Flow curves up to peak strength of hot deformed D2 and W1 tool steels

Abstract

A high carbon, high chromium cold work die steel (D2) and a water hardenable carbon tool steel (W1) were hot deformed in torsion between 900 and 1150°C for the alloy steel and 900 and 1200°C for the carbon steel, at strain rates from 0·1 to 4 s^-1. The slope of the stress–strain curves, which represents strain hardening, decreased linearly then changed gradually to a slower linear decline before decreasing quickly to zero at the peak stress. On further strain, stress decreased to a steady state regime, indicative of dynamic recrystallisation. Kocks–Mecking analysis provided an activation enthalpy with an average comparable to the activation energy derived from a sinh modified Arrhenius analysis of peak stress. The alloy carbides of the D2 steel have the effect of raising its strength to over twice that of the carbon steel, accelerating the onset of dynamic recrystallisation but drastically lowering its ductility.     

Effect of secondary carbides on oxidation wear of the Cr-Mo-V cast steels

The wear characteristics of the Cr-Mo-V cast steels with second phases were studied. Secondary carbides were found to have obvious influences on oxidation wear rate. Almost two orders of magnitude of variations for wear rates were created because of different secondary carbides, i.e. from 4.30 × 10^− 15 m³/N m to 1.2313 × 10^− 13 m³/N m. The easily-coarsen Mo₆C precipitated along boundaries of grains and laths, leads to the transition from mild wear into severe wear. On the contrary, wear rate of oxidation wear is substantially reduced in the cast steels with stable, dispersed VC. These may be attributed to delamination patterns of oxide layer.     

Modelling of dynamic recrystallisation kinetics in austenitic stainless and hypereutectoid steels

Abstract

Two important parameters for dynamic recrystallisation can be derived from changes in the strain hardening rate: the critical strain for initiation of dynamic recrystallisation and the point of maximum softening. In the present work, these values are determined from stress–strain data obtained by compression testing over the range of 900–1100°C. The resulting strains are used to derive a kinetic model of dynamic recrystallisation for two materials: 304 austenitic stainless steel and a hypereutectoid plain carbon steel. The values of the mechanical parameters used to define the proposed model are confirmed with the aid of metallographic analysis of the recrystallised microstructures.     

热锻模具钢的耐磨性及磨损机理研究

采用销盘式高温摩擦磨损实验机,针对一种新型铸钢、H13和H21钢在25-400℃下进行磨损试验,对比研究各种钢的耐磨性,并探讨了磨损机制.研究表明:室温下H21钢由于具有较多的未溶碳化物,比H13钢和铸钢具有高的耐磨性;在200-300℃下铸钢和H13钢随载荷的增加一直具有较低的磨损率和增长率,而H21钢当载荷达到200 N时磨损率忽然升高;在400℃下铸钢具有持续低的磨损率,明显低于H21和H13钢.可见,新型铸钢具有比常用热锻模具钢显著高的高温耐磨性.     

Ferrite recrystallisation and characteristics of non-recrystallised ferrite grains in Ti added low carbon steels

The progress of ferrite recrystallisation in low carbon steel was slower than in ultralow carbon steel. The hardness of the non-recrystallised ferrite grains gradually decreased with increasing annealing time in ultralow carbon steel, but gradually increased with increasing annealing time in low carbon steel. The amount of Ti containing precipitates increased slightly during annealing in ultralow carbon steel, but increased remarkably with increasing annealing time in low carbon steel. These results suggest that the softening of non-recrystallised ferrite grains during annealing in ultralow carbon steel may reflect the progress of recovery and the Ostwald ripening of Ti containing precipitates formed during annealing. In contrast, the hardening of non-recrystallised ferrite grains in low carbon steel may be due to the precipitation hardening of TiC formed during annealing.     

