Effect of chemical composition, martensite volume fraction and tempering on tensile behaviour of dual phase steels

In this work an investigation was conducted into the tempering effects on mechanical properties of a carbon steel and a microalloyed steel, both with dual phase microstructure. The UTS and YS decreased and elongations increased with an increase of tempering temperature. However, the loss in UTS and YS at tempering temperatures of 100, 200, 300, 400, 500 and 600 °C was a minimum for microalloyed dual phase steel. This is thought to be due to tempering of the martensite and precipitation in the ferrite.     

Effect of martensite phase volume fraction on acoustic emission signals using wavelet packet analysis during tensile loading of dual phase steels

This paper will investigate the application of wavelet-based Acoustic Emission (AE) signal processing on micromechanisms to identify failure in dual phase steels (DPS)s. The AE signals from a tensile test using a range of DPS with different volume fractions of martensite (VM)s, in the range of 11–65% VM, were obtained and their waveforms were decomposed into various wavelet levels, each of which was related to a specific frequency range. Each level includes precise details, or approximations, of the so-called components. The energy percentage of each component was obtained by comparing it with the total energy of the AE signal. The energy distribution criterion in each component indicates that the energy in the AE signals is essentially concentrated on two or three components within a distinct frequency range. Each frequency range is related to a separate micromechanism, identifying failure. The results found for low VM in the contribution of ferrite/martensite interface decohesion figure prominently because 48% of their total energy was related to this micromechanism for a sample with 11% VM. The contribution of martensite phase fracture increased from 12% to 48.3% of total energy with an increase of VM in the range of 11% to 65% VM. The results were verified with microscopic observations and they indicate that wavelet-based signal processing is an efficient tool in the analysis of AE signals to detect micromechanisms identifying failure in DPS.     

Improved mechanical properties of V-microalloyed dual phase steel by enhancing martensite deformability

A good combination of ultimate tensile strength(UTS)up to 1365 MPa and total strain to failure(StF)to 15.5％has been achieved due to deformable martensite in the invented vanadium-microalloyed dual-phase(DP)steel,which was manufactured by two-stage annealing of cold rolled steel strip.The employed extensive characterizations revealed that the ductile martensitic phase in this DP steel differ-entiated from ordinarily low-carbon martensitic lath in both morphology and lattice structure.Complex coherent orientation relationships between ferrite,reverse austenite,martensitic phase and vanadium carbide(VC)do exist,leading to a new martensitic transformation mechanism and resultant dual-phase microstructure.Besides,a detailed characterization including essential phase transformation analysis in combination with in situ TEM observation,shows that,all the essential processing including recrystal-lization,reverse austenitic and martensitic transformation,in debt to the particular effects of VC,can be recognized as phase transformations with higher thermodynamic driving force and higher kinetic energy barrier as compared to previously common processing,which actually changes the microstructure and,indirectly leads to higher strength and higher ductility.This synergy of thermodynamics and kinetics can be generalized to improve mechanical properties of present steels.     

Mechanical properties and fracture behavior of high-strength steels

Typical thicknesses of high-strength steels (HSS) sheets used in the car industry are inapplicable for standardized testing procedures. The aim of this study is to propose an appropriate methodology for testing and comparing of thin HSS sheets. Microstructures were observed by means of light and scanning electron microscopy. The modified Charpy impact tests and fracture toughness tests were used in order to compare the fracture properties of three different HSS sheets (Docol 1200 M, Multiphase 1200 and BTR 165). Ductile-to-brittle transition curves and tearing resistance (J − Δa) curves were measured. From the fracture toughness linked to the specimen thicknesses the value of fracture toughness K_Ic was estimated. Fractographic analysis of broken specimens has revealed that due to the fine microstructure of mixed ferrite-martensite fracture mechanism remains ductile even at low temperatures (down to −100°C). __________ Translated from Problemy Prochnosti, No. 1, pp. 155–158, January–February, 2008.     

The effect of dynamic strain aging on fatigue properties of dual phase steels with different martensite morphology

Dual phase (DP) steels with network and fibrous martensite were produced by intercritical annealing heat treatment cycles. Some of these steels were deformed at dynamic strain aging temperatures. Room temperature tensile tests of specimens deformed at 300 °C showed that both yield and ultimate tensile strengths for both morphologies increased, while total elongation decreased. Fatigue test results before and after high temperature deformation showed that dynamic strain aging has a stronger effect on fatigue properties of dual phase steels with fibrous martensite. Cracks in DP steels with fibrous martensite propagate in a tortuous path in soft ferrite phase, while they pass of both hard and soft phases in DP steels with network martensite.     

