Effect of Residual Elements on Hot‐Crack Susceptibility of Austenitic Stainless Steel

After partial melting and solidification of cylindrical samples hot tensile tests were performed on austenitic stainless steels containing residual elements such as copper, tin and lead as well as calcium and magnesium. Using well controlled cooling conditions down to the testing temperature a radially solidified microstructure in the test zone of the samples was achieved. The testing material was prepared by remelting of base material from the industrial production and addition of single elements in the vacuum induction furnace. The maximum strength and the reduction of area were determined in the temperature range between liquidus and 1100°C. With regard to the reheating and hot rolling process some samples were thermally treated under industrial conditions. The ductility of the material at temperatures down to 950°C was tested and the effect of annealing was evaluated. Recommendations for material processing by continuous casting and hot rolling were derived from the tests performed.     

Strain Rate Sensitivity of Pre‐Strained AISI 301LN2B Metastable Austenitic Stainless Steel

The dynamic behavior of AISI 301LN2B (EN 1.4318) metastable austenitic steel grade has been investigated at 296 K by means of servohydraulic tensile and split Hopkinson bar testing in the strain rate range 0.005–1000 s^?1. As delivered, as well as 10% uniaxial, biaxial, and plane strain pre‐strained conditions, without subsequent heat treatment have been tested. A negative strain rate sensitivity is observed in the low strain rate range between 10^?4 and 1–10 s^?1. Pre‐straining reduces the magnitude of the adiabatic tensile strength softening, especially in the plane strain condition with higher triaxility. The thermal activation related dynamic flow stress increase is not dependent on pre‐straining. The γ → α′ induced additional flow stress increase, however, is highly strain rate and pre‐straining sensitive. The amount of pre‐straining determines the overall ductility at fracture, and therefore the adiabatic temperature increase. The pre‐straining stress state influences the amount of α′‐martensite formed before dynamic testing, and consequently the maximum intensity of the TRIP induced flow stress increase by subsequent dynamic testing.     

不锈钢冶炼及凝固过程氮的控制

总结了氮在不锈钢中有害和有利正反两方面的作用。通过热力学计算和实测数据分析了温度和氮分压对不锈钢熔体中氮溶解度的影响,理论分析了不锈钢熔体吸氮和脱氮的动力学,指出了真空和高压分别是生产超低氮和高氮钢的主要方法。结合以往的研究成果和生产实践提出了生产超低氮铁素体不锈钢和高氮不锈钢的具体工艺技术措施。     

Influence of High‐Frequency Micro‐Forging on Microstructure and Properties of 304 Stainless Steel Fabricated by Laser Rapid Prototyping

We report the fabrication of the 304 stainless steel by the laser rapid prototyping harmonized with high‐frequency micro‐forging and demonstrate that both microstructure and properties of the prepared samples can be enhanced significantly. Structurally, we find that the large regular dendritic microstructure can be broken into pieces and that the internal defects are to some extent eliminated. Moreover, grains are refined remarkably. As a consequence of such structural modification, mechanical properties are found to be enhanced considerably by demonstrating a much broader fluctuation in tensile strength, a marked increase in tensile and yielding strength, and a drastic enhancement in surface hardness by 76% after the micro‐forging. Further calculations reveal that the defect region is shrunken substantially after micro‐forging. Detailed analysis of fractures in the tensile samples provides convincing evidence that plastic properties can be improved as well by the micro‐forging.     

Modelling of Manganese Sulphide Formation during Solidification,Part II: Correlation of Solidification and MnS Formation

The high temperature properties of steels depend on the solidification parameters and the formation parameters of manganese sulphide precipitates. Therefore, the occurrence of MnS precipitations in relation to primary and secondary microstructures was studied for different steel grades with a primary delta‐ferritic solidification or a primary austenitic solidification. The liquidus and solidus temperatures as well as the δ‐γ‐transformation temperature were calculated thermodynamically and measured by a DTA analysis in order to describe the solidification and transformation temperature range. The MnS formation temperature was calculated thermodynamically and compared to the results of SEM/EDX investigations on fracture surfaces of hot tensile specimens torn at different temperatures after in situ melting and controlled solidification. A special focus of these investigations was the location of MnS precipitates in relation to the primary and secondary grain boundaries. To explain the results, calculations were carried out taking into account the supersaturation of manganese and sulphur during the solidification in residual melt on the primary grain boundaries.     

Modelling and Closed‐loop Control of Complex Tube Forming Based on an Optimized Application of Martensite Formation in Austenitic Stainless Steels

Metastable austenitic steels undergo deformation‐induced martensitic transformation which can lead to a distinct increase of fatigue strength at an optimal volume fraction of martensite. This effect was used in the present study to define the local strength behaviour of a structural component part for the very high cycle fatigue (VHCF) regime. The investigation was on a discontinuous two‐stage forming process that consists of U‐O‐forming and rotary draw bending and results in a cross tube of a trailer coupling as exemplary dynamically loaded component. The volume fraction of martensite can be adjusted by means of plastomechanical simulation of the forming process and its parameters as part of the online process control. The formation of martensite shows a strong dependence on forming parameters (e.g. temperature and strain‐rate) and batch variations. These disturbance variables can only be taken into account by a closed‐loop control. Non‐isothermal material models were analysed according to their simulation accuracy of the martensite evolution. For the online control various hierarchical mathematical models were studied with regard to time effort and model error.     

