Thermally induced martensite properties in Fe-29%Ni-2%Mn alloy

Thermally induced martensite properties in Fe-29%Ni-2%Mn alloy were investigated according to martensitic transformation kinetics, morphology, magnetism of both austenite and martensite phases and also in terms of martensitic transformation start temperatures (M_s) for different austenite grain sizes of alloy. Kinetics of the transformation was found to be athermal. Also only lenticular martensite morphology was observed during investigations. On the other hand, Mössbauer spectra revealed a paramagnetic character for austenite phases and a ferromagnetic character for thermally induced martensitic phases. Determined M_s temperatures were found to be at − 128 °C for large grained samples and − 135 °C for small grained samples.     

Effect of carbon content and microalloying on martensitic hardenability of austenite of dual-phase steel

Abstract

Microstructure maps were constructed for a C–Mn steel and microalloyed steels of the same base composition, after intercritical annealing to produce 23 and 50% of austenite. The critical cooling rates for the transformation to martensite of 90 and 50% of the austenite present were thus determined as functions of the carbon content of the austenite. At the 90% martensite level, the hardenability of the austenite was very similar to that of fully austenitized steel of the same composition, and varied identically with carbon content. At the 50% martensite level, the hardenability of the austenite was considerably greater than that of fully austenitized steel of the same composition. The presence of niobium and vanadium had no effect on the martensitic hardenability of the austenites: by forming carbides they simply altered the carbon content of the austenite at a fixed volume fraction of austenite. It is proposed that the martensitic hardenability of austenite of dual-phase steel depends on the size of the austenite volumes as well as on their carbon content. In the present study, the size of the austenite volumes was large enough to make them more hardenable than would be predicted on the basis of standard hardenability data for fully austenitized steels.

MST/548     

Modelling thermal and microstructural evolution on runout table of hot strip mill

Abstract

A mathematical model has been developed to predict the thermal and phase transformation response of a 0·34 and a 0·05 wt-%C steel during cooling on the runout table of a hot strip mill. The model incorporates the cooling characteristics of laminar water bar sprays, the austenite–ferrite plus pearlite phase transformation kinetics as a function of the austenite grain size, and the heat of transformation. Overall heat transfer coefficients for the laminar water banks were determined from data obtained from in-plant trials carried out at the Stelco Lake Erie Works (LEW) hot strip mill. Isothermal and continuous cooling diametral dilatometer tests were performed on a Gleeble 1500 thermomechanical simulator at temperatures and cooling rates that simulate LEW hot strip mill conditions. The isothermal data were used to establish the phase transformation kinetics as afunction of austenite grain size and temperature. The continuous cooling results were used to obtain the relationship between cooling rate, transformation start temperature, and fraction of ferrite formed. The model was tested and validated by simulating the LEW cooling conditions while monitoring the phase transformation behaviour and by comparison of predicted and measured microstructural detail.

MST/1331     

Microstructure and mechanical properties of C–Si–Mn(–Nb) TRIP steels after simulated thermomechanical processing

Abstract

Continuous and discontinuous cooling tests were performed using a quench deformation dilatometer to develop a comprehensive understanding of the structural and kinetic aspects of the bainite transformation in low carbon TRIP (transformation induced plasticity) steels as a function of thermomechanical processing and composition. Deformation in the unrecrystallised austenite region refined the ferrite grain size and increased the ferrite and bainite transformation temperatures for cooling rates from 10 to 90 K s^-1. The influence of niobium on the transformation kinetics was also investigated. Niobium increases the ferrite start transformation temperature, refines the ferrite microstructure, and stimulates the formation of acicular ferrite. The effect of the bainite isothermal transformation temperature on the final microstructure of steels with and without a small addition of niobium was studied. Niobium promotes the formation of stable retained austenite, which influences the mechanical properties of TRIP steels. The optimum mechanical properties were obtained after isothermal holding at 400°C in the niobium steel containing the maximum volume fraction of retained austenite with acicular ferrite as the predominant second phase.     

