The influence of thermomechanical treatment on the transformation behaviour of steels

The effect of thermomechanical treatment on the γ – α-transformation in steel has been reviewed. It has been shown that the thermo-mechanically conditioned austenite significantly influences the kinetics of transformation due to the differences in the formation of product phases. An enhanced nucleation during the diffusion controlled transformation, as a result of austenite grain refinement and/or austenite strengthening, leads to a substantial refinement of the microstructure (ferrite grains, pearlite nodules). The deformation substructure of austenite may strongly affect the shear mechanism of the diffusionless transformation, which leads to finely fragmented martensite crystals. Such differences in the transformation characteristics result in different formation temperatures of transformation products and so to the changes in CCT diagrams.     

Effect of thermomechanical treatment on microstructure and mechanical properties of AISI 301LN stainless steel

Abstract

A wide range of cold thickness reduction (10–80%) and subsequent annealing were carried out on AISI 301LN stainless steel. X-rays and Feritscope MP30 were used to identify the strain induced α′-martensite phase and its volume fraction respectively. The microstructure was observed by optical micrograph and scanning electron microscope. The results show that shear bands were present and strain induced α′-martensite nucleated at their intersections. The volume fraction of α′-martensite increased with the increased cold reduction by the continuous growth of embryos, which resulted in the increasing yield and tensile strength. The reversion of α′-martensite to austenite occurred after subsequent annealing. The grain size variation of austenite was related to the annealing regime. A good combination of strength and ductility can be obtained after annealing at 650°C for 30 min. The effect of grain size on yield strength conformed with the Hall–Petch relationship in the entire range of our analysis.     

Physical simulation of thermomechanical treatment of a high-strength nitrogen-bearing austenitic steel and its effect on the microstructure and properties of the steel

The effect of the thermomechanical treatment parameters on the structure and properties of a high-strength nitrogen-bearing austenitic Cr-Ni-Mn steel is studied using a Gleeble 3800 plastometer. An increase in the interdeformation pause time during multipass deformation of the steel is shown to decrease the temperature of formation of carbonitride hardening phases in its structure. A shift in the temperature range of deformation toward low temperatures is found to increase the strength properties of the steel, and its plasticity decreases.     

Effects of thermomechanical processing on the microstructure and mechanical properties of a Ti-V-N steel

Based on studies of austenite deformation behavior and continuous-cooling-transformation behavior of a Ti-V microalloyed steel by cam plastometer and quench-deformation dilatometer, respectively, plate rolling schedules were designed to produce (i) recrystallized austenite, (ii) unrecrystallized austenite, (iii) deformed ferrite + unrecrystallized austenite. The effects of austenite condition and cooling rate on the final microstructure and mechanical properties were investigated. To rationalize the variation in final ferrite grain size with different thermomechanical processing schedules, it is necessary to consider the kinetics of ferrite grain growth in addition to the density of ferrite nucleation sites. The benefit of dilatometer studies in determining the optimum deformation schedule and cooling rate for a given steel is domonstrated. A wide range of tensile and impact properties results from the different microstructures studied. Yield strength is increased by increasing the amount of deformed ferrite, bainite, or martensite, and by decreasing the ferrite grain size. Impact toughness is most strongly influenced by ferrite grain size and occurrence of rolling plane delaminations. B. Dogan, Formerly with CANMET, Ottawa, Canada,     

Thermal and thermomechanical treatment of 9% nickel steel

Mechanical properties of isothermal bainite in a 9% nickel steel in view of its low temperature applications. Thermomechanical treatments influence the packet size of bainite and amount of retained austenite. Benificial effect of ausforming on strength/toughness combination.     

More effective thermomechanical treatment of microalloyed pipe steel

Attention focuses on how the basic hot-deformation parameters in thermomechanical treatment affect the structure formation of hot-deformed austenite, the microstructure, and the mechanical properties of low-carbon microalloy steels used for the manufacture of large-diameter gas pipelines. In rough rolling, small uniformly recrystallized austenite structure is formed and largely retained on subsequent cooling, while the cold working of austenite increases in the final rolling and the annihilation of structural defects is prevented after deformation and before accelerated cooling.     

Unit for thermomechanical treatment of high-precision steel shapes

Moscow Institute of Steel and Alloys. Omutninsk Metallurgical Plant. Translated from Metallurg, No. 9, pp. 31–32, September, 1990.     

Preliminary thermomechanical treatment of D6AC steel

The effect of preliminary thermomechanical treatment on the strength, elongation, hardness, X-ray line broadening, and prior austenite grain size of D6AC steel has been investigated. In this type of treatment the deformation is performed prior to austenitizing, and rapid rate heating to the austenitizing temperature must be used. The response to preliminary thermomechanical treatment was determined as a function of prior structure, amount of prior deformation, austenitizing temperature and time, preaustenitizing heat treatment, and tempering temperature. Thus far, the yield strength has been increased about 25 pct along with a significant increase in tensile elongation for some tempering temperatures. The tensile strength, however, remains essentially constant. A comparison of the X-ray line broadening and yield strength measurements indicates that these parameters are being influenced by the same structural changes. The results are explained on the basis of a retention of the work hardened structure (introduced during the prior deformation) through the austenite and martensite transformations.     

