximately 5 °C/s, regions of carbon-enriched austenite transform to a complex mixture of upper bainite, lower bainite, and martensite (plus retained austenite) at temperatures which are over 100 °C lower than those at which polygonal and Widmanst?tten ferrite form. Interphase precipitates of copper form only in association with polygonal and Widmanst?tten ferrite. Kinetic and microstruc-tural differences between Widmanst?tten ferrite, acicular ferrite, and bainite (both upper and lower) suggest different origins and/or mechanisms of formation for these morphologically similar austenite transformation products. Formerly Graduate Student, Department of Metallurgical and Materials Engineering, Colorado School of Mines. This article is based on a presentation made during TMS/ASM Materials Week in the symposium entitled “Atomistic Mechanisms of Nucleation and Growth in Solids,” organized in honor of H.I. Aaronson’s 70th Anniversary and given October 3–5, 1994, in Rosemont, Illinois.     

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.     

含铌抗大变形管线钢奥氏体的连续冷却转变

The CCT behaviors of two bearing Nb polygonal ferrite-bainite high strength and high-deformability pipeline steels were studied in undeformed condition, The static CCT curves were constructed. The static CCT curves, microstructures and microhardness of two experimental steels were compared. It was found that microstructures of these steels contain polygonal ferrite, pearlite, bainite as cooling rate from 0.0278 to 42.5�桤s-1; Addition of Nb in the steel retards polygonal ferrite and granular bainite transformation, suppresses ferrite growth and refine ferrite grain, makes transformation line of bainite right shift, narrows the range of cooling rate of ferrite transformation, raises start temperature of ferrite and banite transformation; ferrite transformation zone is narrowed and the bainite transformation zone is expanded with increasing of Nb.     

Modeling of StrainInduced Precipitation Kinetics and Evolution of Austenite Grains in Nb Microalloyed Steels

Considering the effect of strain and chemical composition on precipitation behavior, new models for the start and end time of Nb(C,N) precipitation in austenite under the conditions of different temperatures and strains have been investigated for Nb microalloyed steel. The value of n in the precipitation kinetic equation has been determined by using the available experimental data in literature, which indicated that n is a constant and independent of temperature. The values of the start and end time of the predicted precipitation are compared with the experimental values. Calculated results are in good agreement with the experimental results. Also, the evolution of austenite grains before ferrite transformation is simulated by taking the effect of precipitation into consideration. The measured austenite grain size is in good agreement with predicted one prior to ferrite transformation.     

Modeling of Strain-Induced Precipitation Kinetics and Evolution of Austenite Grains in Nb Microalloyed Steels

Considering the effect of strain and chemical composition onprecipitation behavior, new models for the start and end time of Nb（C,N） precipitation in austenite under the conditions of different temperatures and strains have been investigated for Nb microalloyed steel. The value of n in the precipitation kinetic equation has been determined by using the available experimental data in literature, which indicated that n is a constant and independent of temperature. The values of the start and end time of the predicted precipitation are compared with the experimental values. Calculated results are in good agreement with the experimental results. Also, the evolution of austenite grains before ferrite transformation is simulated by taking the effect of precipitation into consideration. The measured austenite grain size is in good agreement with predicted one prior to ferrite transformation.     

Influence of Deformation on Transformation of Low Carbon and High Nb-containing Steel during Continuous Cooling

 The effect of deformation in the nonrecrystallized region on the phase transformation for a low carbon and high Nb-containing steel with coarse austenite grain size was investigated by means of dilatometry measurement and microstructure observation. The results show that with the cooling rate increased, both the transformation start and finish temperatures measured by dilatometer are decreased, and the corresponding microstructure is changed from ferrite and pearlite to full granular bainite gradually. The dynamic CCT diagram is plotted according to the dilatometry measurements and microstructure observations. Dilatometry measurements also show that the transformation start and finish temperatures of the tested steel are raised with increasing strain, strain rate and deformation temperature, and the reasons for this are discussed.     

