基于过冷奥氏体动态相变的热轧TRIP钢组织控制 Ⅱ.动态相变后冷却速率

通过热模拟压缩实验,研究了铁素体相变前的奥氏体晶粒尺寸对基于动态相变的热轧C-Mn-Al-Si系TRIP钢组织及力学性能的影响。结果表明,减小原始奥氏体晶粒尺寸,可促进动态相变时的铁素体相变动力学,有利于铁素体、贝氏体及残余奥氏体等相分布更为均匀,获得的贝氏体束及贝氏铁素体尺寸较小,残余奥氏体的体积分数及C含量均较高,细小的颗粒状残余奥氏体数量较多且弥散分布,因此可获得具有较高强度和优良塑性的热轧TRIP钢。     

In situ neutron diffraction investigation of the collaborative deformation–transformation mechanism in TRIP-assisted steels at room and elevated temperatures

The deformation behaviour of two transformation induced plasticity (TRIP)-assisted steels with slightly different microstructures due to different thermo-mechanically controlled processing (TMCP) was investigated by the in situ neutron diffraction technique during tensile straining at room temperature and two elevated (50 and 100 °C) temperatures. The essential feature of the TRIP deformation mechanism was found to be significant stress redistribution at the yield point. The applied tensile load is redistributed within the complex TRIP-steel microstructure in such a way that the retained austenite bears a significantly larger load than the ferrite–bainite α-matrix. The macroscopic yielding of the steel then takes place through the simultaneous cooperative activity of the austenite-to-martensite transformation in the austenite phase and plastic deformation in the α-matrix. It is concluded that, although its volume fraction is small, the martensitically transforming retained austenite phase dispersed within the α-matrix governs the plastic deformation of TRIP-assisted steels.     

低碳-硅-锰系TRIP钢的组织演变规律研究

采用彩色金相、SEM、TEM和X射线衍射技术研究了低碳-硅-锰TRJP钢在单向拉伸状态下的组织演变规律.结果表明,TRIP钢变形前的组织为F、B和残余奥氏体,经拉伸变形后部分残余奥氏体在应变作用下转变为孪晶结构的马氏体,提高了钢的强度;TRIP钢的断裂为韧性断裂,位于F晶界处的残余奥氏体发生相变从而松弛了应力,延缓了断裂的产生,使TRIP钢板获得高塑性.     

A novel thermomechanical approach to produce a fine ferrite and low-temperature bainitic composite microstructure

A novel thermomechanical processing was developed in the present study to produce a unique microstructure consisting of fine ferrite grains (i.e. ～4 μm on average) and low-temperature bainite in a relatively low-carbon steel with a modest hardenability. The thermomechanical route consisted of warm deformation of supercooled austenite followed by reheating in the ferrite region and then cooling to the bainitic transformation regime (i.e. 400–200 °C). The low-temperature bainite consisted of high dislocation density bainitic laths and very fine retained austenite films. This microstructure offered a high work hardening rate leading to a unique combination of ultimate tensile strength and elongation. This was due to the presence of ductile fine ferrite grains and hard low-temperature bainitic ferrite laths with retained austenite films. The microstructural characteristics of bainite were studied using optical microscopy in conjunction with scanning and transmission electron microscopy, electron backscatter diffraction and atom probe tomography techniques.     

Three-dimensional atom probe analysis of solute distribution in thermomechanically processed TRIP steels

Complex multiphase microstructures were obtained in transformation induced plasticity C–Mn–Si–(Nb–Al–Mo) steels by simulated controlled thermomechanical processing. These microstructures were characterized using transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction and three-dimensional atom probe tomography (APT), which was used to determine the partitioning of elements between different phases and microconstituents. The measured carbon concentration (∼0.25 at%) in the ferrite of carbide-free bainite was higher than expected from para-equilibrium between the austenite and ferrite, while the concentrations of substitutional elements were the same as in the parent austenite suggesting that incomplete bainite transformation occurred. In contrast, the distribution of substitutional elements between the ferrite lath and austenite in carbide-containing bainite indicated a complete bainite reaction. The average carbon content in the retained austenite (3.2 ± 1.6 at%) was somewhat higher than the T₀ limit. On the basis of the APT measured composition, the calculated M_s temperatures for retained austenite were above room temperature, indicating its low chemical stability.     