铁素体/贝氏体双相钢的变形和断裂特性

对一种低碳硅锰钢进行TMCP实验,获得了不同铁素体形态的铁素体/贝氏体双相钢(FB钢),研究了FB钢在单轴拉伸下的变形行为及断裂特性,结果表明:在均匀塑性变形阶段,FB钢的瞬时加工硬化指数n*值与真应变ε的关系曲线可分为n*值较高、n*值随ε缓慢下降以及n*值随ε迅速下降三个阶段,与等轴铁素体/贝氏体双相钢相比,准多边形铁素体/贝氏体双相钢的强度和低应变区的n*值均比较高,FB钢拉伸试样颈缩区的孔洞或微裂纹产生在F-B相界面附近和铁素体内,有助于减弱裂纹尖端附近的局部应力集中,改善钢材的抗裂纹扩展性能.     

Impact and tensile properties of ferrite–martensite dual‐phase steels

The effect of martensite morphology on the impact and tensile properties of dual phase steels with a 0.25 volume fraction of martensite (V_m) under different heat treatments was investigated. These treatments are direct quenching (DQ) and step quenching (SQ) that result in different microstructures and mechanical properties. To process dual phase steels, a low carbon manganese steel was used. At first the banding present in the initial steel was eliminated, then the two different heat treatments were applied. To reach a 0.25 volume fraction of martensite a variation of intercritical annealing temperatures was adopted for both treatments that allowed the evolution of different volume fraction of martensite. Phase analysis showed that an intercritical temperature of 725 °C (between A₃, A₁) gives the desired 0.25 V_m of martensite. A comparison of impact, tensile and ductile–brittle transition temperature (DBTT) indicates that the microstructure of the direct treatment has a better toughness. The DBTT for the DQ and SQ treatment is ?49 and ?6 °C, respectively.     

Investigation of dual phase transformation of commercial low alloy steels: Effect of holding time at low inter-critical annealing temperatures

Dual phase steels are a class of steels characterized by a microstructure consisting of a soft ferrite matrix with hard martensite islands at the grain boundaries. The temperature in the dual phase (α + γ) region and the holding time are two important parameters in the intercritically annealing process. In this study, different grades of commercial low alloy steels have been heat treated to a constant annealing temperature by changing the holding time. It is observed that the effect of holding time is dependent on the steel composition. In this context, a microstructural examination has been carried out using optical, scanning electron microscope and electron probe micro-analysis and hardness values have been determined.     

Effect of water quench process on mechanical properties of cold rolled dual phase steel microalloyed with niobium

Effect of water quench process on tensile properties of microalloyed dual phase (DP) steel was investigated. The results showed that the tensile strength and yield strength decrease while total elongation increases with decreasing quenching temperature. Different quenching temperatures lead to not only different amounts of martensite, but also different volume fractions of new ferrite. Due to exemption of precipitation strengthening, new ferrite will contribute to not only the increase of ductility, but also the improvement of microalloyed DP steel strength.     

Effects of acicular ferrite on charpy impact properties in heat affected zones of oxide-containing API X80 linepipe steels

This study was concerned with effects of acicular ferrite on Charpy impact properties in heat affected zones (HAZs) of two API X80 linepipe steels containing oxides. In the one steel, Mg and O₂ were additionally added to form a larger amount of oxides than the other steel, which was a conventional X80 steel containing a considerable amount of Al and Ti. Various HAZ microstructures were obtained by conducting HAZ simulation tests under different heat inputs of 35 kJ cm⁻¹ and 60 kJ cm⁻¹. Oxides present in the API X80 linepipe steels were complex oxides whose average size was 1-2 μm, and the number of oxides increased with increasing amount of Mg and O₂. The volume fraction of acicular ferrite present in the steel HAZs increased with increasing number of oxides, and decreased with increasing heat input. When the volume fraction of acicular in the HAZ was higher than 20%, Charpy impact energy at −20 °C was higher than 100 J as the ductile fracture mode was dominant. Particularly in the steel HAZs having a larger amount of oxides, Charpy impact properties were excellent because oxides worked as nucleation sites of acicular ferrite during welding. Charpy impact properties of the HAZs could be well correlated with the volume fraction of acicular ferrite and number of oxides under different heat input conditions.     