Influence of initial microstructures on intercritical annealing behaviour in a medium Mn steel

ABSTRACT

The present work reports the effect of different initial microstructures on reverse transformation kinetics and morphologies of austenite formed during intercritical annealing in Fe-0.14C-7Mn-1Si (wt-%) medium Mn steel. Three different initial microstructures were produced by cold-rolling and cold-rolling followed by austenitisation at 820°C and 900°C. The specimen austenitised at higher temperature shows lath-type austenite after intercritical annealing. The difference in austenitisation temperature leads to different Mn distribution in martensitic initial microstructures, thereby leading to a difference in morphology of austenite. The inhomogeneous Mn profiles in initial microstructures also affect reverse transformation kinetics of austenite upon intercritical annealing. The presence of Mn-enriched regions accelerates austenite growth at an early stage of intercritical annealing but retards the transformation kinetics afterwards.

This paper is part of a Thematic Issue on Medium Manganese Steels.     

Effects of simulated on line accelerated cooling processing on transformation temperatures and microstructure in microalloyed steels Part 1 – Strip processing

Abstract

Simulations of industrial thermomechanical processing and on line accelerated cooling of a low carbon microalloyed strip steel were carried out using a quench deformation dilatometer. Effects of processing parameters, such as accelerated cooling rate T and accelerated cooling interrupt temperature T_I on the critical transformation temperatures and final microstructure were determined. The most important on line accelerated cooling (OLAC) processing parameter is the accelerated cooling interrupt temperature, which controls whether the transformed microstructure is predominantly ferrite or bainite. A variety of (Ti, Nb, Fe) carbide, nitride, and carbonitride precipitates are present in the OLAC processed samples. The final precipitate distribution is developed at three stages of processing, namely: dissolution and coarsening of pre-existing precipitates at the reheat temperature, precipitation in deformed austenite during the deformation schedule, and precipitation in ferrite after the interruption of accelerated cooling. Maximum precipitation strengthening occurs for T_I=700–640°C.

MST/3424     

Reverse transformation mechanism of martensite to austenite and amount of retained austenite after reverse transformation in Fe-3Si-13Cr-7Ni (wt-%) martensitic stainless steel

Abstract

The reverse transformation mechanism of martensite to austenite and the volume fraction of retained austenite have been studied in an Fe-3Si-13Cr-7Ni (wt-%) martensitic stainless steel by means of dilatometry, transmission electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction. Below a heating rate of 10 K s^-1, the reverse transformation of α' to γ occurs by diffusion, whereas it occurs by a diffusionless shear mechanism above 10 K s^-1. After reversion treatment at low temperatures, filmlike retained austenite is observed along α' lath boundaries, while reversion treatment at high temperatures produces granular retained austenite inside the α' laths in addition to filmlike retained austenite. The volume fraction of retained austenite at room temperature increases with increasing reversion treatment temperature, exhibiting a maximum at ~625^° C, above which it decreases with increasing reversion temperature.     

Lowering of elastic modulus in the near-beta Ti–13Nb–13Zr alloy through heat treatment

ABSTRACT

The bio-implant devices require adequate strength and low elastic modulus, for compatibility with human bone. In this study, the near-beta Ti–13Nb–13Zr alloy was subjected to two different solutionising temperatures and quenched at different temperatures. Microstructure modifications and its influence on microhardness, elastic modulus and tensile properties were investigated. Elastic modulus was decreased with increase in cooling rate from solutioning temperature. The samples solutionised at 900°C and quenched at sub-zero temperature contained α^″ martensite along with α′ and β phases and these lowered the elastic modulus. Among all the heat-treated samples, the one solutionised at 900°C and quenched at sub-zero exhibited lowest elastic modulus of 59?GPa and adequate tensile properties for the application as bioimplants.     

Acoustic emission monitoring of bainitic and martensitic transformation in medium carbon steel during continuous cooling

Abstract

This paper concerns acoustic emission (AE) measurements during continuous cooling of steel C45 using a Gleeble 1500 thermomechanical simulator. After austenising at a certain temperature, the studied specimen was cooled down and the root mean square (RMS) value of the continuous AE signal was measured. During cooling two distinct peaks in the RMS data were observed at temperatures of 200-300°C and 500-600°C, which have been attributed to martensite and bainite formation respectively. The observed bainite peak strongly indicated that the mechanism of bainite growth is displacive. The AE monitoring of bainite and martensite formation was supported by dilatation measurements, which were performed simultaneously. The effect of the austenite grain size on the evolution of the bainitic and martensitic transformation was studied by varying the austenising temperature T _a. It was found that upon lowering T _a, i.e. with decreasing austenite grain size, the bainite peak increases while the martensite peak decreases.     