Review: Interaction of precipitation with recrystallisation and phase transformation in low alloy steels

Abstract

The processes of precipitation, restoration and phase transformation can interact in complex ways during thermomechanical processing of microalloyed steels to profoundly alter their structures and properties. Precipitation in austenite during hot deformation can strongly modify the kinetics of recovery and recrystallisation, subsequently affecting the nucleation and growth of ferrite during cooling. For steels containing strong carbide/nitride formers, interphase precipitation (IP) can occur in ferrite at the austenite/ferrite interface, conferring significant coherency strengthening. Much of what is known about this phenomenon is attributable to the impressive research efforts of Robert Honeycombe and his colleagues at Cambridge.     

Fracture toughness of M2 and H13 alloy tool steels

Abstract

The influence of microstructural variations on the fracture toughness of two tool steels having compositions (wt-%) lC–4Cr–5Mo–2V–6W (AISI M2 high-speed steel) and 0·35C–5Cr–1·5Mo;amp;#x2013;1V (AISI H13 hot-work steel) was investigated. In the as-hardened condition, the H13 steel has a higher fracture toughness than M2 steel, and the latter steel is harder. In the tempered condition, the H13 steel is again softer and has a higher fracture toughness than M2. There is a decrease in fracture toughness and an increase in hardness when the austenitizing temperature is above I050°C for M2 steel and above 1100°C for H13 steel, in both the as hardened and hardened and tempered conditions. The fracture toughness of both steels was enhanced by reducing the grain size and increasing the overall carbide volume in the matrix. The steel samples of average grain diameter ≥40μm exhibit 2–3 MN m ^?3/2 lower fracture toughness than samples of average grain diameter ≤15 μm. A high content of retained austenite appears to raise the fracture toughness of as-hardened M2 steel. Tempering improved the fracture toughness of M2 and H13 steels. The present results are explained using observations of changes in the microstructure and the modes of fracture.

MST/468     

Preparation and oxidation of an Al2O3-modified aluminide coating

An Al₂O₃-modified aluminide coating was produced by aluminizing an as-electrodeposited Ni-Al₂O₃ nanocomposite film using pack cementation method at 1100  C for 4 h. For comparison, aluminizing was also performed in the same condition on an as-deposited Ni film without Al₂O₃ nanoparticles. SEM/EDAX and TEM results indicated that the co-deposited Al₂O₃ nanoparticles were homogeneously dispersed in the finer-grain nanocrystalline Ni grains. The isothermal and cyclic oxidation in air at 900 °C indicated that the Al₂O₃-modified aluminide coatings were profoundly oxidation resistant as compared to the Al₂O₃-free aluminide coatings due to the faster formation of a continuous adherent α-Al₂O₃ scale. The effect of Al₂O₃ on the microstructure and the oxidation of the aluminide coating are discussed in the detail.     

Oxidation behavior of aluminide coatings on carbon steel with and without electrodeposited Ni-CeO2 film by low-temperature pack cementation

A CeO₂-dispersed aluminide coating was fabricated through aluminizing the electrodeposited Ni-CeO₂ nanocomposite film on carbon steel using pack cementation method at 700 °C for 4 h. The isothermal and cyclic oxidation behavior of the CeO₂-dispersed aluminide coating at 900 °C, including the growth of oxide scale and the microstructure of the coatings, have been investigated comparing with the aluminide coating on carbon steel. The results show enhanced oxidation performance of the CeO₂-dispersed aluminide coating, which is concerned with not only CeO₂ effect on the microstructure and oxidation, but also decreased interdiffusion between the aluminide and the Ni film. The CeO₂ benefit effects and interdiffusion are discussed in detail.     