Quantitative assessment of the effects of microstructure on the stability of retained austenite in TRIP steels

The stability of retained austenite (RA) in transformation-induced plasticity steels (TRIP) is affected by many factors, including chemical composition, RA grain size, neighboring microconstituents of RA and temperature. The composition and microstructure factors are interrelated, so it is difficult to separate out the influence of each individually. In this investigation, methods were developed to study the effects of RA grain size and neighboring microconstituents in a silicon-alloyed low-carbon (0.2C–1.6Si–1.6Mn) TRIP steel. Uniaxial tensile tests, performed at ?20 °C, room temperature (20 °C) and 40 °C, were interrupted at several strain levels. Scanning electron micrographs were obtained from each condition, and RA was quantified using a novel technique called the categorical chord-length distribution (CCLD), which enables microstructural quantification based on specific neighboring microconstituents. The results show that RA adjacent to bainitic ferrite (BF) and fine RA grain size are correlated with higher RA stability. A modified Burke–Matsumura–Tsuchida stability model was developed to kinetically analyze the effects of microstructure on RA transformation. The CCLD and kinetic modeling analysis indicates that the stability of RA inside BF is less sensitive to the testing temperature than RA inside polygonal ferrite (PF), and thermodynamic analysis of the driving force for transformation as a function of temperature and carbon content implies that there is a higher carbon content in RA inside BF. Additionally, nanohardness tests showed that the hardnesses of BF and PF are not significantly different after moderate amounts of deformation. Thus, the enhanced stability of RA inside BF compared to PF is more strongly related to the elevated carbon content of RA inside BF rather than stress partitioning differences for RA adjacent to BF or PF.     

Effect of strain rate on deformation behavior of TRIP steels

Tensile deformation behavior of Si–Mn TRIP (TRansformation Induced Plasticity) steel with vanadium and without vanadium and the DP (Dual Phase) steel of the same composition were studied in a large range of strain rate (0.001–2000 s^?1) by routine material testing machine, rotation disk bar–bar tensile impact apparatus and high-speed material testing machine of servo-hydraulic type. In situ measurement of the transformation of retained austenite was performed by means of X-ray stress apparatus in order to have detailed knowledge about the transformation of retained austenite at quasi-static tensile. Microstructure of steels before and after tensile were observed by means of optical microscope (OM), scanning electron microscope (SEM) and transmission electron microscope (TEM). It is shown that there is no yield plateau observed on the stress–strain curve at quasi-static condition for TRIP steel containing vanadium because the vanadium carbide suppress the formation of Cottrell atmosphere in matrix. Retained austenite of Si–Mn TRIP steel containing vanadium transforms to martensite at loading stress of 502 MPa (its yielding strength is 486 MPa), while the transformation of retained austenite in matrix of Si–Mn TRIP steel without vanadium happens when its yielding process is finished at quasi-static tensile. It is confirmed that phase transformation of retained austenite in TRIP steel is strain induced phase transformation. It is noted that tensile elongation of TRIP steel at dynamic tensile is always lower than that at quasi-static tensile. That is because gradually strain induced phase transformation of retained austenite in TRIP steel is suppressed by deformation localization at dynamic tensile.     

Effect of annealing temperature on microstructural modification and tensile properties in 0.35 C–3.5 Mn–5.8 Al lightweight steel

The microstructural modifications occurring during annealing treatment of an Fe–0.35 C–3.5 Mn–5.8 Al ferrite-based lightweight steel and its effects on the tensile properties were investigated with respect to (α + γ) duplex microstructures. Steels annealed above the dissolution finishing temperature of κ-carbides (795 °C) were basically composed of ferrite band and austenite band in a layered structure. As the annealing temperature was increased the tensile strength increased, while the yield strength and elongation decreased. This could be explained by a decrease in the mechanical as well as thermal stability of austenite with increasing size and austenite volume fraction. In the 980 °C annealed steel in particular, whose mechanical stability due to austenite was lowest, cracks were readily formed at ferrite/austenite (or martensite) interfaces with little deformation, thereby leading to the least tensile elongation. In order to obtain the best combination of strength and ductility the formation of austenite having an appropriate mechanical stability was essentially needed, and could be achieved when 22–24 vol.% fine austenite was homogeneously distributed in the ferrite matrix, as in the 830 °C or 880 °C annealed steels.     