High temperature decomposition of austempered microstructures in spheroidal graphite cast iron

Abstract

Spheroidal graphite (SG) cast iron is often plasma nitrided for corrosion resistance, and plasma nitriding has been proposed as a surface engineering treatment to improve wear resistance. However, the microstructure of austempered SG iron comprises constituents that may be unstable at nitriding temperatures. Therefore, the thermal stability of austempered SG cast iron has been studied at high temperature. Differential scanning calorimetry shows that microstructures obtained by austempering at low (300°C) and intermediate (380°C) temperatures, and which contained retained austenite, underwent a large exothermic transition during heating to typical nitriding temperatures. The transition began at approximately 470°C and peaked at 510–520°C, and was due to the decomposition of retained austenite to ferrite and cementite. A microstructure obtained by austempering at a higher temperature (440°C), and which consisted entirely offirst and second stage bainite, was stable up to nitriding temperatures. After tempering for 2 h at 570°C all austempered microstructures consisted offerrite and cementite, but cementite was most finely distributed in the material that had been austempered at 300°C, and coarsest in that austempered at 440°C. It is concluded that if SG cast iron is to be nitrided conventionally at temperatures >500°C, then prior austempering to obtain controlled microstructures is of limited value.

MST/3106     

Effect of aging on martensitic transformation behavior of Ti48.8Ni50.8V0.4 alloy

In this article, the effect of aging on martensitic transformation of Ti_48.8Ni_50.8V_0.4 alloy was investigated. The results show that the martensitic transformation of the solution-treated shape memory alloy is a typical single-stage transformation process. The transformation temperatures of the samples aged at different temperatures for 0.5 h were lower as compared to that of the solution-treated alloy. With the increase of aging temperature, the transformation temperatures increase. After aging at 500 °C, the samples exhibit a multiple-stage transformation. The samples after aging at 500 °C for more than 5 h resulted in the transformation sequence of A → R→M1 and A → M2 upon cooling and M2 → A and M1 → A upon heating.     

Formation of strain-induced martensite in austempered ductile iron

The present work has been taken up to study the influence of microstructure on the formation of martensite in austempered ductile iron. Ductile iron containing 1.5 wt.% nickel and 0.3 wt.% molybdenum was subjected to two types of austempering treatments. In the first, called as conventional austempering, the samples were austempered for 2 h at 300, 350 or 400 °C. In the second treatment, called as stepped austempering, the samples were initially austempered at 300 °C for 10, 20, 30, 45 or 60 min. These were subsequently austempered for 2 h at 400 °C. Tensile tests revealed considerable variation in the strain-hardening behaviour of the samples with different heat treatments. In the case of samples subjected to conventional austempering, it was found that strain-hardening exponent increased with increasing austempering temperature. In the case of samples subjected to stepped austempering, increased strain hardening was observed in samples subjected to short periods of first step austempering. Study of the microstructures revealed that increased strain hardening was associated with the formation of strain-induced martensite. There was a greater propensity for the formation of strain-induced martensite in the samples containing more of blocky austenite. Retained austenite in the form of fine films between sheaths of ferrite was relatively more stable. Studies revealed that the morphology, size and carbon content of the retained austenite were important parameters controlling their tendency to transform to martensite.     

