Nanoscale Cementite Precipitates and Comprehensive Strengthening Mechanism of Steel

This article summarizes the state of the art of the comprehensive strengthening mechanism of steel. By using chemical phase analysis, X-ray small-angle scattering (XSAS), room temperature organic (RTO) solution electrolysis and metal embedded sections micron-nano-meter characterization method, and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (TEM) observation, the properties of nanoscale cementite precipitates in Ti microalloyed high-strength weathering steels produced by the thin slab continuous casting and rolling process were analyzed. Except nanoscale TiC, cementite precipitates with size less than 36 nm and high volume fraction were also found in Ti microalloyed high-strength weathering steels. The volume fraction of cementite with size less than 36 nm is 4.4 times as much as that of TiC of the same size. Cementite with high volume fraction has a stronger precipitation strengthening effect than that of nanoscale TiC, which cannot be ignored. The precipitation strengthening contributions of nanoscale precipitates of different types and sizes should be calculated, respectively, according to the mechanisms of shearing and dislocation bypass, and then be added with the contributions of solid solution strengthening and grain refinement strengthening. A formula for calculating the yield strength of low-carbon steel was proposed; the calculated yield strength considering the precipitation strengthening contributions of nanoscale precipitates and the comprehensive strengthening mechanism of steels matches the experimental results well. The calculated σ _s  = 630 to 676 MPa, while the examined σ _s  = 630 to 680 MPa. The reason that “ultrafine grain strengthening can not be directly added with dislocation strengthening or precipitation strengthening” and the influence of the phase transformation on steel strength were discussed. The applications for comprehensive strengthening theory were summarized, and several scientific questions for further study were pointed out.     

超快速冷却条件下Ti 微合金钢中纳米碳化物及其强化作用

具有较高强度的Ti微合金钢已广泛应用于国民经济及国防工业的各个领域.针对超快速冷却条件下（轧制冷却速度高达64 ℃/s）的Ti微合金钢,采用无损电解提取技术获得Ti微合金钢中的纳米碳化物. 在此基础上,运用化学相分析、X射线小角散射及透射电镜综合分析纳米碳化物的物理化学特征,并考察其强化作用. 结果表明:Ti微合金钢中存在大量纳米尺寸的Fe_xC、TiC析出物,其平均粒度分别为76.06 nm和133.95 nm;同时,超快速冷却条件强化了Fe_xC的析出行为,使得其析出强化增量达到243.8 MPa,而TiC的析出强化增量仅为63.1 MPa;然而,钢中每增加0.01 %（质量分数）的TiC析出物（＜40 nm）却可大幅贡献强化增量77.1 MPa,远高于Fe_xC析出物（＜40 nm）的强化贡献量. 因此,强化TiC的析出行为在提高钢屈服强度方面具有重要潜力.      

钛微合金化高强钢的组织性能及强化机制

 为了掌握钛微合金化高强钢的组织性能、第二相粒子特性和析出规律以及强化机制,采用光学显微镜、扫描电镜、透射电镜、拉伸试验机等设备并结合热力学计算,对高强度汽车车厢板进行了系统研究。研究结果表明,试验钢的显微组织类型主要为多边形铁素体+针状铁素体+少量索氏体,平均有效晶粒尺寸约为3.5 μm。钢中存在大量的球形TiC和少量的不规则形状Ti4C2S2及方形TiN析出物,析出顺序为TiN→Ti4C2S2→TiC。第二相析出物以TiC的沉淀强化效果最为显著,TiN和Ti4C2S2的沉淀强化效果十分微弱。试验钢中所有强化方式对试验钢的强度贡献大小顺序为细晶强化＞沉淀强化＞位错强化＞固溶强化＞晶格点阵强化,其中细晶强化和沉淀强化的强化效果最为显著,对屈服强度的贡献超过50%。     

Precipitation Strengthening by Nanometer-sized Carbides in Hot-rolled Ferritic Steels

