Effect of Rare Earth and Cooling Process on Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of an Ultra-Cleaned X80 Pipeline Steel

In order to explore the eff ect of a small amount of rare earth addition in ultra-cleaned pipeline steel and the influence of the cooling process on the tensile and impact properties, three API X80 pipeline steels were fabricated by varying RE addition and the cooling process at the same time. Three microstructures with different features for a low C high Nb microalloyed high-strength pipeline steel and the corresponding mechanical properties were investigated. The results showed that even in the ultra-cleaned steel with O and S contents less than 10 ppm, the addition of RE would still cause an increase in the volume fraction of inclusions consisting of complicated RE oxysulfide and RE sulfide. More inclusions formed in the 112 ppm RE steel were harmful to the low temperature toughness, while few inclusions formed in the 47 ppm RE steel had almost no influence on the low temperature toughness. The two RE additions had no effect on strength of the steels. As the finishing cooling temperature was increased and the cooling rate was decreased within a certain range, the volume fractions of polygonal ferrite and quasi-polygonal ferrite as well as the number density and size of martensite–austenite islands were increased. Under such combined effect, the strength of the steels had almost no change. As the finishing cooling temperature was increased from 481 to 584 ℃ and the cooling rate was reduced from 20 to 13 ℃/s, for the steel with 112 ppm addition of RE, there was an obvious decrease in the low temperature toughness. The reduced value(about 33 J) of the USE of steel consisted of two parts including the influence(about 18 J) of more inclusions formed due to 112 ppm addition of RE and the eff ect(about 15 J) of the lower high-angle grain boundaries.     

EFFECTS OF ZIRCONIUM ON MICROSTRUCTURES AND MECHANICAL PROPERTIES OF MICROALLOYED STEELS

1. Introduction Zirconium is an element of second transition subgroup in Periodic System of Elements, the outmost surface layer electron structure of which is 4d25s2. Similar to Ti, Zr is not only a strong oxide-forming el- ement but also it is a strong nitride-forming element. During the 1960s- 1970s, much research about the effect of Zr on the properties of steels was performed mainly on restraining austenite growing[1], control- ling sulfide forming[2], enhancing impact toughness of trans…     

EFFECT OF Zr ADDITION TO Ti-KILLED STEEL ON INCLUSION FORMATION AND MICROSTRUCTURAL EVOLUTION IN WELDING INDUCED COARSE-GRAINED HEAT AFFECTED ZONE

Effects of Zirconium on the chemical component and size distribution of Ti-bearing inclusions, favored the grain refinement of the welding reduced, coarse-grained heat affected zone （CGHAZ） with enhanced impact toughness in Ti-killed steels, which were examined based on experimental observations and thermodynamic calculations. It indicated that the chemical constituents of inclusions gradually varied from the TiO oxide to the Ti-O＋Zr-O compound oxide and a single phase of the ZrO2 oxide, as the Zr content increased from zero to 0.0100%. A trace of Zr （0.0030%-0.0080%, depending on the oxygen content in liquid steel） provided a large amount of nucleating core for Ti oxide because of the larger specific density of ZrO2 oxide, and produced a small size distribution of the inclusions favorable for acicular ferrite transformation with a high nucleation rate in the CGHAZ, and a high volume fraction of acicular ferrite was obtained in the CGHAZ, with enhanced impact toughness. Otherwise, a high content of Zr （-0.0100%） produced a single phase Zr02, which was impotent to nucleate acicular ferrite, and a microstructure composed of ferrite side plate and grain boundary ferrite developed in the CGHAZ. The experimental results were confirmed by thermodynamic calculations.     