Effect of Niobium on Isothermal Transformation of Austenite to Ferrite in HSLA Low-Carbon Steel

Using thermomechanical simulation experiment,the kinetics of the isothermal transformation of austenite to ferrite in two HSLA low-carbon steels containing different amounts of niobium was investigated under the conditions of both deformation and undeformation.The results of optical microstructure observation and quantitative metallography analysis showed that the kinetics of the isothermal transformation of austenite to ferrite in lower niobium steel with and without deformation suggests a stage mechanism,wherein there exists a linear relationship between the logarithms of holding time and ferrite volume fraction according to Avrami equation,whereas the isothermal transformation of austenite to ferrite in high niobium steel proceeds via a two stage mechanism according to micrographs,wherein,the nucleation rate of ferrite in the initial stage of transformation is low,and in the second stage,the rate of transformation is high and the transformation of residual austenite to ferrite is rapidly complete.Using carbon extraction replica TEM,niobium carbide precipitation for different holding time was investigated and the results suggested that NbC precipitation and the presence of solute niobium would influence the transformation of austenite to ferrite.The mechanism of the effect of niobium on the isothermal transformation was discussed.     

Effect of Niobium on Isothermal Transformation of Austenite to Ferrite in HSLA LowCarbon Steel

Using thermomechanical simulation experiment, the kinetics of the isothermal transformation of austenite to ferrite in two HSLA lowcarbon steels containing different amounts of niobium was investigated under the conditions of both deformation and undeformation. The results of optical microstructure observation and quantitative metallography analysis showed that the kinetics of the isothermal transformation of austenite to ferrite in lower niobium steel with and without deformation suggests a stage mechanism, wherein there exists a linear relationship between the logarithms of holding time and ferrite volume fraction according to Avrami equation, whereas the isothermal transformation of austenite to ferrite in high niobium steel proceeds via a two stage mechanism according to micrographs, wherein, the nucleation rate of ferrite in the initial stage of transformation is low, and in the second stage, the rate of transformation is high and the transformation of residual austenite to ferrite is rapidly complete. Using carbon extraction replica TEM, niobium carbide precipitation for different holding time was investigated and the results suggested that NbC precipitation and the presence of solute niobium would influence the transformation of austenite to ferrite. The mechanism of the effect of niobium on the isothermal transformation was discussed.     

Effect of Austenite Deformation on Continuous Cooling Transformation Microstructures for 22CrSH Gear Steel

 The effect of compressive deformation of austenite on continuous cooling transformation microstructures for 22CrSH gear steel has been investigated using a Gleeble 1500 thermal simulator. The experimental results show that the deformation of austenite promotes the formation of proeutectoid ferrite and pearlite, and leads to the increase of critical cooling rate of proeutectoid ferrite plus pearlite microstructure. The grain boundary allotriomorphic ferrite occupies the austenite grain surfaces when the prior deformation takes place or the cooling rate is decreased, which causes a transition from bainite to acicular ferrite. The deformation enhances the stability of transformation from austenite to acicular ferrite, which results in an increase of M/A constituent.     

Effect of Aluminum and Titanium Treatment on Non-Metallic Inclusions and Microstructures of CGHAZ in HSLA Steel

The Effect of A1 and Ti treatment on non-metallic inclusions and microstructures of coarse-grain HAZ in HSLA stee1 was investigated in this paper based on experiments and thermodynamic calculations.The results showed that the inclusions in A1 treated steel were mainly aluminum oxides and titanium nitrides which could not promote the formation of acicular ferrite microstructures.Microstructure of coarse-grain HAZ in A1 treated steels consists of heavy grain boundary ferrite and ferrite side plate.The inclusions in Ti treated steel were A1,Ti,Mg,Ca composite oxides with size in the range of 0.5-3μm and titanium nitrides with size less than 0.3μm.Ti composite oxide could promote the formation of acicular ferrite and microstructures of coarse-grain HAZ in Ti treated steel consists of grain boundary ferrite,small amounts of ferrite side plate and large amounts of intragranular acicular ferrite.The size of grain boundaries ferrite was increased and the amount of ferrite side plate was decreased with the increase of soaking time at the peak temperature.The amount of grain boundary ferrite and the size of acicular ferrite were also increased with the increase of cooling rate during ferrite phase formation.     