Kinetics of martensite formation in plain carbon steels: critical assessment of possible influence of austenite grain boundaries and autocatalysis

Abstract

The kinetics of the martensitic transformation in Fe–0·80C has been determined from dilatometry data and shows no significant variation when the cooling rate is changed by two orders of magnitude. All kinetic data can be adequately simulated by the Koistinen and Marburger (KM) equation using a specific start temperature T_KM and rate parameter α_m. This finding supports the suggestion that the transformation is athermal, and moreover, the absence of a time dependence strongly indicates that autocatalytic nucleation does not contribute to the transformation kinetics in plain carbon steels on measurable time scales. Furthermore, dilatometry experiments with different austenitising conditions were conducted to examine the effect of the prior austenite grain size on the overall kinetics of martensite formation. The present results indicate that the progress of martensite formation beyond a fraction f?=?0·15 is independent of the prior austenitising treatment. It is therefore concluded that austenite–austenite grain boundaries have no significant effect on the overall nucleation and growth of athermal martensite, which is consistent with a model proposed by Ansell and co-workers.     

Critical cooling temperatures and phase transformation kinetics in structural steels determined by mean flow stress and dilatometry

Abstract

Austenite to ferrite transformation temperatures during cooling (Ar ₃ , Ar ₁ ) have been determined using two different techniques. The first technique consisted of simulation of a rolling sequence by torsion, following the method of Jonas et al., representing mean flow stress (MFS) versus the inverse of the temperature for each pass. This method also makes it possible to estimate the influence of the residual stress of austenite on the transformation temperatures. The second approach has been the classic dilatometry technique, and comparison of the results has led to an evaluation of the possible errors that can occcur when apparent values, related with a notable change in the slope of the dilatometric curve or in the MFS straight line, are taken as Ar ₃ and Ar ₁ , respectively. The kinetics of austenite transformation during cooling have been determined and an Avrami expression established from the data. The present study has considered six steels with different Ti and N contents to assess the influence of chemical composition on the transformation temperatures.     

齿轮钢20CrMoNb奥氏体晶粒尺寸及相变行为

在Gleeble1500热模拟试验机上对20CrMoNb齿轮钢进行了不同温度处理以及连续冷却相变实验,使用光学显微镜、透射电子显微镜以及膨胀曲线方法研究了齿轮钢20CrMoNb加热时奥氏体晶粒尺寸变化及连续冷却相变行为.实验结果表明,加热温度在1050℃以下时,奥氏体晶粒细小;超过此温度,NbC粒子数量因溶解而大大降低,对晶界的钉扎作用消失,奥氏体晶粒急剧粗化.20CrMoNb齿轮钢含有一定量的Mo、Nb元素,奥氏体比较稳定,出现先共析铁素体与珠光体的冷速很小.     

Studies on influence of reheating temperature and cooling rate on structure–property behaviour of lean chemistry HSLA-100 steel

Abstract

Simulation studies on the influence of reheating temperature on austenite grain coarsening in lean chemistry high strength low alloy (HSLA)-100 steel were carried out to establish optimum soaking temperature before hot rolling. Experiments carried out in ‘Gleeble-3500’ dynamic thermomechanical simulator revealed that prior austenite grain sizes varied between 26 and 98 and 34 and 126 μm after soaking at 1150, 1200 and 1250°C for 1 and 5 min respectively; a soaking temperature of 1200°C was found to be optimum. Simulation experiments on the influence of cooling rate on microstructural changes and dilatometric studies indicated lowering of transformation temperature with faster cooling. Microstructural examination of dilatometric samples confirmed martensitic transformation at faster cooling rate. The martensite structure is desirable to achieve better strength and toughness. The findings of simulation studies were subsequently used for standardising thermomechanical treatments of Nb–Cu bearing lean chemistry HSLA-100 steels. One laboratory heat of Cu bearing HSLA steel containing 0·028%Nb was made. This heat was hot rolled into 12·5 mm thick plate by varying finish rolling temperature in the range of 800–1000°C. The soaking temperature was maintained at 1200°C. The rolled plates were heat treated by both conventional reheat quenching and tempering (RQT) as well as direct quenching and tempering (DQT) techniques. Evaluation of mechanical properties revealed that plates processed through DQT route were superior to those processed through RQT route. Transmission electron microscopy revealed that martensite structure and finer interlath spacing in DQT plates resulted in superior strength and impact toughness properties as compared to RQT steels.     

