Effect of hot‐rolling conditions on the tensile properties of multiphase steels exhibiting a TRIP effect

TRIP‐assisted multiphase steels have been thoroughly studied in the cold‐rolled and annealed state. The effects of hot‐rolling conditions on these steels are much less studied even though these are of major importance for industrial practice. This study was carried out in order to understand the effect of the hot deformation of austenite on the tensile properties of TRIP‐assisted multiphase steels. Two different compositions and microstructures are investigated. The first one is a low‐carbon steel (mass content of 0.15 %) with a microstructure consisting of an intercritical ferritic matrix, bainite and retained austenite. The second one is a medium‐carbon steel (mass content of 0.4 %) that consists of bainite and retained austenite. Both steels were deformed to various strain levels below the non‐recrystallisation temperature of austenite. The medium carbon steel was deformed in the fully austenitic temperature range whereas the low‐carbon steel was deformed in the intercritical temperature range. In both cases, the prior hot deformation of austenite brings about a large enhancement of the work‐hardening capabilities. In the case of the medium‐carbon steel, this effect can be attributed to a much larger TRIP effect taking place during straining. In the case of the low‐carbon steel, the improvement of the work‐hardening behaviour was attributed to an Interaction between the martensitic transformation and the dislocations already present within the surrounding ferrite matrix.     

Analysis of the Strain‐Induced Martensitic Transformation of Retained Austenite in Cold Rolled Micro‐Alloyed TRIP Steel

The stability of retained austenite and the kinetics of the strain‐induced martensitic transformation in micro‐alloyed TRIP‐aided steel were obtained from interrupted tensile tests and saturation magnetization measurements. Tensile tests with single specimens and at variable temperature were carried out to determine the influence of the micro‐alloying on the M_s^σ temperature of the retained austenite. Although model calculations show that the addition of the micro‐alloying elements influences a number of stabilizing factors, the results indicate that the stability of retained austenite in the micro‐alloyed TRIP‐aided steels is not significantly influenced by the micro‐alloying. The kinetics of the strain‐induced martensitic transformation was also not significantly influenced by addition of the micro‐alloying elements. The addition of micro‐alloying elements slows down the autocatalytic propagation of the strain‐induced martensite due to the increase of the yield strength of retained austenite. The lower uniform elongation of micro‐alloyed TRIP‐aided steel is very likely due to the presence of numerous precipitates in the microstructure and the pronounced ferrite grain size refinement.     

Stability and Constitutive Modelling in Multiphase TRIP Steels

Multiphase TRIP steels are a relatively new class of steels exhibiting excellent combinations of strength and cold formability, a fact that renders them particularly attractive for automotive applications. The present work reports models regarding the prediction of the stability of retained austenite, the optimisation of the heat‐treatment stages necessary for austenite stabilization in the microstructure, as well as the mechanical behaviour of these steels under deformation. Austenite stability against mechanically‐induced transformation to martensite depends on chemical composition, austenite particle size, strength of the matrix and stress state. The stability of retained austenite is characterized by the M^σ_S temperature, which can be expressed as a function of the aforementioned parameters by an appropriate model presented in this work. Besides stability, the mechanical behaviour of TRIP steels also depends on the amount of retained austenite present in the microstructure. This amount is determined by the combinations of temperature and temporal duration of the heat‐treatment stages undergone by the steel. Maximum amounts of retained austenite require optimisation of the heat‐treatment conditions. A physical model is presented in this work, which is based on the interactions between bainite and austenite during the heat‐treatment of multiphase TRIP steels, and which allows for the selection of treatment conditions leading to the maximization of retained austenite in the final microstructure. Finally, a constitutive micromechanical model is presented, which describes the mechanical behaviour of multiphase TRIP steels under deformation, taking into account the different plastic behaviour of the individual phases, as well as the evolution of the microstructure itself during plastic deformation. This constitutive micromechanical model is subsequently used for the calculation of forming limit diagrams (FLD) for these complex steels, an issue of great practical importance for the optimisation of stretch‐forming and deep‐drawing operations.     