Multiscale mechanics of TRIP-assisted multiphase steels: I. Characterization and mechanical testing

The mechanical behaviour of transformation-induced plasticity (TRIP)-assisted multiphase steels is addressed based on three different microstructures generated from the same steel grade. The mechanisms responsible for the work-hardening capacity and the resulting balance between strength and resistance to plastic localization are investigated at different length scales. The macroscopic mechanical response is determined by simple shear, uniaxial tension, Marciniak and equibiaxial tension supplemented by earlier tensile tests on notched and cracked specimens. It is shown that the transformation rate reaches a maximum for stress states intermediate between uniaxial tension and equibiaxial tension. At an intermediate length scale, the true in situ flow properties of the individual ferrite–bainite and retained austenite phases are determined by combining neutron diffraction and digital image correlation. This combined analysis elucidates the partitioning of stress and strain between the different constitutive phases. Based on these results, supplemented by transmission electron microscopy and electron backscattered diffraction observations, a general overview of the hardening behaviour of TRIP-assisted multiphase steels is depicted.     

Thermodynamic analysis of two-stage heat treatment in TRIP steels

In this work, we present a detailed thermodynamic analysis of the two-stage heat treatment (intercritical annealing (IA) and banite isothermal transformation (BIT)) necessary to stabilize retained austenite in transformation-induced plasticity (TRIP) assisted steels. Through a set of experiments on alloys with nominal composition Fe–0.32C–1.42Mn–1.56Si (wt.%), we monitored the evolution of the volume fraction of retained austenite at room temperature as a function of the IA and BIT temperatures. We also investigated the thermodynamic limit for the bainitic transformation during BIT under the displacive (partitionless) transformation assumption. The fraction of retained austenite at the end of the two-stage heat treatment was calculated by taking into account the corresponding start of the martensitic transformation (T_Ms). Comparisons with experiments suggest good qualitative agreement in the fraction of retained austenite when considering the effect of the IA temperature. On the other hand, the analysis of the effect of BIT on the amount of retained austenite showed qualitative disagreement with the observations. To further analyze this discrepancy, we utilize a modified thermodynamic analysis with empirical observations as input, and conclude that the assumption of thermodynamic equilibrium at IA is not valid at lower IA temperatures. Moreover, the unexpected high carbon enrichment in retained austenite indicates the importance of the kinetic effects. We conclude that the thermodynamic limit for the bainitic transformation can be used at least to provide a lower bound to the expected fraction of retained austenite under specific IA + BIT treatment schedules.     

Dependency of Deformation Behavior of Retained Austenite in TRIP Steels on Microstructural and Chemical Homogeneity

The room-temperature stability of the retained austenite against strain-induced martensitic transformation, its deformation behavior, the response to the bainitic isothermal treatment, the appearance of yield point elongation and other peculiarities of plastic flow, and the mechanical properties of transformation-induced plasticity(TRIP) steel were tailored based on the chemical homogeneity and the relative distribution of the retained austenite, bainite, and ferrite in the microstructure. The presence of ferritic-pearlitic banded structure in the initial microstructure resulted in an inhomogeneous TRIP microstructure, in which the retained austenite and bainite were confined to some bands and it was found to be responsible for the resultant inferior mechanical properties. The appearance of discontinuous yielding for the chemically inhomogeneous material was related to the martensitic transformation of unstable retained austenite at the initial stage of tensile deformation. These results are essential for better understanding of the behavior of advanced high-strength steels and their applications.     