Hot Workability of as‐Cast High Manganese‐High Carbon Steels

In order to produce new high Mn‐high C austenitic steels (R_m>700 MPa), different tests and methods were used to determine a suitable window of process parameters. In‐situ melting hot tensile tests and hot compression tests were carried out to investigate the hot ductility, fracture characteristics and flow behaviour during continuous casting and hot deformation of 3 steels with Mn and C contents between 9‐23% and 0.6‐0.9%, respectively. The results show that these steels are susceptible to interdendritic fracture at high temperatures. Decreasing Mn content improves the reduction of area at high temperatures to 60% or more. Hot deformation loads for processing the investigated steels are not higher in comparison to the stainless steel 1.4301.     

Corrosion Resistance of Reactive Element Aluminide Diffusion Coatings on a Nickel‐based Superalloy and an Austenitic Stainless Steel

Continuously cast aluminium alloy wires containing active elements such as yttrium, cerium, lanthanum or silicon were used as evaporation sources for ion vapour deposition on nickel‐based Inconel IN738 and stainless steel 310S substrate materials. The samples were subsequently diffusion heat‐treated to form protective corrosion resistant nickel aluminide and iron aluminide coatings. The coated alloy materials were exposed for prolonged periods to high temperature cyclic oxidation, molten sulphate, and molten carbonate environments to evaluate their resistance to hot oxidation. For IN738, the lanthanum‐modified aluminide coating provided good thermal cyclic oxidation performance while the cerium‐modified coating exhibited effective hot corrosion resistance in a molten sulphate environment. For 310S stainless steel, all of the modified aluminide coatings provided equally good corrosion protection when exposed to molten carbonate attack under an oxidizing atmosphere.     

Effect of the Charging Temperature on the Hot Ductility of Nb‐Containing Steel in the Simulated Hot Charge Process

In order to develop a comprehensive understanding of the effect of hot charging temperature on the hot ductility of a Nb‐containing steel, direct hot charging process was simulated by using a Gleeble thermo stress/strain machine. Three kinds of thermal histories were introduced to assess the hot ductility of the steel during continuously cast, hot charging, and cold charging process by means of hot tensile test in relation to surface cracking of hot charging processed steel slabs. The ductility of the specimens charged at the temperature within the range of ferrite/austenite two‐phase region and charged at the temperature just below the A_r1 of the steel is largely reduced. These results can be ascribed to the retained ferrite films at the boundaries of austenite encouraging voiding at the boundaries and these voids gradually link up to give failure around 750°C, and the combination of inhogeneous austenite grain size and precipitations aggravating the ductility trough by encouraging grain boundary sliding at 950°C. The steel via the conventional cold charge process experienced a complete phase transformation from austenite to ferrite and pearlite structure during the cooling to the ambient temperature. This steel can be charged into a reheating furnace and rolled without experiencing hot embrittlement due to the recrystallization and the precipitates are trapped inside a newly formed grain of austenite. In comparison with the hot ductility results, the hot tensile strength is only slight influenced by the charging temperature.     

Study on Properties of Alumina‐Based Mould Fluxes for High‐Al Steel Slab Casting

During the continuous casting of high‐Al steel, the dynamic reduction of silica‐based mould fluxes by the aluminium in the steel leads to changes in their composition and physical properties. The alumina‐based mould flux has been suggested as an alternative to alleviate this reduction problem. However, until now, the smooth running of high‐Al steel continuous casting has been impeded by the lack of systematic investigation of properties of this slag. In this paper, the effects of typical components on the properties of alumina‐based mould fluxes are discussed. The experimental results show that: (a) an increase in F^? can reduce the viscosity while increasing the melting and break temperatures; (b) with increasing Li₂O, the viscosity, melting temperature, and break temperature first decrease and then increase; (c) with the addition of BaO, the viscosity, melting temperature, and break temperature remain at a low level, while a further increase in BaO causes a decrease in viscosity, an increase in melting temperature, and the stabilization of the break temperature; (d) BaO is favorable to stabilize the properties of mould fluxes for the dissolution of additional Al₂O₃; (e) the crystalline phases of the mould fluxes mainly contain 12CaO · 7Al₂O₃ and 11CaO · 7Al₂O₃ · CaF₂, and 12CaO · 7Al₂O₃ has great potential as a substitute for cuspidine.     