Advanced Cold Rolled Steels for Automotive Applications

Advanced high‐strength steels offer a great potential for the further development of automobile bodies‐in‐white due to their combined mechanical properties of high formability and strength. They represent the first choice in material selection for strength and crash‐relevant parts with challenging geometries. The intensive development of multiphase steels by ThyssenKrupp Steel has led to hot dip galvanizing concepts with an outstanding forming potential. Hot rolled, hot dip galvanized complex‐phase steels are currently produced in addition to cold rolled dual phase (DP) and retained austenite (RA) or transformation induced plasticity (TRIP) steels. New continuously annealed grades of steel are being developed with tensile strength levels of up to 1000 MPa in combination with sufficient ductility for the high demands of structural automobile components. These steels make use of the classic advantages of microalloying as well as the principles of DP steels and RA / TRIP steels. Further improvement of properties will be reached by the new class of high manganese alloyed steels.     

Anisotropy of Retained Austenite Stability during Transformation to Martensite in a TRIP‐Assisted Steel

Retained austenite as a key constituent in final microstructure plays an important role in TRansformation Induced Plasticity (TRIP) steels. The volume fraction, carbon concentration, size, and morphology of this phase are the well‐known parameters which effects on the rate of transformation of retained austenite to martensite and the properties of steel, are studied by many researchers. Of the transformation of retained austenite to martensite under strain in a TRIP steel is studied in this paper. The experimental results show that the transformation rate of retained, austenite with similar characteristics, to martensite in differently processed TRIP steel samples, exhibits an anisotropic behavior. This phenomenon implies a kind of variant selection of martensitic reaction of retained austenite under strain and is explained by ferrite texture developed in steel.     

Development of high strength low alloy TRIP‐aided steels with annealed martensite matrix

Formable high‐strength low‐alloy TRIP‐aided sheet steels with annealed martensite matrix or TRIP‐aided annealed martensitic steel were developed for automotive applications. The steels possessed a large amount of plate‐like retained austenite along annealed martensite lath boundary, the stability of which against the strain‐induced transformation was higher than that of the conventional TRIP‐aided dual‐phase steel with polygonal ferrite matrix. In a tensile strength range between 600 and 1000 MPa, the TRIP‐aided annealed martensitic steels exhibited superior large elongation and reduction of area. In addition, the steels possessed the same excellent stretch‐flangeability and bendability as TRIP‐aided bainitic steel with bainitic ferrite matrix. These properties were discussed by matrix structure, a strength ratio of second phase to matrix, retained austenite stability, internal stress in matrix and so on.     

Response Characteristics and Adiabatic Heating during High Strain Rate for TRIP Steel and DP Steel

By using a static and high-speed material testing machine,tensile deformation behaviors of two kinds of SiMn TRIP(transformation induced plasticity)steels and DP(dual phase)steel were studied in a large range of strain rates(0.001-2 000s-1).Temperature variation during adiabatic heating and the amount of retained austenite at fracture were measured by an infrared thermometer and an X-ray stress analyser,respectively.The microstructure of steels was observed by optical microscopy(OM)and scanning electron microscopy(SEM)before and after tensile test.It was found from the experimental results that the tensile strength of these steels increased,and the fracture elongation firstly decreased and subsequently increased,as the strain rate increased in the range of 0.1-2 000s-1.The temperature raised during adiabatic heating of TRIP steel was in the range of 100-300℃,while that of the DP steel was in the range of 100-220 ℃.The temperature rise of these steels increased with increasing the strain rate,as well as the amount of the transformed retained austenite in TRIP steels.It was confirmed that austenite to martensite transformation is not suppressed by adiabatic heating.     

Forming response of retained austenite in a C‐Si‐Mn high strength TRIP sheet steel