Experimental evidence and thermodynamics analysis of high magnetic field effects on the austenite to ferrite transformation temperature in Fe–C–Mn alloys

The non-isothermal decomposition of austenite into ferrite and pearlite in Fe–xC–1.5 wt.% Mn steels with x = 0.1, 0.2 and 0.3 wt.% C is investigated by in situ dilatometry and microstructure characterization in magnetic fields up to 16 T. The global shift towards higher temperatures of the respective austenite, ferrite + austenite and ferrite + pearlite stability regions is experimentally quantified. A systematic increase in the ferrite area fraction and proportional reduction of the Vickers hardness values with the magnetic field intensity are also reported. Moreover, the steels’ magnetizations, measured up to 3.5 T and 1100 K, are used to calculate the magnetic contribution to the free energy of the transformation and to account thermodynamically for the field dependence of the transformation temperature. The impact of magnetic field is found to be greater with increasing carbon content in the steels.     

Nanoscale austenite reversion through partitioning,segregation and kinetic freezing: Example of a ductile 2 GPa Fe–Cr–C steel

Austenite reversion during tempering of a Fe–13.6 Cr–0.44 C (wt.%) martensite results in an ultra-high-strength ferritic stainless steel with excellent ductility. The austenite reversion mechanism is coupled to the kinetic freezing of carbon during low-temperature partitioning at the interfaces between martensite and retained austenite and to carbon segregation at martensite–martensite grain boundaries. An advantage of austenite reversion is its scalability, i.e. changing tempering time and temperature tailors the desired strength–ductility profiles (e.g. tempering at 400 °C for 1 min produces a 2 GPa ultimate tensile strength (UTS) and 14% elongation while 30 min at 400 °C results in a UTS of ～1.75 GPa with an elongation of 23%). The austenite reversion process, carbide precipitation and carbon segregation have been characterized by X-ray diffraction, electron back-scatter diffraction, transmission electron microscopy and atom probe tomography in order to develop the structure–property relationships that control the material’s strength and ductility.     

A new 3D multiphase FE model for micro cutting ferritic–pearlitic carbon steels

A new three-dimensional multiphase finite element computation model is proposed for the simulation of micro drilling two-phase ferritic–pearlitic carbon steels in order to understand the cutting, ploughing, tribological and heat transfer mechanisms at the microscale. Based on the Split-Hopkinson-Pressure-Bar technique, a constitutive material law has been developed to model the thermo-mechanical material behaviour including the effect of the microstructure. Micro drilling tests using solid carbide twist drills with different diameters (d = 50 μm to 1 mm) were performed on ferrite–pearlite two-phase steel AISI 1045 for the verification of the developed 3D FE computation model regarding chip formation, feed force, and torque.     

Micromechanics of high-temperature damage in dual-phase stainless steel

High-temperature ductility of dual-phase stainless steels is investigated using a micromechanics approach of damage and fracture. Two different microstructures are studied with either a lamellar or a globular morphology of the ferrite phase, the latter being twice as ductile as the former at 1150 °C. The high-temperature damage evolution is characterized at different loading rates using notched round cylindrical bars producing different stress triaxialities, supplemented by fractographic analysis. The experimental observations have generated an advanced elasto-viscoplastic micromechanical damage model for both microstructures. With a detailed account of the process of nucleation, growth and coalescence of voids, the model properly captures the effect of stress triaxiality, strain rate, and morphology of the ferritic phase on the high-temperature ductility. The key factor controlling the loss of ductility in the lamellar microstructure is the constraint induced by the harder austenite layer on the softer ferrite zones.     

Retention of austenite in the welded microstructure of a 0.16C–1.6Mn–1.5Si (wt.%) TRIP steel

In this work, the retention of austenite in post-welded microstructures of a 0.16C–1.6Mn–1.5Si (wt.%) TRIP steel is investigated. Fully penetrated welds are produced by means of gas tungsten arc (GTA) welding and laser beam (LB) welding. The microstructure, particularly retained austenite, is analyzed using optical microscopy, Vickers hardness measurements, X-ray diffraction and saturation magnetization. It is found that the GTA welded TRIP steel contains a relatively large fraction of retained austenite, which may benefit the weldability of this steel. A minimum hardness is found in the heat-affected zone (HAZ) next to a high hardness plateau after both LB and GTA welding as a result of a large fraction of ferrite. It is suggested that for TRIP steels, proper control of the formation and decomposition of retained austenite in the HAZ is important to prevent weld failure. The hardness is therefore not a sufficient indicator for the weldability.     