Effects of ferrite volume fraction on the tensile deformation characteristics of dual phase twinning induced plasticity steel

The deformation characteristics of dual phase twinning-induced plasticity (TWIP) steel containing different ferrite volume fractions have been investigated through tensile testing method. The results show that the yield and ultimate tensile strengths are increased by ferrite volume fraction, while the ductility is marginally influenced. The former is attributed to the formation of DO₃ ordered intermetallic compound inside the ferrite phase. Furthermore, the SEM examination of fracture surfaces reveals the pattern of brittle facets corresponding to the ferrite regions. These are surrounded by ductile dimples belonging to the austenite areas. Moreover, the signs of plane sliding in the austenite phase have been recognized, which demonstrates the domination of the ductile fracture in the austenite areas.     

Strengthening and ductilization of laminate dual-phase steels with high martensite content

The steels with excellent strength and ductility are expected to be achieved by tailoring the microstructural features.In this work,laminate dual-phase(DP)steels with high martensite content(laminate HMDP steels)were produced by a combination of warm rolling and intercritical annealing.Influence of rolling strain and annealing temperature on the microstructural evolution and mechanical properties of laminate HMDP steels were systematically studied.The strength of HMDP steels was significantly improved to~1.6 GPa associated with a high uniform elongation of 7%,as long as the laminate structure is maintained.The strengthening and ductilizing mechanisms of laminate HMDP steels are discussed based on the influence of laminate structure and the high martensite content,which promote the development of internal stresses and can be correlated to the Bauschinger effect as measured by the cyclic loadingunloading-reloading experiments.Detailed transmission electron microscopy(TEM)observation was applied to characterize the dislocation structure in the deformed ferrite.     

An investigation of mechanical and metallurgical properties of explosive welded aluminum-dual phase steel

The aim of this paper is investigation of microstructure and property relationship in aluminum-HSLA steel and aluminum-dual phase steel bimetals fabricated by explosive welding technique. Dual phase steel was produced by intercritical annealing and water quenching from 1.45Mn-0.2Si-0.186C HSLA steel. Hardness, tensile shear strength, tensile strength, toughness and microstructure of explosively welded aluminum-HSLA steel and aluminum-dual phase steel were evaluated. Both bimetals have a straight bonding interface. It was also seen that plastic deformation of dual phase steel was higher than HSLA steel near interfaces of bimetals. The hardness was increased near the bond interface of bimetals. Tensile and tensile shear strength tests showed that aluminum-dual phase steel is superior than aluminum-HSLA steel. Also, impact toughness of aluminum-dual phase steel was found significantly higher than that of aluminum-HSLA steel.     

Microstructural stability of 9--12%Cr ferrite/martensite heat-resistant steels

The microstructural evolutions of advanced 9--12%Cr ferrite/martensite heat-resistant steels used for power generation plants are reviewed in this article. Despite of the small differences in chemical compositions, the steels share the same microstructure of the as-tempered martensite. It is the thermal stability of the initial microstructure that matters the creep behavior of these heat-resistant steels. The microstructural evolutions involved? in? 9--12%Cr ?ferrite ?heat-resistant ?steels ?are ?elabo- rated, including (1) martensitic lath widening, (2) disappearance of prior austenite grain boundary, (3) emergence of subgrains, (4) coarsening of precipitates, and (5) formation of new precipitates, such as Laves-phase and Z-phase. The former three microstructural evolutions could be retarded by properly disposing the latter two. Namely improving the stability of precipitates and optimizing their size distribution can effectively exert the beneficial influence of precipitates on microstructures. In this sense, the microstructural stability of the tempered martensite is in fact the stability of precipitates during the creep. Many attempts have been carried out to improve the microstructural stability of 9--12%Cr steels and several promising heat-resistant steels have been developed.     

Resistance spot welding macro characteristics of the dissimilar thickness dual phase steels

In the present work, macro characteristics of the dissimilar thickness dual phase steel resistance spot welding joints were described in terms of melting rate, indentation rate, nugget diameter and indentation diameter. The results revealed that the melting rate of the DP600 side was higher than that of the DP780 side and the indentation rate of the DP600 side was lower than that of the DP780 side of the welded joints. The base metal lap order had the important effect on nugget diameter, and the DP780/DP600 spot welded joints tended to get the larger nugget diameter than DP600/DP780 spot welded joints with the same process parameters. The indentation diameters of DP600 and DP780 sides depended on the electrode geometry and force.     