TRIP sheet steels typically consist of ferrite, bainite, retained austenite, and martensite. The retained austenite is of particular importance because its deformation‐induced transformation to martensite contributes to excellent combinations of strength and ductility. While information is available regarding austenite response in uniaxial tension, less information is available for TRIP steels with respect to the forming response of retained austenite in complex strain states. Therefore, the purpose of this work was to study the austenite transformation behaviour in different strain paths by determining the amount of retained austenite before and after forming. Forming experiments were performed on a high strength 0.19C‐1.63Si‐1.59Mn TRIP sheet steel 1.2 mm in thickness in two different strain conditions, uniaxial tension (ε₁ = ‐2ε₂) and balanced biaxial stretching (ε₁ = ε₂). Specimens were formed to strains ranging from zero to approximately 0.2 effective (von Mises) strain. Specimens were tested both longitudinally and transverse to the rolling direction in uniaxial tension, and subtle mechanical property differences were found. The volume fraction of austenite, determined with X‐ray diffraction subsequent to forming, was found to decrease with increasing strain for both forming modes. Some modification in the crystallographic texture of the ferrite was observed with increasing strain, in specimens tested in the balanced biaxial stretch condition. This trend was not evident in the uniaxial tensile test results. Slight differences were found in the transformation behaviour of the austenite when formed in different strain conditions. More austenite transformed in specimens tested parallel to the rolling direction than transverse to the rolling direction in uniaxial tension. The amount of austenite transformed during biaxial stretching was determined to be greater than the amount transformed in uniaxial tension for specimens tested transverse to the rolling direction at an equivalent von Mises strain. The amount of austenite that transformed in biaxial tension, however, was comparable to the amount of austenite that transformed in specimens tested longitudinal to the rolling direction in uniaxial tension.     

Experimental determination of the stability of retained austenite in low alloy TRIP steels

The stability of retained austenite is the most important parameter controlling the transformation plasticity effects in multiphase low alloy TRIP steels. In this work the thermodynamic stability of the retained austenite has been determined experimentally by measuring the M^σ_s temperature as a function of bainite isothermal transformation (BIT) temperature and time in two low alloy TRIP steels. A single-specimen temperature-variable tension test technique (SS-TV-TT) has been employed, which allowed to link the appearance of yield points in the stress-strain curve with the mechanically-induced martensitic transformation of the retained austenite. The results indicated that the M^σ_S temperature varies with BIT temperature and time. Higher austenite stability is associated with a BIT temperature of 400°C rather than 375°C. In addition, the chemical stabilization of the retained austenite associated with carbon enrichment from the growing bainite is lowered at short BIT times. This stability drop is due to carbide precipitation and comes earlier in the Nb-containing steel. At longer BIT times the retained austenite dispersion becomes finer and its stability rises due to size stabilization. The experimental results are in good agreement with model predictions within the range of anticipated carbon enrichment of the retained austenite and measured austenite particle size.     

Dynamic Tensile Behaviour of TRIP and DP Steels at Different Temperatures

The stress‐strain response of TRIP 700 and DP 600 steels was studied at a wide range of strain rates and temperatures using a special high/low temperature tensile Hopkinson Split Bar (THSB) device. The mechanical properties of the studied steels, especially of the TRIP steel, were found to be strongly affected by both temperature and strain rate. The beneficial TRIP effect in the studied steel reached its maximum at temperatures between 75‐150 °C. The transformation behaviour of the retained austenite in the TRIP steel was studied by XRD, revealing that the phase transformation rate increases with decreasing temperature and decreases with increasing strain rate. A phenomenological numerical model was also presented to describe the behaviour of the TRIP and DP steels at different temperatures and strain rates.     

Constitutive Modeling of the Mechanical Properties of V-added Medium Manganese TRIP Steel

In this study, medium Mn transformation-induced plasticity steel with the composition Fe-0.08 pct C-6.15 pct Mn-1.5 pct Si-2.0 pct Al-0.08 pct V was investigated. After intercritical annealing at 1013 K (740 °C), the steel contained coarse-grained ferrite and two ultrafine-grained (UFG) phases: ferrite and retained austenite. The material did not deform by localized Lüders band propagation: it did not suffer from this major problem as most UFG steels do. Localization of plastic flow was shown to be suppressed because of a combination of factors, including a bimodal grain size distribution, a multiphase microstructure, the presence of nanosized vanadium carbide precipitates, and the occurrence of the deformation-induced martensitic transformation of retained austenite. A constitutive model incorporating these effects was developed. The model was used to identify the factors which can lead to a further improvement of the mechanical properties of the UFG medium Mn TRIP steels.     