Metallurgical Interpretation on Grain Refinement and Synergistic Effect of Mn and Ti in Ti-microalloyed Strip Produced by TSCR

The grain refinement mechanism and synergistic effect of Mn and Ti involved in the Ti-microalloying technology of thin slab casting and direct rolling （TSCR） were elucidated. Because the inevitable precipitation of TiN in high Ti-containing liquid steel decreases the volume fraction of TiN precipitated from austenite and the rapid coarse- ning rate leads to a large size of TiN particles, a relatively weak inhibition effect on the recrystallized grain growth was obtained compared with that in the low Ti-containing steel. However, the ferrite grain size in high Ti-containing steel can be refined by the so-called non-recrystallization rolling. The complex addition of Mn and Ti can improve the strength and toughness of strip remarkably, and the mechanisms are that Mn decreases the transformation tempera- ture, refines the ferrite grains, and enhances the formation of bainite and TiC precipitation in ferrite.     

Effect of Nb on Austenite Formation and Decomposition in an X80 Linepipe Steel

Advanced high strength steels for pipeline applications,e.g.X80 grades,have complex microstructures and are frequently microalloyed with Nb.In the hot rolled product it is sought to have Nb precipitated as Nb(CN).However,when processing these steels Nb may be in solution and critically affects the microstructure evolution,e.g.austenite decomposition on the run-out table of a hot mill.Further,microstructure changes in the heat affected zone (HAZ) during girth welding of these linepipe steels may occur with Nb precipitated or in solution.In the HAZ,depending on welding procedures,the material undergoes a number of austenite formation and decomposition cycles and the amount of Nb in solution varies along these stages.In selected positions of the HAZ,thermal cycles peak at the intercritical region and the partial formation of austenite and subsequent decomposition constitutes additional complexity.Developing reliable process models for run-out table cooling and the HAZ hinges on an accurate tracking of microstructure evolution,which is strongly influenced by the amount of Nb in solution.The present study provides more insight into the effect of Nb on austenite formation and decomposition.Firstly,a novel experimental methodology is presented to measure quantitatively the effect of Nb on transformation temperatures pertinent to austenite decomposition,notably ferrite.A model for ferrite formation that accounts for solute drag of Nb is proposed to describe the experimental observations.Secondly,an experimental study will be presented to quantify the effect of Nb in and out of solution on austenite formation in the intercritical region.It is found that the morphology of intercritical austenite,as well as the kinetics of its formation is strongly affected by the starting microstructure and the state of Nb.     

Ti微合金化高强度热轧带钢组织性能及强化机理

The continuous cooling transformation behavior, the effect of coiling temperature on microstructure and mechanical properties, and strengthening mechanisms of Ti microalloyed high strength hot strip steel were systematically investigated by thermal simulation testing machine, laboratory rolling mill, SEM and HR-TEM. The dynamic CCT curve was established. The results show that the austenite to ferrite and pearlite transformation takes place when the cooling rate is less than 1??/s. The austenite to bainite transformation accompanied with austenite to ferrite and pearlite transformation takes place when the cooling rate is in the range of 5 ??/s to 10 ??/s. The bainitic transformation temperature is about 600??. The amount of granular bainite decreases, while the amount of lath bainite increases with the increase of cooling rate in the range of 20??/s to 50??/s. Furthermore, the study on the effect of coiling temperature on the microstructure and mechanical properties of experimental steel has shown that the strength and plasticity of tested steel are improved with decreasing the coiling temperature. When the coiling temperature is 550?棬the experimental steel possesses optimal mechanical properties owing to the grain refinement and precipitation of nano-scale TiC particles. And the tensile strength, yield strength and elongation of tested steel were 742MPa, 683MPa and 22??5%, respectively.     

Microstructure evolution and mechanical properties influenced by austenitizing temperature in aluminum-alloyed TRIP-aided steel