Tensile properties of iron-based P/M steels with ferrite + martensite microstructure

The effect of intercritical heat treatments on the tensile properties of iron-based P/M steels was investigated. For this purpose, atomized iron powder (Ancorsteel 1000) was admixed with 0.3 wt.% graphite powder. Tensile test specimens were cold pressed at 700 MPa and sintered at 1120 °C for 30 min under pure argon gas atmosphere. After sintering, ∼20% pearlite volume fraction in a ferrite matrix was obtained. To produce coarse ferrite + martensite microstructures, the sintered specimens were intercritically annealed at 724 and 760 °C and quenched in water. To obtain fine ferrite + martensite microstructures, the sintered specimens were first austenitized at 890 °C and water-quenched to produce a fully martensitic structure. These specimens were then intercritically annealed at 724 and 760 °C and re-quenched. After the intercritical annealing at 724 and 760 °C and quenching, martensite volume fractions were ∼ 18% and 43%, respectively, in both the coarse- and fine-grained specimens. Although the intercritically annealed specimens exhibited higher yield and tensile strength than the as-sintered specimens, their elongation values were lower. Specimens with a fine ferrite + martensite microstructure showed high yield and tensile strength and ductility in comparison to specimens with a coarse ferrite + martensite microstructure. The strength values of specimens increased with increasing martensite volume fraction.     

Effect of silicon and aluminium in ferrite on tensile and impact properties

Two ferritic interstitial-free steels with approximately the same amount of solid solution strengthening by addition of 2?wt-% silicon and 4?wt-% aluminium are investigated using quasi-static tensile and dynamic impact tests. The addition of 2?wt-% silicon (2Si) results in brittle fracture in V-notched Charpy impact tests at ambient temperature, whilst the 4?wt-% aluminium-containing (4Al) steel has high absorbed energy of 320?±?12?J?cm^?2. In addition, the 4Al steel has a ductile-to-brittle-transition temperature (DBTT) ～60°C lower than the 2Si steel. It is proposed that the addition of silicon suppresses dislocation cross-slip at high strain rate and is responsible for the observed cleavage fracture and high DBTT in the 2Si steel. The ease of dislocation slip in the 4Al steel increases the impact toughness.     

Analysis of stamping performances of dual phase steels: A multi-objective approach to reduce springback and thinning failure

The industrial interest on light weight components has contributed in the last years to a significant research effort on new materials able to guarantee high mechanical properties, good formability and reasonable costs together with reduced weights when compared to traditional mild steels. Among such materials advanced high strength steels (AHSS) such as transformations induced plasticity (TRIP) and dual phase (DP), and light weight alloys proved their usefulness in stamping of automotive components. As AHSS are concerned, one of the main drawbacks is related to springback occurrence. Many aspects have to be taken into account when springback reduction is investigated: material behavior issues, process conditions, numerical simulations parameters calibration, geometrical aspects and so on. Moreover, springback minimization problems are typically multi-objective ones because springback reduction may conflict with other goals in stamping design such as thinning reduction. In this paper, such problem was investigated through integration between numerical simulations, Response Surface Methodology and Pareto optimal solutions search techniques. The design of a U-channel stamping operation was investigated utilizing two different dual phase steel grades: DP 1000 and DP 600. An explicit/forming-implicit/springback approach was utilized for the numerical simulations. Friction conditions and blank holder force were optimized as design variables in order to accomplish two different objectives: reduce excessive thinning and avoid excessive geometrical distortions due to springback occurrence.     

舰船结构钢的夏比冲击韧性与断口形貌

论述了从夏比冲击韧性分解出来的断裂扩展功与断口形貌的关系，指出冶金因素对夏比冲击韧性α＿ｋ值和扩展功的影响不完全是一致的，提出采用α＿ｋ，值和断口纤维率作为韧性指标的互补性，建议在我国的舰船结构钢韧性指标中增加断口纤维率的要求。     

Microlaminated dual phase steel presenting with high strength and ultrahigh toughness

In the present study, a steel with the chemical composition of Fe–0·15 wt-%C–5 wt-%Mn–3 wt-%Al was designed. Its microstructure and mechanical properties were examined by optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy and mechanical tests. It was found that hot rolling in the dual phase region of ferrite and austenite at high temperature resulted in microlaminated dual phase microstructure. An excellent combination of high strength (～1200 MPa) and ultrahigh impact toughness (～400 J) of the microlaminated dual phase steel was obtained. Based on the measurement of the phase volume fraction and the analysis of the fractography, it was shown that the high strength was mainly dependent on the high martensite volume fraction, while the ultrahigh impact toughness was attributed to the microlaminated microstructure.