Chloride diffusion in concrete containing nano-TiO2 under coupled effect of scouring

The advantage of concrete containing nano-TiO₂ in resisting the coupled effects of chloride diffusion and scouring with respect to pure concrete was studied in this paper. Because of the movement in exposed concrete surface induced by scouring and the deterioration in concrete microstructure caused by chloride salt accumulation, an increasing mutual accelerative effect between the chloride diffusion and the scouring abrasion was experimental observed, which agreed with the theoretical simulation results. Benefited from the improvement in microstructure and porosity compared with the pure concrete, concrete containing 1% nano-TiO₂ in the weight of cement showed a better impermeability as well as the abradability. Correspondingly, a better performance in resisting the coupled effects of chloride diffusion and scouring was founded for the concrete containing nano-TiO₂ compared to the pure concrete, and this advantage increased upon the time.     

Wear and oxidation behaviour of high-chromium white cast irons

High-chromium white cast irons can attain very hard microstructures composed of intergranular chromium carbides dispersed in a tempered martensitic matrix. Two heat-treated high-chromium white cast irons with different carbon contents were studied in this research work using compression at 500 °C, and wear and oxidation tests at 500 and 600 °C. The hot compression behaviour of these products is excellent, with high strengths and significant ductility. They also exhibited good wear and oxidation properties. Fracture micromechanisms are discussed in relation to the chemical composition and microstructure of the two alloys.     

Effect of stress on abrasive and erosive wear of steels and sprayed coatings

The effect of stress on abrasive and erosive wear was studied for the hypoeutectoid steel, two hypereutectoid tool steels and flame sprayed coatings. In the experiment, the specially designed tester as well as SEM and contact profilometer were applied. Abrasion and erosion remove asperities protruding from the surface of coatings. The imposed stress increased erosive wear of coatings. Application of compressive stress to steels reduces roughness of the wear scar. Compressive stress caused distinct damage localization in abraded and eroded coatings, mean spacing of surface irregularities Rsm observed in erosion test was about 50% larger than in unstressed coatings. Results of fractal analysis confirm stress-induced change in surface topography.     

High-temperature properties and microstructural stability of hot-work tool steels

Indexable insert tools for machining operations are in service exposed to high temperatures and cyclic mechanical loads. Secondary hardening steels such as hot-work steels are commonly used for tools subjected to thermal exposure. However, these steels, highly alloyed with strong carbide forming elements as Cr, V and Mo, are generally difficult to machine and machining represents a large fraction of the production cost of a tool. Thus, the present study concerns the development of a new steel with improved machinability and meeting the requirements for high-temperature properties.Softening resistance of the THG2000 and QRO90 tool steels, commonly used in hot-work applications, and a newly developed tool steel MCG2006 with lower alloying content of carbide forming elements, was investigated by tempering and isothermal fatigue testing. Mechanisms of high-temperature softening of the tested tool steels were discussed with respect to their microstructure and high-temperature mechanical properties. Carbide morphology and precipitation as well as dislocation structure were determined using transmission electron microscopy and X-ray line broadening analysis.No difference in softening behaviour was found among the QRO90 and MCG2006 regarding hot hardness measurements. The THG2000 indicated some stabilization of the hardness between 450 and 550 °C and a considerable hardness decrease at higher temperatures.The short-time cyclic softening in isothermal fatigue was controlled by dislocation rearrangement and annihilation. The alloying composition of the steels presently tested had no influence on the dislocation density decrease.The long-time softening was affected by the material's temper resistance and strongly depended on the carbide morphology and their over-ageing resistance. The QRO90 with greater molybdenum and lower chromium contents than in the THG2000 show the best resistance to softening among the tested grades at all temperatures. The MCG2006, leaner alloyed with the carbide forming elements and alloyed with 4 wt% nickel, has better temper resistance than THG2000 at higher temperatures and longer tempering times.     