The Fe-0.21 C-2.2 Mn-0.49 Si-1.77 Al transformation induced plasticity(TRIP)-aided steel was heat treated at various austenitizing temperatures under both TRIP-aided polygonal ferrite type(TPF)and annealed martensite matrix(TAM)processes.The microstructure evolution and their effects on mechanical properties were systematically investigated through the microstructure observation and dilatometric analysis.The microstructure homogeneity is improved in TPF steel heated at a high temperature due to the reduced banded martensite and the increased bainite.Compared with the mechanical properties of the TPF steels,the yield strength and elongation of the TAM steels are much higher,while the tensile strength is lower than that of TPF steels.The stability of intercritical austenite is affected by the heating temperature,and thus the following phase transformation influences the mechanical properties,such as the bainite transformation and the precipitation of polygonal ferrite.Obvious dynamic bainite transformation occurs at TAM850,TAM900 and TAM950.More proportion of polygonal ferrite is found in the sample heated at 950°C.The bainite transformation beginning at a higher temperature results in the wider bainitic ferrite laths.The more proportion of polygonal ferrite and wide bainitic ferrite laths commonly contribute to the lower strength and better elongation.The uniform microstructure with lath-like morphology and retained austenite with high average carbon content ensures a good mechanical property in TAM850 with the product of strength and elongation of about 28 GPa·%.     

Influence of annealing treatment on the formation of nano/submicron grain size AISI 301 Austenitic stainless steels

Nano/submicron austenitic stainless steels have attracted increasing attention over the past few years due to fine structural control for tailoring engineering properties. At the nano/submicron grain scales, grain boundary strengthening can be significant, while ductility remains attractive. To achieve a nano/submicron grain size, metastable austenitic stainless steels are heavily cold-worked, and annealed to convert the deformation-induced martensite formed during cold rolling into austenite. The amount of reverted austenite is a function of annealing temperature. In this work, an AISI 301 metastable austenitic stainless steel is 90 pct cold-rolled and subsequently annealed at temperatures varying from 600 °C to 900 °C for a dwelling time of 30 minutes. The effects of annealing on the microstructure, average austenite grain size, martensite-to-austenite ratio, and carbide formation are determined. Analysis of the as-cold-rolled microstructure reveals that a 90 pct cold reduction produces a combination of lath type and dislocation cell-type martensitic structure. For the annealed samples, the average austenite grain size increases from 0.28 μm at 600 °C to 5.85 μm at 900 °C. On the other hand, the amount of reverted austenite exhibits a maximum at 750 °C, where austenite grains with an average grain size of 1.7 μm compose approximately 95 pct of the microstructure. Annealing temperatures above 750 °C show an increase in the amount of martensite. Upon annealing, (Fe, Cr, Mo)₂₃C₆ carbides form within the grains and at the grain boundaries.     

Effect of Heat Input and Niobium on the Microstructure and Toughness of Coarse Grain Heat-Affected Zone in HSLA Steels

 The influence of Nb on the coarse grain heat-affected zone (CGHAZ) microstructure, mechanical property and the transformation kinetics of HSLA steels under different heat inputs, has been investigated. When welded at higher heat inputs (100~60kJ cm-1), impact toughness values of the steel without Nb are much higher than the steel with Nb, and the lowest span is 153J at 60kJ cm-1. But only a little higher values are observed at lower heat inputs (40~30kJ cm-1), and the highest span is 68J at 30kJ cm-1. Dilatation studies indicate continuous cooling transformation start temperatures (Ts) of CGHAZ for the steel with Nb are approximately 15~30°C lower than the steel without Nb at all heat inputs. Under higher heat inputs Nb in solid solution suppress ferrite transformation and promote the formation of granular bainite which has detrimental effect on impact toughness. Under lower heat inputs higher Charpy impact energy values in the steel with Nb are associated with the formation of low carbon self-tempered martensite.     

Microstructure and Transformation Characteristics of Acicular Ferrite in High Niobium-Bearing Microalloyed Steel

 The transformation behavior and microstructural characteristics of a low carbon high Nb-bearing microalloyed pipeline steel have been investigated by deformation dilatometry and microstructure observation. The continuous cooling transformation curves (CCT) of the tested steel was constructed. High Nb content and deformation enhancing the formation of acicular ferrite; the microstructures are range from PF, QF to AF with increasing cooling rates from 0.5 to 50℃/s and dominated by acicular ferrite in a broadened cooling rate higher than 5℃/s. The chaotic microstructure consists of non-equiaxed ferrite and interwoven ferrite laths distributed high density dislocations and sununits. The results of isothermal holding show that acicular ferrite microstructure is formed in region of 550-600℃. With the holding time or temperature increased, some low misorientations boundaries change to high misotrentationn as dislocations moving and grain boundaries coarsening.     

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.