The mechanical properties of the hot-rolled plates of Ti steel and Ti-Mo steel after isothermal transformation in a temperature range of 600 700 ℃ for 60 min have been tested, and the microstructures of the matrix and the characteristics of precipitated nanometer-sized carbides have also been examined by scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy. The precipitation regularity of nanometer-sized carbides has been studied by thermodynamic method and the contributions of corresponding strengthening mechanisms to the total yield strength have been calculated. The tensile strength of hot-rolled Ti-Mo ferritie steel can achieve 780 MPa with an elongation of 20.0% after being isothermally treated at 600 ℃ for 60 rain, and the tensile strength of Ti steel is 605 MPa with an elongation of 22.7%, according to the results of tensile tests. The critical nucleation size of （Ti,Mo）C is smaller than that of TiC at a given isothermal temperature, but the nucleation rate of （Ti, Mo）C is larger than that of TiC. The grainrefinement strengthening and precipitation strengthening contribute the main amount of the total yield strength. The major increase in yield strength with the decrease of isothermal temperature results from the contribution of precipi tation strengthening. The contribution of precipitation strengthening to the yield strength of the steels has been esti mated. The ferrite phase can be strengthened by about 400 MPa through precipitation strengthening in Ti-Mo steel isothermally treated at 600 ℃ for 60 rain, which is about 200 MPa higher than that of Ti steel under the same conditions.     

Low carbon manganese steels microalloyed with vanadium and nitrogen

With the objective of studying the effect of vanadium and nitrogen microalloying on microstructure and strength of low carbon steels with different manganese contents, three series of low carbon steels (0.1% C) with manganese content (between 0.8 and 3.5%), vanadium content (up to 0.17%) and nitrogen content (up to 0.025%) have been designed and investigated in the hot forging condition using a preheating and finish forging temperatures of 1200 and 950°C, respectively. Steels with a manganese content up to 2.3% revealed ferrite-pearlite structures, whereas higher manganese contents from 2.7 to 3.5% resulted in the formation of bainitic structures. A pronounced effect of manganese on the mechanical properties of steels was detected at lower manganese contents < 1.5%, due to solid solution and grain refining effects, and higher manganese contents > 2.3, due to bainite formation. Manganese content in the range of 1.5-2.3% had less pronounced effect due to solely solid solution hardening. Vanadium microalloying effectively increased the strength of steels through solely precipitation strengthening or both precipitation strengthening and grain refining effect. The effectiveness of vanadium was greatly enhanced by increasing the nitrogen content. The grain refinement of vanadium-nitrogen microalloying seems to be due to inhibition of austenite grain growth as a result of precipitation of vanadium nitride in austenite during forging. Precipitation strengthening of these steels is achieved by precipitation of vanadium carbide and nitride in ferrite or bainite. Nitrogen enhanced the precipitation strengthening of vanadium microalloyed steels which could be attributed to the finer vanadium nitride dispersion precipitates compared with vanadium carbide. Up to 70% of the total nitrogen content of steel precipitates as vanadium nitride which could be achieved with V/N ratio of about 6-7. Microalloying of low carbon-manganese steels (0.1% C and 1.8% Mn) with 0.15% vanadium and 0.025% nitrogen was found to be effective in attaining high levels of yield and ultimate tensile strengths of 835 and 940 N/mm², respectively in the forging condition.     

Microstructures and Mechanical Properties of a New As-Hot-Rolled High-Strength DP Steel Subjected to Different Cooling Schedules