TSCR工艺生产IF钢相变及组织演变规律

采用Gleeble-1500热模拟试验机,研究了薄板坯连铸连轧工艺条件下(TSCR)无间隙原子钢(IF钢)的动态连续冷却转变规律,并分析了其组织演变规律.研究表明:Ti-IF钢的相变开始温度随着冷却速度的增大而下降,即Ar3降低,有利于低温终轧,并获得性能良好的IF钢.同时IF钢的硬度值随着冷却速度的增大而增大,冷却速度从1℃/s变化到30℃/s时,HRB从53.4增加到68.3,即其强度随冷却速度增大而增加.     

Influence of thermomechanical treatments on the microstructure and mechanical properties of HSLA-100 steel plates

The influence of thermomechanical treatment (TMT), i.e., controlled rolling and direct quenching, as a function of rolling temperature and deformation on the microstructure and mechanical properties of HSLA-100 steel have been studied. The optical microstructure of the direct quenched (DQ) and tempered steel rooled at lower temperatures (800 °C and 900 °C) showed elongated and deformed grains, whereas complete equiaxed grains were visible after rolling at 1000 °C. The transmission electron microscope (TEM) microstructure of the 800 °C rooled DQ steel showed shorter, irregular, and closer martensite laths with extremely fine Cu and Nb(C,N) precipitates after tempering at 450 °C. The precipitates coarsened somewhat after tempering at 650 °C; the degree of coarsening was, however, less compared to that of the reheat-quenched (RQ) and tempered steel, indicating that the DQ steel was slightly more resistant to tempering. Similar to the RQ steel, at a 450 °C tempering condition, the DQ steel exhibited peak strength with extremely poor impact toughness. After tempering at 650 °C, the toughness of the DQ steel improved significantly, but at the expense of its strength. In general, the strength of the DQ and tempered steel was good and comparable to that of the RQ and tempered steel, although, its impact toughness was marginally less than the latter. The optimum combination of strength and toughness in the DQ steels was achieved after 900 °C rolling with 50 pct deformation, followed by direct quenching and tempering at 650 °C (yield strength (YS)=903 MPa, ultimate tensile strength (UTS)=928 MPa, and Charpy V-notch (CVN) strength=143 J at −85 °C).     

Structure and properties of nickel-molybdenum steel wire rod after thermomechanical treatment

The mechanical properties and structure of low-carbon nickel-molybdenum steel wire rod after softening thermomechanical treatment in a high-speed wire mill are studied. Dislocations may move through insular martensite and bainite sections of the structure under the action of deformation. Good plasticity of wire rod in deformational shaping may be ensured by the presence of a small proportion (up to 10%) of sections with bainite-martensite structure and the motion of dislocations through those sections.     

高碳贝氏体钢的低温转变组织与性能

摘要：采用光学与扫描电子显微镜、X射线衍射等手段研究了不同等温温度（300、250、200℃）对于高碳（质量分数0.79%）贝氏体钢低温转变样品的相含量、组织尺寸和力学性能的变化规律。结果表明,随贝氏体等温温度的降低,贝氏体最终转变量更高,贝氏体铁素体板条和薄膜状残余奥氏体宽度、块状残余奥氏体尺寸减小,抗拉强度升高,塑韧性降低。300℃的贝氏体抗拉强度为1525MPa,贝氏体铁素体宽度是116nm,而200℃的贝氏体铁素体板条尺寸达到62nm,抗拉强度达到1 928MPa。研究发现,在未充分转变的贝氏体样品中,尺寸大于4.7μm的块状残余奥氏体在冷却过程中易发生马氏体相变,而小于该尺寸的残余奥氏体比较稳定,可以保留到最终组织中。     

High strength low carbon sheet steel by thermomechanical treatment:II. Microstructure

In a previous paper, the thermomechanical treatment concept for producing high strength stamped parts from a thermal-mechanically treated low carbon steel was described. In this paper, the microstructural changes occurring during both the processing and forming operations are detailed and the relation between properties and microstructure is discussed. Formerly with the Physics Department, General Motors Research Laboratories     

TSCR生产800MPa级TRIP钢的连续冷却相变及组织演变模拟

采用热模拟试验机Gleeble-2000,研究了薄板坯连铸连轧工艺条件下TRIP钢连续冷却转变规律及其组织演变.结果表明:实验钢的相变开始温度较低且随着冷却速度的增大而下降,有利于低温终轧;高温加热抑制相变而变形则促进相变;同时当冷却速度大于10℃时,开始出现贝氏体转变.     