Control of Secondary Phases by Solution Treatment in a N-Alloyed High-Mn Cryogenic Steel

The secondary phases of the steels have significant effects on the microstructure and mechanical properties, making controlling these secondary phases important. The control of MnS inclusions and AlN precipitates in a N-alloyed high-Mn twin-induced plastic cryogenic steel via solution treatment was investigated with several different techniques including microstructural characterization, 298 K tensile testing, and 77 K impact testing. The solutionizing temperature(ST)increased from 1323 to 1573 K, where the elongated MnS inclusions and large-sized AlN precipitates became spheroidized and dissolved. The aspect ratio of the MnS inclusions decreased as the ST increased and the number density increased. The impact toughness of the steels showed anisotropy and low impact energy values, due to the elongated MnS inclusions and large-sized AIN precipitates. The anisotropy was eliminated by spheroidizing the MnS inclusions. The impact energy was improved by dissolving the large-sized AlN precipitates during the solution treatment. The austenite grain size increased when the dissolution of the AlN precipitate increased, but the effect of the grain size on the yield strength, toughness, and the strength–ductility balance was weak.     

钢中珠光体球团尺寸的EBSD表征技术

借助光学显微镜和扫描电镜等研究了珠光体球团的表征方法,从阻止裂纹扩展的有效性出发,选择内部取向接近、外部取向差较大的球团簇作为评价珠光体球团尺寸的指标。结果表明,珠光体中铁素体的取向分布与球团吻合,即铁素体的大角度晶界就是球团(簇)界,所以可以通过表征铁素体的晶粒尺寸来评价珠光体球团尺寸。该方法的关键点在于晶界如何定义和样品如何制备。从对EBSD法的可行性分析可知,以15°作为晶内最大取向差来划分珠光体球团。对于珠光体钢,电解抛光法更适用于珠光体中渗碳体片层较宽的样品,而对于珠光体中渗碳体片层过窄的情况更适合选用离子抛光法。      

Improvement of impact toughness of 5Mn-1Al-0.5Ti steel by intercritical annealing

The present study is aimed at improving the impact toughness of 5Mn-1Al-0.5Ti steel by incorporating ferrite-martensite dual phase microstructure by intercritical annealing. Although (8-12)Mn martensitic steels usually show very low impact toughness due to the occurrence of intergranular fracture, the martensitic structure of the present 5Mn-1Al-0.5Ti steel fails by transgranular cleavage fracture due to higher grain boundary strength than matrix strength incurred by reduced Mn content and segregation of Ti along grain boundaries. Nevertheless, it still shows very poor impact toughness at room temperature due to its coarse grain size. The application of intercritical annealing, i.e., formation of dual phase microstructure, is shown to significantly decrease ductile-to-brittle transition temperature (DBTT), with only a small degradation of tensile properties; however, microstructural examinations show that most of ferrite/martensite interfaces have a character of low angle boundaries and therefore such decrease in DBTT is not necessarily due to the formation of ferrite-martensite dual phase structure, but rather to the refinement of grain size by low temperature annealing.     

Effect of Inclusions and Microstructural Characteristics on the Mechanical Properties and Fracture Behavior of a High- Strength Low- Alloy Steel

The strength and toughness properties of hot- rolled plates from three commercial heats of a highstrength low-alloy steel were investigated with respect to their intrinsic microstructural and inclusion characteristics. One heat was argon purged and contained relatively higher carbon and sulfur, whereas the other two heats, with lower carbon and sulfur levels, were sulfide shape controlled. The study revealed that although yield and tensile strengths specific to a heat were unaffected by testing direction, the anisotropy in tensile ductility was greater in steels with stringered sulfides. Despite similar grain sizes in all the steels, Charpy shelf energy and impact transition temperature were significantly affected by pearlite content and sulfide morphology and to a lesser extent by pearlite banding. The modification of stringer sulfides to tiny lenticular/globular oxysulfides resulted in considerably higher shelf energies, lowering of impact transition temperatures, and minimal anisotropy of impact properties. The macroscopic appearance of splitting on the fracture surfaces of transverse Charpy specimens associated with low impact energies confirmed failure by a low- energy mode. The presence of pancake- shaped ferrite grains and fractographic evidence of inclusion stringers inside furrows identified their role in accentuating the splitting phenomenon.     

热处理工艺对ER7车轮钢力学性能的影响

ER7车轮钢经不同工艺热处理后,可获得珠光体片层间距以及铁素体含量不同的显微组织,并对不同工艺处理试样的拉伸性能及-20℃冲击性能进行了测试.结果表明,随冷却速度的增大,车轮钢铁素体含量增加,珠光体片间距和珠光体球团尺寸减小.增大冷却速率,会使车轮钢的屈服强度、抗拉强度、伸长率和断面收缩率都随之增加.随着珠光体片间距和...     

Improving Toughness of Heavy Steel Plate by Deformation Distribution Under Low Finish Cooling Temperature

The significant role of deformation distribution in toughness improvement of heavy steel plate under low finish cooling temperature was investigated. Deformation distribution was conducted by changing temperature-holding thickness in two-stage control rolling. The results show that the low finish cooling temperature always inhibits the ferrite transformation. However, when heavy deformation was applied at noncrystallization region, extensive ferrite was formed and ferrite was also effectively refined. Hence, homogeneous ferrite microstructure through the thickness with the ferrite volume fraction of 82.4% and grain size refined to 6.7 μm at quarter thickness of 40-mm heavy steel plate was obtained when the deformation at nonrecrystallization region reaches 70%. Thus, high toughness can be achieved, showing that the fully ductile fracture can be maintained at ?60 °C and the ductile-to-brittle transition temperature is lowered to ?91 °C. The improved toughness is ascribed to the high ferrite volume fraction, refinement of ferrite and hard phase colony and the increase in the percent of high-angle grain boundaries and average grain boundary misorientation.     

元素Nb对TiNbV微合金钢CGHAZ组织与冲击韧性影响

利用焊接热模拟研究Nb元素含量对TiNbV微合金钢焊接热影响粗晶区(CGHAZ)组织和性能的影响. 低铌钢和高铌钢在经历焊接热循环后微观组织构成及晶粒尺寸有显著差异. Nb元素含量为0.005%时焊接CGHAZ组织为铁素体和针状铁素体以及珠光体,大角度晶界和小角度晶界的晶粒比例相当,焊接CGHAZ晶粒尺寸粗大不均匀. 随着Nb元素含量的增加,大角度晶界的晶粒数量有所增加,晶粒得到细化. 但是,针状铁素体形成受到抑制,CGHAZ中贝氏体含量增加. 微合金钢中贝氏体的形成对焊接CGHAZ冲击韧性的下降起主导作用,Nb元素的含量控制在合适范围内(~ 0.02%),才可以保证CGHAZ具有良好的冲击韧性.     

Microstructures and Mechanical Properties of Bearing Steels Modified for Preparing Nanostructured Bainite

Mo containing high-C-Cr bearing steel was modified with Si (0.8–1.5 wt.%) and 0.8Si–1.0Al to prepare nanostructured bainite by low-temperature isothermal heat treatment. The modified steels were isothermal held at 220 to 240 °C after partial austenitization in an intercritical gamma+carbide region, and the resultant microstructure and mechanical properties were studied. Carbide-free nanostructured bainite with plate thickness below 100 nm and film retained austenite, as well as a small amount of undissolved carbide particles, was obtained in the modified steels except in 0.8Si steel, in which carbides precipitated in bainitic ferrite. As Si content increased, the mean thickness of bainitic ferrite plates modestly decreased, whereas the fraction of retained austenite markedly increased. The thickness of bainitic ferrite plate and the fraction of retained austenite in Si-Al-modified steel were smaller than those in Si-modified steels. The hardness and elongation of the Si-Al-modified steel were lower than those of Si-modified steels. The yield strength of Si-Al-modified steel was superior to that of Si-modified steels. Mid-level ultimate tensile strength and impact toughness were achieved in Si-Al-modified steel. For bearing applications, Si-modified steels could provide higher hardness and toughness but lower dimensional stability. Meanwhile, Si-Al-modified steel could offer higher dimensional stability but lower hardness and toughness.     

Microstructure evolution during continuous cooling in niobium microalloyed high carbon steels

Effects of microalloyed niobium (Nb) on the austenite decomposition behaviors and microstructure evolution during continuous cooling in the near eutectoid steels were investigated. Compared to the Nb free steel, the Nb microalloyed steel was refined with regard to polygonal ferrite grain, pearlite block and colony sizes. This was because its austenite grain size was smaller. The volume fraction of polygonal ferrite transformed was more in the Nb microalloyed steels, which indicated the eutectoid carbon content exceeded that of pure carbon steel. The spheroidization of pearlite during continuous cooling was enhanced by Nb microalloying, mainly due to a higher critical transformation temperature and the finer pearlite structure with smaller colony size and narrower interlamellar spacing. Hot deformation right above the equilibrium eutectoid temperature accelerated the spheroidization kinetics of pearlite, especially in the Nb microalloyed steel.     

微合金元素对X70管线钢韧性的影响

研究了4种含不同微合金元素的X70管线钢的韧性,采用夏比冲击试验和落锤撕裂试验,借助金相显微镜(OM)、扫描电镜(SEM)与背散射电子衍射技术(EBSD)等手段,分析了微观组织、晶粒尺寸、晶粒取向及取向差和夹杂物等因素对X70管线钢韧性的影响。结果表明,含Mo、Ni元素的管线钢夏比冲击韧性和落锤性能都较好,含Cr元素的管线钢落锤性能偏低,大角度晶界比率越高,晶粒尺寸越细小,夹杂物含量越少的管线钢具有更高的韧性。     

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为了探讨高锰含量对微合金钢性能的影响及其夹杂物存在形态,采用低碳+钒铁微合金化工艺生产一种高强度热轧型钢,锰质量分数为1.50%~1.60%。结果表明:产品屈服强度为440~460 MPa,抗拉强度为600~620 MPa,金相组织为铁素体+团状珠光体,带状组织3~4级,晶粒度为7~8.5级,但是锰提高了团状珠光体的相对量,削弱了钢材的低温冲击韧性。锰除固溶于铁基体中外,多以含锰夹杂物的形式存在,主要包括片状硫化锰、球形复合型夹杂物和纺锤体形复合型夹杂物。     

稀土、钛变质对贝氏体铸钢成分偏析及强韧性的影响

研究了稀土、钛和稀土 /钛复合变质对贝氏体铸钢成分偏析和强韧性的影响。结果表明 :采用稀土 /钛复合变质剂能基本上消除碳和其它元素 (Si、Cr)的枝晶偏析。复合变质后铸钢的硬度和冲击韧度同时提高。冲击韧度提高来源于晶粒细化、残余块状奥氏体较少、夹杂物改性等。硬度提高主要是由于成份偏析较小 ,使枝干碳和合金元素含量提高 ,从而使马氏体中的碳含量提高所致。     

Effect of Zr Addition on the Microstructure and Toughness of Coarse-Grained Heat-Affected Zone with High-Heat Input Welding Thermal Cycle in Low-Carbon Steel

Microstructures and toughness of coarse-grained heat-affected zone (CGHAZ) with high-heat input welding thermal cycle in Zr-containing and Zr-free low-carbon steel were investigated by means of welding thermal cycle simulation. The specimens were subjected to a welding thermal cycle with heat inputs of 100, 400, and 800 kJ cm^?1 at peak temperature of 1673 K (1400 °C) using a thermal simulator. The results indicate that excellent impact toughness at the CGHAZ was obtained in Zr-containing steel. The Zr oxide is responsible for AF transformation, providing the nucleation site for the formation AF, promoting the nucleation of AF on the multi-component inclusions. High fraction of acicular ferrite (AF) appears in Zr-containing steel, acting as an obstacle to cleavage propagation due to its high-angle grain boundary. The morphology of M-A constituents plays a key role in impact toughness of CGHAZ. Large M-A constituents with lath form can assist the micro-crack initiation and seriously decrease the crack initiation energy. The relationship of AF transformation and M-A constituents was discussed in detail.     

The effect of relaxing on the grain refinement of low carbon high strength microalloyed steel produced by compact strip production

The microstructural characterization of a low carbon high strength microalloyed steel produced by compact strip production in conjunction with relaxation precipitation controlling the transformation technique was investigated. The microstructural observations were analyzed by means of optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy and electron backscattering diffraction. The microstructure of the investigated steel consisted of predominantly granular bainite and lots of acicular ferrite and polygonal ferrite. The average crystallographic grain size was approximately 4 mm. Relaxation before fast cooling facilitated the formation of dislocation cells and intragranular acicular ferrite grains. Lath-like or plate-like acicular ferrite partitioned the austenite grains into many smaller parts, and the transformation of granular bainite at lower temperatures was confined to the smaller zones, resulting in smaller grain sizes. The yield strength, elongation and low temperature (−60 °C) impact toughness of the steel plates were 614 MPa, 24.1 %, 116 J, respectively. The excellent combination of mechanical properties was attributed to the formation of fine grains and sub-cellular structures.     

Microstructure-property relationships in pearlitic eutectoid and hypereutectoid carbon steels

Fully pearlitic steels are of great importance in a number of extremely demanding structural applications, in large part because of their combination of strength and toughness. Strength and toughness are controlled by the microstructures developed in pearlitic steels, especially interlamellar spacing, pearlite colony size, and prior austenite grain size. This article reviews the effects of these microstructural features on the yield strength and toughness of fully pearlitic steels, the importance of hypereutectoid alloy compositions for increasing the strength of fully pearlitic steels.     

TiNb钢焊接热影响区微观组织与冲击性能演变规律

利用热模拟技术研究了焊接热循环参数对高热输入焊接用TiNb钢焊接热影响区粗晶区的组织及冲击韧性的影响规律. 结果表明,TiNb钢焊接热循环峰值温度升高,珠光体和铁素体的含量明显减少,贝氏体的含量增多,贝氏体板条组织明显粗化,导致冲击韧性下降;高温停留时间延长,贝氏体和珠光体含量大幅降低,多边形铁素体含量增加,高温停留时间为10 s以上时,多边形铁素体组织粗化严重,冲击韧性急剧降低. 在合适的冷却时间条件下,以晶粒细小的针状铁素体组织为主,冲击韧性达到最大值. 较低的热循环峰值温度、较短的高温停留时间和合适的冷却时间,可以获得晶粒细小的铁素体组织,从而可以显著提高热影响粗晶区的冲击韧性.     

Correlation of Microstructure Feature with Impact Fracture Behavior in a TMCP Processed High Strength Low Alloy Construction Steel

The present article aims at elucidating the effect of thermo-mechanical controlled processing (TMCP), especially the finish cooling temperature, on microstructure and mechanical properties of high strength low alloy steels for developing superior low temperature toughness construction steel. The microstructural features were characterized by scanning electron microscope equipped with electron backscatter diffraction, and the mechanical behaviors in terms of tensile properties and impact toughness were analyzed in correlation with microstructural evolution. The results showed that the lower finish cooling temperature could lead to a considerable increase in impact toughness for this steel. A mixed microstructure was obtained by TMCP at lower finish cooling temperature, which contained much fine lath-like bainite with dot-shaped M/A constituent and less granular bainite and bainite ferrite. In this case, this steel possesses yield and ultimate tensile strengths of ~ 885 MPa and 1089 MPa, respectively, and a total elongation of ~ 15.3%, while it has a lower yield ratio of ~ 0.81. The superior impact toughness of ~ 89 J at -20 °C was obtained, and this was resulted from the multi-phase microstructure including grain refinement, preferred grain boundaries misorientation, fine lath-like bainite with dot-shaped M/A constituent.