Controlled rolling followed by accelerated cooling was carried out in-house to study the microstructure and mechanical properties of a low carbon dual-phase steel. The objective of the study described here was to explore the effect of cooling schedule, such as air cooling temperature and coiling temperature, on the final microstructure and mechanical properties of dual-phase steels. Furthermore, the precipitation behavior and yield ratio are discussed. The study demonstrates that it is possible to obtain tensile strength and elongation of 780 MPa and 22 pct, respectively, at the two cooling schedules investigated. The microstructure consists of 90 pct ferrite and 10 pct martensite when subjected to moderate air cooling and low temperature coiling, such that the yield ratio is a low 0.69. The microstructure consists of 75 pct ferrite and 25 pct granular bainite with a high yield ratio of 0.84 when the steel is directly cooled to the coiling temperature. Compared to the conventional dual-phase steels, the high yield strength is attributed to precipitation hardening induced by nanoscale TiC particles and solid solution strengthening by high Si content. The interphase precipitates form at a suitable ledge mobility, and the row spacing changes with the rate of ferrite transformation. There are different orientations of the rows in the same grain because of the different growth directions of the ferrite grain boundaries, and the interface of the two colonies is devoid of precipitates because of the competitive mechanisms of the two orientations.     

Influence of Microalloying Elements (Nb,V, Ti) on Yield Strength in Bainitic Steels

In order to study the influence of microalloying elements in bainitic high strength steels, seven steels with different contents of V, Ti, Nb and N were investigated. The steel 35 CrMo 4 (C=0.38; Mn=0.82; Si= 0.25; Cr=0.83; Mo=0.17, all in wt.%) was used as reference steel. CCT diagrams were determined by dilatometric tests at different cooling rates, and the maximum and minimum cooling rates for bainite formation were determined. With regard to tensile tests, the presence of precipitates in the bainitic microstructure contributed to raising their yield strength, as was found by comparing the results for all the steels with the reference steel which did not contain microalloying elements. The yield strength can be predicted by an Orowan expression.     

CSP流程钛微合金化高强钢的第二相粒子析出行为

采用光学显微镜、扫描电镜、透射电镜、物理化学相分析等方法并结合热力学计算,分析了CSP工艺生产的钛微合金化高强钢的析出物特征及析出规律.研究发现:屈服强度700 MPa级高强钢中存在大量球形的纳米级TiC和Ti(C,N)粒子及少量不规则形状、100 nm以上的Ti₄C₂S₂粒子,TiN在连轧前完成析出,TiC主要在卷取和空冷时析出.不含钼钢和含钼钢(0.1% Mo)中MC相的质量分数为0.049%和0.043%,由于钼的加入,含钼钢中Ti的析出量较少,但析出粒子更为细小,并定量得到了不含钼钢和含钼钢的析出强化效果分别为126 MPa和128 MPa.      

Effect of Strengthening Phase on Deformation Behaviour during Uniaxial Tension of Hot-rolled Dual Phase Steel

Two kinds of C-Si-Mn-Cr series tested steels were designed to obtain dual phase microstructures of ferrite （F） ＋martcnsite （M） or ferrite （F）-bainite （B） with different mechanical properties. Effects of strengthening phase on yielding and fracture behaviours during uniaxial tension of dual phase steel were discussed. Compared with hot-rolled martensite dual phase steel, ferrite-bainite dual phase steel has high ratio of yield strength to tensile strength （YS/TS） and low elongation. During necking process of uniaxial tension, microvoids of ferrite-martensite steel are generated by fracture of ferrite/martensite boundary or martensite islands with irregular shape. But ferrite matrix elongated remarkably along deformation direction, and strengthening phase also coordinated with ferrite matrix. Compatible de formation between ferrite and bainite is distinct. Ferrite-bainite dual phase steel has fine and less microvoid, and phase boundary of ferrite and bainite is beneficial for restraining generation and extending of microvoid.     

Effect of Nb and Ti on second-phase precipitation and mechanical properties of 430 ferritic stainless steel

The influence of Ti and Nb on the microstructure,mechanical properties,and second-phase precipitation of 430 ferritic stainless steel was investigated.In addition to optical microscopy,transmission electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction analyses,tensile tests,and carbonitride extraction experiments were conducted to investigate the microscopic mechanisms.The results showed that the primary precipitates in SUS 430 ferritic stainless steel were Cr_(23)C_6,Mn_(23)C_6,and Cr_7C_3,and the primary strengthening mechanism was precipitation strengthening.When Ti was added separately,the main precipitates were TiC and TiN.However,coarse TiC adversely affected the mechanical properties of steel.When double-stabilized with Ti and Nb,coarse TiC was replaced by fine NbC.The type of precipitation was altered,and precipitation and solid solution strengthening occurred.Therefore,the tensile strength and plastic strain ratio(r-value) improved to 433.60 MPa and 1.37,respectively.     