Development of process for thermomechanical treatment of ultrahigh strength steel prepared by electroslag refining

Abstract

Thermomechanical treatment (TMT) is the simultaneous use of work hardening, and grain refinement along with solid solution and precipitation strengthening. In this investigation, four alloys, with a base composition of 0·28%C, 1·0%Mn, 4·2%Cr, 1·0%Mo, 0·34%V, were prepared by electroslag refining (ESR) and by addition of small amounts of Ti and Nb and by increasing Cr and V to 4·8 and 0·48% respectively. In two of the alloys a yield strength in excess of 1550 MPa was obtained in the as cast quenched and tempered condition. Attempts were made to further increase the yield strength by thermomechanical treatment. The process parameters for thermomechanical treatment were optimised by adopting procedures such as calculation of stability of precipitates, hot compression test, determination of cooling rates in different coolants, and modelling of TTT and CCT diagrams. The process involved prerolling of the ESR ingot to a bar at 1200°C, followed by hot rolling in two passes starting from 950°C and finishing at 850°C with equal deformation of 25% in each pass to convert the bar into plates. These were immediately cooled in one of the cooling media: air, polymer–water solution (1 : 1·5) and oil. Yield strength in excess of 1750 MPa was obtained in oil cooled specimens of the alloy with titanium addition and that where Cr and V were increased. The niobium added specimen gave strengths, similar to that obtained for the base alloy, in spite of the fact that the as cast alloy had shown very high strengths, presumably because of the high soaking temperatures and grain growth. Air cooling gave the lowest strengths and oil cooling the highest.     

High strength low carbon sheet steel by thermomechanical treatment: l. Strengthening mechanisms

Considerable attention has been focused recently on the development of higher strength automobile stampings. Traditionally increasing the strength of a stamping has been accomplished by utilizing a higher strength material with its attendant problems in springback, die wear and press loads. An alternative approach to high strength stampings based on thermomechanical (TMT) processing of a low carbon steel is described. With this approach, the contributions to strength due to work hardening during stamping and age hardening after stamping are incorporated into the overall processing scheme. The TMT process consists of heating a low carbon steel to the two phase(α + γ) region and quenching to produce a dispersion of martensite in a ferrite matrix. A second, low temperature heat treatment is then employed to improve the total elongation to acceptable levels. The processed steel is then stamped and subsequently aged at either ambient or elevated temperature to develop final strength. The relative contributions of the individual operations of the TMT process to final strength are discussed and the required heat treatment parameters are evaluated in terms of the operative strengthening mechanisms. Formerly with the Physics Department, General Motors Research Laboratories     

EBSD investigation on microstructure transformation in low carbon steel during continuous cooling

In this study the microstructure in low carbon steel during phase transformation was systematically investigated using dilatometry, optical microscopy as well as EBSD. The specimens after annealing at 900°C for 3 min were subsequently cooled at 0·3–100°C s^?1 for dilatometry, in order to determine the continuous cooling transformation (CCT) diagram. Then the microstructures were analysed by optical microscopy (OM) and electron backscattering diffraction (EBSD). Dilatometry, optical microscopy as well as image quality technique in EBSD were combined together to determine the continuous cooling transformation diagram of low carbon steel. As increasing in the cooling rate from 1 to 30°C s^?1, the fraction of ferrite is almost 90% and the phase transformation occurs from pearite to bainite at the cooling rate between 10 to 20°C s^?1.

Dans cette étude, on a examiné systématiquement la microstructure de l’acier à faible teneur en carbone lors de la transformation de phase en utilisant la dilatométrie, la microscopie optique ainsi que la DERD. Après un recuit à 900°C pendant 3 min, on a ensuite refroidi les échantillons entre 0·3 et 100°C s^?1 pour l’étude de dilatométrie, afin de déterminer le diagramme de transformation en refroidissement continu (CCT). On a ensuite analysé la microstructure par microscopie optique (MO) et par diffraction des électrons rétrodiffusés (DERD). On a combiné la dilatométrie, la microscopie optique ainsi que la technique de haute qualité de l’image de DERD pour déterminer le diagramme de transformation en refroidissement continu de l’acier à faible teneur en carbone. Avec l’augmentation de la vitesse de refroidissement de 1 à 30°C s^?1, la fraction de ferrite atteint presque 90% et la transformation de phase de perlite à bainite a lieu à une vitesse de refroidissement entre 10 et 20°C s^?1.     

AM对低碳贝氏体钢等温相变和显微组织的影响

摘要：设计了马氏体起始相变温度（Ms）以上和以下5个不同温度等温淬火实验,研究了Ms以上和以下温度等温淬火对低碳贝氏体钢组织和相变动力学的影响。结果表明,试样在Ms以下等温淬火时,保温前生成的先马氏体（AM）显著缩短了等温贝氏体相变孕育期,加速贝氏体形核,细化贝氏体组织。然而,Ms以下等温淬火时,总的等温贝氏体相变动力学与先马氏体的体积分数（fAM）有很大关系,当fAM较低时,AM的形成缩短了贝氏体相变孕育期,加速了贝氏体相变,当fAM过高时,又阻碍贝氏体相变,延长贝氏体总的相变时间。最后,采用Austin Rickett(AR)和Johnson Mehl Avrami Kolgomorov(JMAK)动力学模型对等温贝氏体相变动力学进行分析,结果表明,与AR模型相比,JMAK模型更适用于本研究的实验结果。