Thermal stability of retained austenite in Cr–Ni weld metals at low temperatures

Abstract

As environmental temperature decreases, the amount of retained austenite is more likely to greatly reduce due to the thermal austenite–martensite transformation caused by the decreased thermal stability of retained austenite, probably making its amount lower than the required content. In the present study, the thermal stability of retained austenite in Cr–Ni weld metals was investigated to see whether sufficient retained austenite can be maintained at low temperatures. The specific experimental procedure is as follows: briefly, the samples were cooled in turn from room temperature to 0, ?20, ?40, ?60, ?80, ?100 and ?196°C; the amount of retained austenite at the above temperatures was measured using X-ray diffraction. Through investigating the dependence of the content of retained austenite on temperature, it was revealed that when the content of retained austenite is <20%, retained austenite can be maintained until ?196°C.     

Ultrahigh strength hot rolled microalloyed steel: microstructure and properties

Abstract

A low carbon steel alloyed with Ni, Mn, Mo, Cu and microalloyed with Nb and Ti was prepared. Continuous cooling transformation behaviour of the steel was evaluated. Formation of polygonal or Widmanstätten ferrite is suppressed at high temperature and the 'C' curve is shifted to an extreme right. At lower temperatures a flat top 'C' curve with a mixed structure of bainite and martensite was obtained and the transformation temperatures do not vary much with a wide range of cooling rates. The steel was thermomechanically processed at different finishing temperatures and ultrahigh strength values were obtained as a result of austenite grain refinement, highly dislocated fine lath martensite structure along with tiny precipitates of microalloying carbide and carbonitride at all finish rolling temperatures. The stable and large TiN/TiCN particles formed during casting have impaired the impact toughness values at ambient and at ?40°C temperatures.     

Tensile properties of partially austenitised and austempered ductile irons with dual matrix structures

Abstract

In the present study, an unalloyed ductile iron containing Fe–3·50C–2·63Si–0·318Mn–0.047Mg (wt-%) were intercritically austenitised (partially austenitised) in two phase region α+γ at various temperatures of 795, 805, 815 and 830°C for 20 min and then quenched into salt bath held at austempering temperature of 365°C for various times to obtain different ausferrite volume fractions (AFVFs). Results showed that dual matrix structure containing proeutectoid ferrite, new ferrite (also called epitaxial ferrite) and ausferrite (bainitic ferrite+high carbon austenite, which is retained or stabilised austenite) has been developed. Within each of the austempered series in α+γ temperature range, new ferrite volume fraction increased with increasing intercritical austenitising temperature (ICAT). Although, transforming percentage of new ferrite from parent austenite present at ICAT increased with decreasing ICAT. Some specimens were also conventionally austempered from 900°C for comparison. The new ferrite was absent in these samples. The volume fraction of proeutectoid ferrite, new ferrite and ausferrite can be controlled to determine the strength and ductility. Austempered specimens in α+γ temperature range exhibited much greater ductility than conventionally austempered ones. The tensile strength increased while ductility decreased with increasing AFVF. On the other hand, the ductility increased with increasing proeutectoid ferrite and new ferrite volume fractions at the expense of strength. The specimen with ～47·2%AFVF exhibited the best combination of high strength and ductility. The strength and ductility of this material is much higher than that of ferritic grades. Its strength is at the same level as while ductility almost more than four times higher than that of pearlitic grades. Meanwhile, the specimen with ～ 75%AFVF exhibited the best combination of high strength and ductility compared with those of pearlitic grades. The strength of this material is much higher and its ductility is almost more than two times higher than that of pearlitic grades yet slightly lower than that of ferritic grades. This material also meets the requirements for the strength of quenched and tempered grades and its ductility is higher than that of this grade.     

Acicular ferrite formation during hot plate rolling for pipeline steels

Abstract

The transformation of supercooled austenite in a commercial pipeline steel was investigated by means of continuous cooling transformation (CCT) and hot simulation experiments. Based on the obtained results, an improved thermomechanical control process (TMCP) was proposed, which could produce a mixed microstructure dominated by acicular ferrite. Results indicated that an increase in the cooling rate could improve the percentage of acicular ferrite in the final microstructure under the present experimental conditions. Furthermore, the acicular ferrite dominated microstructure could be obtained by a two stage controlled rolling in the austenite recrystallisation region plus the non-recrystallisation region and controlled cooling at a cooling rate of 30 K s^-1.