超高强韧油井管合金设计与高强韧机制

 为了揭示1 000 MPa级低碳加铌钒钛微合金钢的高强韧机制,研究了S1(w(C)=0.09%)与S2(w(C)=0.17%)两种合金成分的油井管钢成分-工艺-组织-性能关系。试验表明,两种成分试验钢经水淬后的组织分别为板条贝氏体加少量马氏体和马氏体加少量贝氏体的复相组织。两种成分钢经过450~600 ℃、30 min的中温回火后,组织中均出现碳化物析出,且S1试验钢回火后的屈服强度基本不变,抗拉强度下降了约70 MPa,S2试验钢回火后的屈服强度与抗拉强度迅速升高170 MPa左右。溶度积公式的计算结果表明,两种钢的水淬组织中铌、钛元素析出彻底且析出物的体积分数都很小,因此回火铁素体基体中的VC析出强化对S1试验钢回火后屈服强度保持不变以及S2试验钢回火后屈服、抗拉强度提高起到重要作用。     

780MPa级重载汽车用大梁钢的工业试制

以低碳复合添加微合金元素铌和钛为成分设计思路,综合运用细晶强化、相变强化和析出强化三种强化机制,在国内某厂1750mm半连续热连轧机组进行了780MPa级大梁钢的工业试制.结果表明,终轧温度需控制在780～860℃,卷取温度需控制在450～550℃.大梁钢的显微组织为贝氏体和少量的细晶铁素体,并获得了大量弥散的尺度为1...     

冷却工艺对Ti微合金化高强钢组织和硬度的影响

通过热模拟实验,研究了冷却工艺参数对Ti微合金化高强钢组织和硬度的影响.结果表明:当终冷温度为700℃时,随着冷却速度的增大,铁素体和珠光体组织得到了显著细化,实验钢硬度增加;随着终冷温度的降低,多边形铁素体晶粒尺寸呈减小趋势,铁素体和珠光体含量逐渐降低,珠光体片层间距逐渐减小,贝氏体含量增加,相变强化和细晶强化共同作...     

硼对780 MPa低碳贝氏体钢组织和力学性能的影响

试验低碳贝氏体钢（/%:0.08C,0.11~0.13Si,1.10~1.20Mn,0.008~0.009P,0.002S,0.21~0.23Ni,0.020~0.021Ti,0.003~0.004Nb,0~0.0010B,0.000 7~0.0008O,0.0031~0.0033N）由50kg真空感应炉熔炼,轧成45mm钢板,并经930℃淬火,610℃回火。研究了0.0010%硼对780 MPa低碳贝氏体钢45mm板组织和力学性能的影响。结果表明,硼可显著提高试验钢的淬透性,不含硼试验钢淬火后得到粒状贝氏体,0.0010%硼试验钢淬火后得到板条贝氏体。硼明显改善试验低碳贝氏体钢的力学性能,含0.0010%硼试验钢淬、回火后的抗拉强度834MPa和屈服强度771MPa远高于不含硼试验钢的抗拉强度702MPa和屈服强度591MPa,实际生产中应加入适量硼可使低碳贝氏体钢得到板条贝氏体。     

EAF-CSP流程钛微合金化高强钢板的组织和性能研究

珠钢采用Ti微合金化技术在EAF—CSP流程上成功地开发出屈服强度为450～700MPa的高强度热轧钢板。系统地研究了试验钢的组织和性能．并分析了组织与性能的关系。结果表明，随钛含量增加或成品厚度减薄钢板的屈服强度显著提高，最高达到695MPa；钛的质量分数低于0．024％时对屈服强度影响不大；当钛的质量分数低于0．045％时．钢板屈服强度的提高主要来自于晶粒细化，而当钛的质量分数大于0．045％后，钢板强度的进一步提高来自于沉淀强化。     