Strain Rate Dependent Flow Stress and Energy Absorption Behaviour of Cast CrMnNi TRIP/TWIP Steels

Modern steel developments often use additional deformation mechanisms like the deformation induced martensitic transformation (TRIP‐effect) and mechanical twinning (TWIP‐effect) to enhance elongation and strength. Three high‐alloyed cast CrMnNi‐steels with different austenite stabilities were examined. Dependent on the austenite stability, TRIP‐effect and TWIP‐effect were found. A low austenite stability causes a distinctive formation of deformation induced α'‐martensite and therefore a strong strain hardening. The increase of strain rate leads to an increase in yield strength and flow stress, but also to a counteractive adiabatic heating of the specimen. Dependent on the degree of deformation, low austenite stabilities and high strain rates lead to excellent values in specific energy absorption.     

Three-dimensional computational-cell modeling of the micromechanics of the martensitic transformation in transformation-induced-plasticity-assisted multiphase steels

A three-dimensional finite-element microstructural cell model involving an inclusion of retained austenite embedded within a ferrite grain, which is surrounded by a homogeneous matrix representing the behavior of a transformation-induced-plasticity (TRIP)-assisted multiphase steel, was developed in order to address the micromechanics of the martensitic transformation in small isolated austenite grains. The transformation of a single martensite plate is simulated after various amounts of prior plastic deformation under different in-plane loading conditions. The values of the mechanical driving force and of the elastic and plastic accommodation energies associated with the transformation are calculated as a function of the externally applied loading conditions. The mechanical driving force and the total accommodation energy are of the same order of magnitude. The mechanical driving force depends upon the stress state and is the highest for plane-strain conditions. The total accommodation energy is almost independent of the stress state. It is affected by the amount of plastic straining prior to transformation and is very much dependent on the level of the shear component of the transformation strain. The results of this study provide guidelines for the development of realistic stress-state-dependent transformation evolution laws for TRIP-assisted multiphase steels.     

Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of a Low-Carbon Mn-Si Multiphase Steel Based on Dynamic Transformation of Undercooled Austenite

The microstructure evolution of 0.20C-2.00Mn-2.00Si steel treated by the thermomechanical process to manufacture hot-rolled, transformation-induced plasticity (TRIP) steel based on dynamic transformation of undercooled austenite was investigated using a Gleeble 1500 (Dynamic Systems, Inc., Poestenkill, NY) hot simulation test machine in combination with light microscope (LM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The mechanical properties of this steel with different multiphase microstructures were also analyzed using room-temperature tensile tests. The results indicated that the multi-phase microstructures consisting of fine-grained ferrite with a size of 1–3 μm, bainite packets, and retained austenite and martensite were formed for the used steel by a thermo-mechanical process involving dynamic transformation of undercooled austenite, controlled cooling, isothermal bainite treatment and water-quenching. With the increase in the strain of hot deformation of undercooled austenite, the fraction of ferrite increased, that of bainite decreased, and that of martensite increased. At the same time, the fraction of retained austenite (RA), as well as the carbon content of RA, first increased and then decreased. For the used steel treated by such process, the tensile strength is about 1200 MPa with a total elongation of about 20 pct, and the product of tensile strength and total elongation can be up to 25,000 MPa × pct.     

Enhancement of the mechanical properties of a low-carbon, low-silicon steel by formation of a multiphased microstructure containing retained Austenite

Dual-phase and transformation-induced plasticity (TRIP)-assisted multiphase steels are related families of high-strength formable steels exhibiting excellent mechanical characteristics. This study shows how a ferrite-bainite-martensite microstructure containing retained austenite can improve the mechanical properties of a cold-rolled low-carbon, low-silicon steel. Such a multiphased microstructure is obtained by a heat treatment involving intercritical annealing followed by a bainite transformation tempering. Depending on the heat-treatment parameters, the samples present a variety of microstructures. Due to the presence of retained austenite, some samples exhibit a TRIP effect not anticipated with such a low silicon content. A composite strengthening effect also results from the simultaneous presence of a ductile ferrite matrix with bainite and martensite as hard second phases. A true stress at maximum load of 800 MPa and a true uniform strain of 0.18 can be obtained by forming a ferrite-bainite-martensite microstructure containing up to 10 pct of retained austenite. These properties correspond to a favorable evolution of work hardening during plastic deformation.     