An in situ high-energy X-ray diffraction study of micromechanical behavior of multiple phases in advanced high-strength steels

The micromechanical behavior of high-strength steels with multiple phases was characterized using the in situ high-energy X-ray diffraction technique. For the materials investigated, the {2 0 0} lattice strains of the constituent phases (ferrite, bainite and martensite) with similar crystal structures were determined by separating their overlapped diffraction peaks and then examining the respective changes in peak positions during deformation. Based on those experimental data, the anisotropic elastic and plastic properties of the steels were simulated using a self-consistent model for predicting the grain-to-grain and phase-to-phase interactions. The constitutive laws for describing the elastic and plastic behavior of each constituent phase were directly obtained by comparing the predicted lattice strain distributions with the measured ones. The transmission electron microscopy observations of the microstructure development verified the partitioning of plastic strains among different phases. The present investigations provide a fundamental understanding of the stress partitioning of soft and hard phases, and the different work-hardening rates of the multiphase steels.     

On the role of martensitic transformation on damage and cracking resistance in TRIP-assisted multiphase steels

The damage resistance, fracture toughness and austenite transformation rate in transformation-induced plasticity (TRIP)-assisted multiphase steel sheets were comparatively characterised on two steel grades differing by the volume fractions of the phases (i.e. ferrite, bainite, retained austenite) and by the mechanical stability of retained austenite. The influence of stress triaxiality on austenite transformation kinetics and the coupling between martensitic transformation and damage were investigated using double edge notched (or cracked) plate specimens tested in tension. The map of the distribution of transformation rates measured locally around the notch (or the crack) was compared with the map of the effective plastic strains and stress triaxialities computed by finite element simulations of the tests. The mechanically-activated martensitic transformation was found to progress continuously with plastic straining and to be strongly influenced by stress triaxiality. Fracture resistance was characterised by means of J_R curves and CTOD measurements using DENT specimens. The fracture toughness at cracking initiation was found to be lower for the steel with higher tensile strength and ductility. The contrasted influence of the TRIP effect, which improves formability by delaying plastic localisation but reduces fracture toughness at cracking initiation, is shown to result from parameters such as the volume fraction of non-intercritical ferrite phases or the mechanical properties of martensite.     

等温温度对低硅含铝热轧TRIP钢组织性能的影响

以低Si含Al热轧TRIP钢为研究对象,采用扫描电子显微镜、拉伸试验、X射线衍射仪和电子探针等试验方法,研究了不同等温温度对试验钢组织性能的影响。结果表明,试验钢的显微组织主要由多边形铁素体、贝氏体铁素体和残余奥氏体组成,随着等温温度的升高,残余奥氏体分解为新生成铁素体和碳化物;当等温温度为450 ℃时,试验钢的力学性能最佳,其抗拉强度为732.25 MPa,断后伸长率为36%,强塑积为26.36 GPa·%;残余奥氏体的体积分数先升高后降低,而C含量逐渐降低,等温温度为450 ℃时试验钢表现出较强的加工硬化行为。     

Work hardening induced by martensite during transformation-induced plasticity in plain carbon steel

Transformation-induced plasticity (TRIP) steels are becoming increasingly exploited for industrial applications because they show high strength and high uniform elongation (ductility). Despite this interest, the relative contributions of the various strengthening and straining mechanisms are often poorly understood. In this study, neutron diffraction is employed to quantify the contribution of different mechanisms to ductility and work hardening for a 0.25 wt.% C steel. Differences in stress–strain response at different temperatures are related to the extent of the transformation of metastable austenite into martensite during deformation. At room temperature (RT) the transformation of austenite occurs gradually with straining, while at ?50 °C the transformation occurs almost from the onset of loading. The associated transformation strain is reduced, comprising nearly half the total strain, lowering the apparent elastic modulus and explaining the relatively low work hardening compared to RT straining. By contrast, deformation at RT after pre-straining at ?50 °C results in larger work hardening than for solely RT straining due to the higher martensite levels introduced at ?50 °C. This is due to composite load transfer to the strong constituent from the soft matrix. The extent of the transformation is quantified as a function of strain at both temperatures as well as its effect on the work hardening and elongation.