Effect of recrystallisation on microstructural evolution and mechanical properties of single crystal nickel base superalloy CMSX-2 Part 1 - Microstructural evolution during recrystallisation of single crystal

Abstract

Nickel base superalloy CMSX - 2 single crystal bars were shot peened to induce surface residual stresses. Partial solutionising at 1300 ° C revealed a relationship between dissolution of the γ ′ phase into the matrix and recrystallisation. Recrystallisation occurred with dissolution of γ ′ phase in the dendritic core at 1300 ° C. Recrystallisation had preferentially begun at the dendritic core exposed at the shot peened surface and then gradually proceeded to the interdendritic regions. Phases more resistant to dissolution such as the coarse γ ′ particles and the γ - γ ′ eutectic phase in the interdendritic region dissolved into the matrix with recrystallisation, even at 1300 ° C, which is lower than the solutionising temperature of the alloy. Residual stresses assisted dissolution of the existing phases. The recrystallised grains grew preferentially in the dendritic core where rapid dissolution of γ ′ phase occurred. The growth of the recrystallised grains was impeded by the coarse γ ′ particles and the γ - γ ′ eutectic phase in the interdendritic region. Full solutionising of the shot peened specimens resulted in well developed recrystallised grains at the surface.     

Effect of Magnetic Field on Properties and Element Distribution of Ni-Based WC Composite Coatings

The Ni-based WC coatings enhanced by WC particle were fabricated on FV520B by plasma cladding device. The influence of magnetic force on the microstructure and performance of the coating was investigated. If the magnetic field does not exist, the microstructure of coating is a cluster of block-shaped structures; it is observably different from the dendritic and crumbling snowflake-like structures formed under transverse and longitudinal magnetic fields. The WC particles were distributed at the grain boundary. With the effect of longitudinal magnetic field, wear resistance and erosion resistance of coatings improved markedly. When axial magnetic field intensity came to 38 mT, the microhardness of coatings reached a maximum value, 720 HV0.2. Electron probe microanalyzer (EPMA) indicates the metallurgical combination at the interface and element interdiffusion happened between the coating and substrate.     

Processing and properties of sintered tool steels and cemented carbides

This paper reviews our studies in the area of sintered high speed steels and cemented carbides carried out at the Powder Metallurgy Laboratory of IIT Kanpur under the direction of the author.     

Coal-ash deposit corrosion of some steels and nimonic alloys

The corrosion behaviour of some commercial austenitic steels and nimonic aalloys has been studied at 650, 800, 900 and 1000°C in air and in the presence of ash residues obtained from coals of Indian origin. The ash is non-aggressive at temperature s where formation of corrosion-producing alkali iron trisulphates is normally expected; on the contrary, the silicates present in the ash provide protection against corrosron. A.t higher temperatures the ash is corrosive due to onset of sulphidation and molten alhali sulphate attack. In general, the corrosion rates of high-ash coated alloys are much higher than those coated with low ash. The higher corrosion rates in the former have been attributed to a higher level of free silica in the ash which undergoes slag-type reactions. Both types of ash exhibit two different and distinct scale morphologies.     

Electrochemical boriding and characterization of AISI D2 tool steel

D2 is an air-hardening tool steel and due to its high chromium content provides very good protection against wear and oxidation, especially at elevated temperatures. Boriding of D2 steel can further enhance its surface mechanical and tribological properties. Unfortunately, it has been very difficult to achieve a very dense and uniformly thick boride layers on D2 steel using traditional boriding processes. In an attempt to overcome such a deficiency, we explored the suitability and potential usefulness of electrochemical boriding for achieving thick and hard boride layers on this tool steel in a molten borax electrolyte at 850, 900, 950 and 1000 °C for durations ranging from 15 min to 1 h. The microstructural characterization and phase analysis of the resultant boride layers were performed using optical, scanning electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction methods. Our studies have confirmed that a single phase Fe₂B layer or a composite layer consisting of FeB + Fe₂B is feasible on the surface of D2 steel depending on the length of boriding time. The boride layers formed after shorter durations (i.e., 15 min) mainly consisted of Fe₂B phase and was about 30 μm thick. The thickness of the layer formed in 60 min was about 60 μm and composed mainly of FeB and Fe₂B. The cross sectional micro-hardness values of the boride layers varied between 14 and 22 GPa, depending on the phase composition.