一种含Ti冷轧热处理双相钢的组织性能研究

介绍了含0.085%Ti微合金元素的780 MPa级冷轧热处理双相钢的试制工艺流程,观察和测试了试验钢的组织,织构和性能,并与相关学者的类似研究做了比较.结果表明:试验钢经过连退工艺后,获得了多边形铁素体和分布在铁素体晶界上的岛状马氏体组织,并有少量贝氏体存在;Ti的添加有细晶强化和沉淀强化的作用,经连退热处理后试验钢的强度达到780 MPa级,拉伸时铁素体中的TiC颗粒钉扎和阻碍位错运动,试验钢出现屈服平台;连退后试验钢组织中铁素体晶粒间多为大角度晶界,且α纤维织构较强,γ纤维织构较弱.     

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.     

Effects of micro-alloying and production process on precipitation behaviors and mechanical properties of HRB600

Effects of micro-alloying elements and production process on microstructure,mechanical properties and precipitates of 600 MPa grade rebars were studied by using pilot test,metallographic observation,tensile test,thermodynamic calculation and transmission electron microscopy. The results show that the tested steels are composed of ferrite and pearlite,in which the content range of pearlite is 33%-45%. For vanadium microalloyed steel,interphase precipitation strengthening effect of V can be promoted and the yield strength of tested steels can be increased with increasing V content and decreasing finishing rolling temperature. The temperature of terminated cooling should be more than 700 °C when the water cooling is used. When niobium is added to the steel,more coarse( Nb,V) C,N precipitates are generated at high temperature,so that the solid solubility of precipitated phases of vanadium is reduced and the precipitation strengthening effect of vanadium is weakened.     

Precipitation reactions and strengthening behavior in 18 Wt Pct nickel maraging steels

The crystallography, structure, and composition of the strengthening precipitates in maraging steels C-250 and T-250 have been studied utilizing analytical electron microscopy and computersimulated electron diffraction patterns. The kinetics of precipitation were studied by electrical resistivity and microhardness measurements and could be described adequately by the Johnson-Mehl-Avarami equation, with precipitate nucleation occurring on dislocations and growth proceeding by a mechanism in which the dislocations serve as collector lines for solute from the matrix along which pipe diffusion occurs. The strengthening of the Co-free, higher Ti T-250 steel is caused by a refined distribution of Ni₃Ti precipitates. High strength is maintained at longer times from the combined effect of a high resistance of these precipitates to coarsening and a small volume fraction of reverted austenite. In the case of the Co-containing, lower Ti C-250 steel, strengthening results from the combined presence of Ni₃Ti (initially) and Fe₂Mo precipitates (at longer times). Loss of strength at longer times is associated, in part, with overaging and mainly from the larger volume fraction of reverted austenite. The resistance to austenite reversion is dependent on the manner in which the relative nickel content of the martensite matrix is affected by the precipitating phases, and the difference in the reversion tendency between the two steels can be explained on this basis. Formerly with the University of Illinois, Formerly with the University of Illinois     

Microstructure and Properties of Ti and Ti+Nb Ultra-Low Carbon Bake Hardening Steels

 Hot rolling, cold rolling and continuous annealing processes of Ti bearing and Ti+Nb stabilized ultra low carbon bake hardening(ULC-BH) steels were experimentally studied. The microstructure and texture evolution, as well as the morphology, size and distribution of the second phase precipitates during the hot rolling, cold rolling and continuous annealing were also analyzed. The results showed that the size of NbC precipitates in Ti+Nb stabilized ULC-BH steel was smaller than that of TiC precipitates in Ti bearing ULC-BH steel, this caused the average grain size of Ti+Nb stabilized ULC-BH steel to be finer than that of Ti bearing ULC-BH steel, for the yield strength, the former was higher than the latter, but for the r value which reflecting the deep drawing performance, the former was lower than the latter.