Hot Toughness of Continuously Cast Steel Slabs during Reheating

Laboratory hot tensile tests on specimens taken from continuously cast steel slabs are executed by means of a Gleeble apparatus to investigate the ductility and hot toughness of steels during reheating of as cast conditions. The reduction in area at fracture and the fracture energy for 10 different heats with the carbon content in the range from 0.003 to 0.521 mass% and some variations in Nb, Cr and N are presented in the temperature range from room temperature up to 1025°C. Ductility minima regarding toughness are identified around 300°C and 650°C. Relationships of the reduction in area at fracture and of the specific fracture energy with the relevant elements of the steel composition are established. Equivalent carbon concentrations are defined which take the N concentration into account for the 300°C embrittlement and additionally the micro‐alloying element Nb for the 650°C ductility minimum. Limits for the reduction in area values and for the specific fracture energy are proposed to validate the crack sensitivity of as cast carbon steel slabs.     

SS400含硼钢连铸坯的高温力学性能

 为了避免和减轻SS400含硼钢连铸坯表面裂纹,采用Gleeble-1500热模拟试验机对SS400含硼钢连铸坯的高温力学性能进行了测试,获得其在650～1350 ℃范围内热延塑性和高温强度的特性。试验结果表明,SS400含硼钢连铸坯的高温强度较低,且其高温强度随温度的升高而下降。SS400含硼钢的塑性区间仅在1 000～1 100 ℃温度范围内,该温度范围内试样的断面收缩率均大于90%;SS400含硼钢的低塑性区间较宽,第Ⅲ脆性温度区间为700～950 ℃,主要原因是硼在晶界的偏聚以及BN等第二相粒子在晶界析出后脆化晶界;局部区域的重熔也降低了SS400含硼钢在1 150～1 250 ℃温度区间内的塑性。     

Effect of Lubrication during Hot Rolling on the Evolution of Through‐Thickness Textures in 18%Cr Ferritic Stainless Steel Sheet

Samples of a ferritic stainless steel sheet were hot‐rolled with and without application of lubrication. The effect of the different hot rolling processes on the evolution of texture and microstructure after hot rolling, cold rolling and subsequent recrystallization annealing was studied by means of macro and micro‐texture analysis and microstructure observations. After hot rolling, the sample rolled with lubrication displayed uniform rolling textures through the sheet thickness, while the sample rolled without lubrication showed shear textures in the outer layers of the sheet. The finite element method was employed to reveal the strain states during hot rolling with and without lubrication. The texture of the hot rolled sheet strongly influenced the formation of texture after cold rolling and final recrystallization and, therewith, planar anisotropy as well as the severity of ridging of the final gauge sheet. Hot rolling with lubrication was beneficial to the formation of strong recrystallization textures through the whole thickness layers leading to an enhanced planar anisotropy of the sheet. The recrystallized sheet hot‐rolled without lubrication displayed less severe ridging, however, which was attributed to a less frequent formation of orientation colonies in the outer thickness layers of the sheet.     

In‐Situ Observation of the Formation of MnS during Solidification of High Sulphur Steels

A Confocal Scanning Laser Microscope equipped with a gold image furnace was used to directly observe the precipitation of MnS during solidification of high sulphur steels under isothermal conditions in the temperature region 1440 to 1480°C on the free surface of the steel melt. For the case of Al‐killed steels, below 1480°C MnS particles were found to precipitate with Fe forming simultaneously around them. This MnS containing structure continued to grow rapidly (264 μm/s) as a surface film. The film gradually changed, as the level of S in the melt decreased, into a eutectic structure (with lamella spacing of 2 μm) as predicted by thermodynamics. In Si‐ killed steels there was significantly lower tendency to form MnS both in terms of time until precipitation occurred and growth rate.     

Control of δ‐γ Transformation during Solidification of Stainless Steel Slabs in the Mould

In order to obtain satisfactory workability properties required for defect free slab and strip production, the parameters of the casting process, e.g. cooling rate at the initial solidification for the alloy in question must, on the one hand, be carefully adjusted. On the other hand, controlling the characteristics of the solidification structure by chemical composition then takes on particular significance. The main aims of the work were to find out the influence of the phase transformation δ‐γ during the initial solidification of different variants of AISI 304 slabs cast in the industrial process on the ferrite distribution on slab surface, and how this relationship could favour the improvements of the surface slab quality. This report contains the joint contributions of the collaborative ECSC project among Centro Sviluppo Materiali (CSM), Krupp Thyssen Nirosta (KTN) and the Department of Ferrous Metallurgy of Rheinisch Westfälische Technische Hochschule Aachen (RWTH).     

In‐Situ Study of the Microstructure Development in a CrMnNi TRIP Steel During Plastic Deformation

The microstructure development in CrMnNi TRIP steel during the onset of the plastic deformation was investigated with the aid of in‐situ X‐ray diffraction experiments. The analysis of the shift and broadening of the X‐ray diffraction lines allowed the elastic and the plastic components of the lattice deformation to be separated from each other. This separation made possible to follow the formation of the microstructure features like stacking faults, deformation bands and local lattice rotations that were afterwards confirmed by X‐ray diffraction with high resolution, scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy.