Effect of hot-rolling deformation on the microstructure of pearlite of eutectoid steel

The effect of austenite deformation on the pearlite microstructure of eutectoid steel w as investigated by hot uniaxial compression tests using a Gleeble 1500 thermo-mechanical simulator. The results show ed that the deformation of the austenite phase accelerated the transformation of pearlite,leading to a smaller colony size and a smaller interlamellar space of pearlite; meanw hile,the orientation of pearlite lamellae became more heterogeneous,and the lamellar thickness decreased. Larger strain of austenite w as observed to accelerate the spheroidization process of carbides w ithin pearlite colonies.     

Direct charging of thin slabs of a Ti-microalloyed low carbon steel for cold forming

With a near-net-shape continuous-casting simulator and the hot deformation simulator Wumsi, laboratory simulation tests have been performed to determine the final microstructure and the mechanical properties of a Ti-microalloyed low carbon steel for cold forming, produced in the process of direct charging of thin slabs. For two initial specimen thicknesses (45 and 25mm) restricted values of total strain ?_∑ were available to improve the coarse as-cast microstructure. In a series of deformation schedules ?_∑ was divided systematically into two components: an austenite grain-refining strain ?_γ–GF (above the recrystallization-stop-temperature T_RS) and an austenite strengthening strain ?_γ–s (below T_RS). After hot deformation accelerated cooling with simulated coiling was employed. It was found that the direct charging process guarantees a more complete dissolution of Ti(C,N) and so an intensifying effect of Ti-microalloying in comparison to a conventional cold charging. Structure refinement by rolling performed predominantly in the temperature region of non-recrystallized austenite (increasing ?_γ–s) leads to better hot strip strength and improved low temperature toughness properties accompanied with a slight deterioration of uniform elongation.     

轧后热处理温度对热轧钢轨组织和性能的影响

 通过在Gleeble-1500热模拟试验机上对珠光体钢轨的轧后热处理模拟试验,研究了热轧后不同加热温度进行奥氏体化后,同一等温温度下得到的珠光体轨钢的显微组织和力学性能。试验结果表明：与热轧态相比,热处理后的钢轨钢在保持硬度稳定的基础上,冲击韧性随着奥氏体化温度降低得到明显改善。观察轧后热处理钢轨的组织,从原始奥氏体晶粒尺寸、相变后珠光体组织中珠光体域的尺寸和珠光体片层间距大小等方面,对轧后热处理温度对热轧钢轨性能的影响规律和原因进行了分析,阐明了轧后热处理温度对于控制珠光体钢轨的组织和性能的影响作用。     

Direct charging of thin slabs of a cold formable HSLA steel

In the concept of direct charging linking continuous casting with rolling of thin slabs, some differences in the design of process parameters are necessary. By example of a commercial low carbon NbTi-microalloyed steel, laboratory tests have been carried out by using a thin-slab continuous casting simulator on-line with the hot deformation simulator Wumsi. The influence of the temperature of intermediate holding (between casting and rolling), total strain ε_Σ, finishing temperature and cooling rate after finishing on the microstructure and mechanical properties was investigated on rolling schedules with or without roughing prior to finishing. Conventional cold charging (with reheating of thicker slabs) was simulated as a comparison to this. Whereas the static properties (tensile test) were less influenced by ε_Σ and by the design of rolling schedule (with or without roughing), the properties measured by the low temperature impact test (at -30°C) were more sensitive. By the optimizing process parameters of direct charging (finishing at temperatures of lower austenite, employing accelerated cooling after rolling) mechanical properties superior to those of cold charging (despite of largely reduced ε_Σ) are attainable.     

38MnSiVS非调质钢的相变模型

 对于热轧非调质钢棒材,轧后相变组织对最终产品的力学性能有着重要影响。为了准确预测38MnSiVS非调质钢棒材热轧后的组织演变和性能,利用热膨胀与定量金相方法,在Gleeble-3500热模拟机及Dil805淬火变形膨胀仪上分别测定了试验钢动态连续冷却转变(CCT)和动态等温转变(TTT)曲线。研究分析了冷却速率对试验钢相变及珠光体片层间距的影响,基于Esake and Pietrzyk和Zener and Hillert模型,分别建立了铁素体晶粒尺寸d_α、珠光体片层间距S_P关系式。结合动态等温转变曲线数据和Scheil叠加原理对铁素体体积分数进行了理论计算,为实际热轧生产中的组织性能控制提供理论依据。     

Microstructural Aspects and Optimization of Thin Slab Direct Rolling of Steels

By using a thin slab casting simulator combined with the hot deformation simulator WUMSI, laboratory tests were performed to investigate the microstructure processes and mechanical properties in the process of thin slab direct rolling (TSDR). The paper shows the possibilities to improve the initial as‐cast state of microstructure prior to hot rolling (microvoids, dendritic structure, austenite grain size, state of precipitation). The main part of the study is dedicated to the role of microalloying and sulphur for the austenite grain control and for the precipitation hardening in the final structure. On examples of selected low carbon steel grades the effect of the variation of the process parameters of hot rolling and cooling on the microstructure and mechanical properties is presented.     

Reheating Austenitizing Temperature of Spring Steel 60Si2MnA for Railway

The microsturctural transformation of austenite grain, pearlite interlamellar spacing, and lamellar cement ite thickness of spring steel 60Si2MnA for railway were studied in the hot-rolled and reheated states. Furthermore, the effect of microstructural characterization on its final mechanical properties was discussed. The results showed that as far as 60Si2MnA, the pearlite interlamellar spacing determined the hardness, whereas, the austenite grain determined the toughness. Compared with microstructure and mechanical properties in the hot rolled state, after reheating treatment at 950 ℃, its average grain sizes are apparently fine and the pearlite interlamellar spacing and lamellar cementite thickness coarsen to some extent, but both hardness and impact toughness increase to HRC 48 and 8.5 J, respectively. In the course of making spring, the optimum reheating austenitizing temperature for the 60Si2MnA steel is 950 ℃.     

Influence of Controlled Rolling and Cooling Process on the Mechanical Properties of Low Carbon Cold Forging Steel

In the present paper,controlled rolling and cooling processing was conducted by using a laboratory hot rolling mill.The influence of different processing parameters on the mechanical properties of low carbon cold forging steel was investigated.The results show that the faster cooling after the deformation (especially in low temperature rolling conditions) leads to the refinement of the ferrite grain.The specimen exhibits very good mechanical properties owing to the finer ferrite grains.The pearlite morphologies can also affect the mechanical properties of low carbon cold forging steel.The mechanical properties increase with decreasing final cooling temperature within the range from 650℃ to 570 ℃ due to the finer interlamellar spacing of pearlite colony.The mechanical properties of the specimens with fast cooling after the conventional rolling are not only better than those of the specimens with slow cooling after low temperature rolling,but also almost similar to those of the specimens with fast cooling after low temperature rolling.It is suggested that fast cooling after high temperature rolling (the conventional rolling) process would be of important industrial value.     

Cleavage fracture in pearlitic eutectoid steel

The effect of microstructure on flow and fracture properties of fully pearlitic steel has been studied by independently varying the prior austenite grain size and the pearlite interlamellar spacing through appropriate heat treatments. The yield strength is independent of the prior austenite grain size but increases as the interlamellar spacing or the temperature decreases. The microstructural dependence can be explained by using a model which assumes that yielding is controlled by dislocation motion in the ferrite lamellae. The critical tensile stress for cleavage fracture is found to be independent of prior austenite grain size, increasing as the interlamellar spacing decreases. The cleavage fracture stress is independent of temperature for fine pearlite but increases as the temperature decreases for coarse pearlite. The associated fracture in blunt notch specimens initiates at inclusions beneath notch surface near the location of maximum tensile stress. From the size of such inclusions, the effective surface energy for cleavage fracture can be directly calculated and is found to be independent of temperature and prior austenite grain size but to increase as the interlamellar spacing decreases, from about 5 to 13 J/m² for the range of microstructures and temperatures used in this study. Additional measurements of the effective surface energy and further theoretical analyses of the cleavage process are needed. D.J. ALEXANDER, formerly of Carnegie Mellon University I. M. BERNSTEIN, formerly of Carnegie Mellon University     

奥氏体形变对50CrV4钢相变行为的影响

利用Thermecmastor-Z型热模拟试验机,结合金相显微镜(OM)、扫描电镜(SEM)、维氏硬度计等,系统研究了奥氏体区变形对50CrV4钢连续冷却相变和等温相变规律的影响。建立了试验钢动态CCT曲线。研究结果表明,奥氏体变形能促进连续冷却转变过程中铁素体-珠光体、贝氏体转变,但亦可提高奥氏体的机械稳定性,进而抑制马氏体转变,Ms点由331.6℃(奥氏体未变形)降低至291℃(950℃下变形50%+890℃下变形50%,变形速率均为5s-1,变形后冷速为20℃/s)。当轧后冷速小于0.5℃/s时,试验钢中可获得铁素体+珠光体组织。此外,在研究不同变形量对试验钢等温相变规律影响时发现,650℃等温时,试验钢中发生铁素体-珠光体相变。随着变形量的增加(由30%增加至50%),其等温相变动力学加快(相变完成时间由197.6s减小至136.5s),铁素体体晶粒尺寸、珠光体片层间距减小,硬度增加。     

Effect of Thermomechanical Controlled Processing on Mechanical Properties of 490 MPa Grade Low Carbon Cold Heading Steel

Thermomechanical controlled processing (TMCP) of low carbon cold heading steel in different austenite conditions were conducted by a laboratory hot rolling mill.Effect of various processing parameters on the mechanical properties of the steel was investigated.The results showed that the mechanical properties of the low carbon cold heading steel could be significantly improved by TMCP without heat treatment.The improvement of mechanical properties can be attributed mainly to the ferrite grain refinement due to low temperature rolling.In the experiments the better ultimate tensile strength and ductility are obtained by lowering finishing cooling temperature within the temperature range from 650 ℃ to 550 ℃ since the interlamellar space in pearlite colonies become smaller.Good mechanical properties can be obtained in a proper austenite condition and thermomechanical processing parameter.The ferrite morphology has a more pronounced effect on the mechanical behavior than refinement of the microstructure.It is possible to realize the replacement of medium-carbon by low-carbon for 490 Mpa grade cold heading steel with TMCP.     

Effect of hot strip processing during direct charging of thin slabs on the properties of cold strip of LC-steel

Direct charging of thin slabs of low carbon steel (0.05%C) was investigated by using laboratory tests on a thin-slab-casting Simulator linked with the hot deformation Simulator (Wumsi). Starting with a different initial thickness of simulated thin slabs (45 down to 25 mm) the total strain ?∑ was varied. Hot deformation schedules (with and without roughing) with different finishing temperatures T_F lead to some differences in the hot strip microstructure. Nevertheless, after cold rolling and batch annealing, a rather uniform pancake-structure and a pronounced {111}-texture were achieved in the cold strip without any significant relation to the processing routs. The measurement of final mechanical properties proved that a good deep drawability of cold strip can be achieved with direct charging of thin slabs, well comparable to that after a conventional cold charging of thick slabs.     

Influence of the microstructure of higher carbon steels on fracture mechanics properties

By varying the cooling rate in the region of the γ-α-transformation different parameters of pearlite microstructure, such as interlamellar spacing and pearlite colony size, were adjusted in a pearlitic steel with 0.79% C. Refinement of the microstructure improved the mechanical properties and the fracture mechanical properties, expressed by the J_R-curve. Partial spheroidization of pearlite was achieved by deformation just after the pearlite formation (at the deformation temperature of 600°C). Investigations on ferritic-pearlitic steels with 0.19, 0.35 and 0.45% C, thermomechanically treated in such a way, showed a significant influence of the change in pearlite morphology on the fracture properties, especially with a pearlite fraction larger than about 80%.     

Deformation induced pearlite transformation and dynamic spheroidization in a eutectoid steel

The microstructure evolution of a eutectoid steel during the deformation induced pearlite transformation of undercooled austenite was investigated by uniaxial hot compression simulation experiment. The effects of different deformation degree, deformation rates and deformation temperature on the deformation induced pearlite transformation were explored. The results indicate that the induced pearlite transformation can occur rapidly during the deformation, for the stress accelerates phase transition. With the increase of the deformation degree, the dislocation density and phase transition driving force in the microstructure are improved, accelerating the occurrence of phase transition and the process of cementite spheroidization. For the diffusion- controlled phase transition, the deformation rates decrease to prolong the deformation time, so the carbon atoms can diffuse sufficiently to obtain spheroidized cementite. At lower deformation temperature from A1 to Ar1, significant refinement of the fragmentation of cementite occurs due to the increase of supercooling and spheroidized time. The ultrafine microstructure of cementite particles can be obtained through the high deformation degree, low deformation rates and low deformation temperature. It is also observed that the pro- eutectoid ferrite nucleates along the austenite boundary in the process of deformation.     

Pearlite in ultrahigh carbon steels: Heat treatments and mechanical properties

Two ultrahigh carbon steel (UHCS) alloys containing 1.5 and 1.8 wt pct carbon, respectively, were studied. These materials were processed into fully spheroidized microstructures and were then given heat treatments to form pearlite. The mechanical properties of the heat-treated materials were evaluated by tension tests at room temperature. Use of the hypereutectoid austenite-cementite to pearlite transformation enabled achievement of pearlitic microstructures with various interlamellar spacings. The yield strengths of the pearlitic steels are found to correlate with a predictive relation based on interlamellar spacing and pearlite colony size. Decreasing the pearlite interlamellar spacing increases the yield strength and the ultimate strength and decreases the tensile ductility. It is shown that solid solution alloying strongly influences the strength of pearlitic steels.     

Effect of the Charging Temperature on the Hot Ductility of Nb‐Containing Steel in the Simulated Hot Charge Process

In order to develop a comprehensive understanding of the effect of hot charging temperature on the hot ductility of a Nb‐containing steel, direct hot charging process was simulated by using a Gleeble thermo stress/strain machine. Three kinds of thermal histories were introduced to assess the hot ductility of the steel during continuously cast, hot charging, and cold charging process by means of hot tensile test in relation to surface cracking of hot charging processed steel slabs. The ductility of the specimens charged at the temperature within the range of ferrite/austenite two‐phase region and charged at the temperature just below the A_r1 of the steel is largely reduced. These results can be ascribed to the retained ferrite films at the boundaries of austenite encouraging voiding at the boundaries and these voids gradually link up to give failure around 750°C, and the combination of inhogeneous austenite grain size and precipitations aggravating the ductility trough by encouraging grain boundary sliding at 950°C. The steel via the conventional cold charge process experienced a complete phase transformation from austenite to ferrite and pearlite structure during the cooling to the ambient temperature. This steel can be charged into a reheating furnace and rolled without experiencing hot embrittlement due to the recrystallization and the precipitates are trapped inside a newly formed grain of austenite. In comparison with the hot ductility results, the hot tensile strength is only slight influenced by the charging temperature.     

高强度冷镦钢热机轧制工艺模拟试验研究

通过对35CrMo钢热模拟试验，研究高强度冷镦钢线材热机轧制工艺。试验表明，高强度冷镦钢经过热机轧制，可以避免形成马氏体和粒状贝氏体，提高铁素体含量12％～16％，因而材料被显著地软化。热机轧制可以促使珠光体直接球化；随热机轧制变形量增大，得到的铁素体晶粒越细，粒状珠光体的数量越多。     

Improvement of mechanical properties of pearlitic and pearlitic-ferritic steels by deformation-induced changes of microstructure

By using laboratory simulation tests thermomechanical processing, based on a post-transformation hot deformation with accelerated cooling, was employed on two steels with 0.46 and 0.76% C. Finer pearlite interlamellar spacing, reduced proeutectoid ferrite, and partially spheroidized pearlite bring about a substantial increase of strength without loss of toughness and ductility.     

Nb元素添加对75Cr1钢热变形行为的影响

为了研究Nb元素对75Cr1钢热变形行为的影响,以75Cr1钢和Nb微合金化的75Cr1钢为研究材料,分析了Nb元素添加对75Cr1钢轧制过程中加热、热变形、卷取、冷却等工序热力学行为的影响。在轧制过程中,Nb合金化对75Cr1钢韧性提升的作用主要体现在Nb元素能够在加热过程中抑制奥氏体晶粒的长大;能够在不增加热轧变形抗力的前提下,使热轧产品表现出更大的加工硬化特征;在冷却过程中能够明显减小珠光体组织的层片间距。     

Improving properties of a low-carbon microalloyed steel by means of accelerated cooling of dynamically recrystallized austenite

Ferrite formation from the ultra-fine dynamically recrystallized austenite (d_γ < 5 μm) was investigated on a microalloyed steel with 0.11%C. Hot rolling conditions were simulated by the hot deformation simulator Wumsi. Due to accelerated cooling a corresponding fine homogeneous ferrite grain of d_α < 2 μm was achieved with a pearlite free acicular microstructure after a cooling rate of more than 20 K/s. Excellent mechanical properties (2.0% proof stress of over 700 MPa and impact transition temperature of -180°C) were obtained, superior to those after thermomechanical processing of the same steel without dynamic recrystallization of the low-temperature austenite.