Elastic limit and microplastic response of hardened steels

Tempered martensite-retained austenite microstructures were produced by direct quenching a series of 41XX medium carbon steels, direct quenching and reheating a series of five 0.8C-Cr- Ni-Mo steels and intercritically austenitizing at various temperatures, and quenching a SAE 52100 steel. All specimens were tempered either at 150 °C or at 200 °C. Specimens were subjected to compression and tension testing in the microstrain regime to determine the elastic limits and microplastic response of the microstructures. The retained austenite and matrix carbon content of the intercritically austenized specimens were measured by X-ray diffraction and Mossbauer spectroscopy. The elastic limit of the microstructures decreases with increasing amounts of retained austenite. Refining of the austenite distribution increases the elastic limit. Low elastic limits are mainly due to low flow stresses in the austenite and not internal stresses. The elastic limit correlates with the largest austenite free-mean path by a Hall-Petch type equation. The elastic limit increases with decreasing intercritical austenitizing temperature in the SAE 52100 due to (1) a lower carbon content in the matrix reducing the retained austenite levels and (2) retained carbides that refine grain size and, therefore, the austenite distribution in quenched specimens. The microplastic response of stable austenite-martensite composites may be modeled by a rule of mixtures. In the microplastic region, the strain is accommodated by successively smaller austenite regions until the flow strength matches that of the martensite. Reheating and quenching refines the microstructure and renders the austenite unstable in the microplastic regime, causing transformation of the austenite to martensite by a strain-induced mechanism. The transformation of austenite to martensite occurs by a stress-assisted mechanism in medium carbon steels. The low elastic limits in medium carbon steels were due to the inability of the strain from the stress-assisted transformation of austenite to martensite to balance the plastic strain accumulated in the austenite.     

Modelling of Transformations in TRIP Steels

Industrial processing of low‐alloy Transformation Induced Plasticity (TRIP) steels involves various stages of heat‐treating, such as Intercritical Annealing (IA) and Bainitic Isothermal Treatment (BIT), in order to produce a dispersion of retained austenite (γ_R) particles and bainite (α_B) in a ferritic matrix (α). Retained austenite then transforms to martensite (α′) during forming processes undergone by the steel. In the present work an effort was made to model these stages of processing, i.e. IA, BIT and the γ_R→α′ strain‐induced transformation. Simulation of heat‐treatment stages was implemented using computational kinetics methods. Investigation of the strain‐induced gM_R→α′ transformation kinetics was performed by means of a simple analytical model. Simulation of IA and comparison with available experimental data showed that the amount of austenite (γ) forming during IA reaches the values predicted by thermodynamic equilibrium only at high annealing temperatures (>825°C). It was also observed that kinetic and thermodynamic predictions set a lower and an upper limit, respectively, within which the actual amount of austenite experimentally observed is contained. Results from the simulation of the BIT indicated considerable carbon enrichment, and thus stabilization of γ_R, in agreement with recent experimental observations. As regards the strain‐induced gM_R→α′ transformation, the analytical model employed in the present work was fitted to available experimental results, showing reasonably good adaptation to the kinetic behaviour of the microstructure during plastic deformation.     

A Semi‐Empirical Model for the evolution of Retained Austenite via Bainitic Transformation in Multiphase TRIP Steels

Multiphase TRIP steels exhibit unique combinations of strength and cold formability, characteristics especially desirable in automotive applications. This behaviour is largely determined by the amount and stability of the retained austenite dispersion in the microstructure, produced by a two‐stage heat‐treatment, consisting of intercritical annealing followed by an isothermal bainitic treatment. The amount and stability of retained austenite is mainly determined by the proper selection of the temperature and temporal duration of the bainitic treatment. In the present work an approach is presented which allows for the calculation of the amount of retained austenite in the microstructure, as a function of bainitic treatment conditions. The approach is based on the physical characteristics of the bainitic transformation and on the stabilizing effects of the formation of bainitic ferrite in austenite. Each bainitic ferrite platelet is considered to chemically stabilize a part of the surrounding austenite due to carbon rejection. The spatial and temporal extent of this stabilization is determined by solving the corresponding carbon‐diffusion problem, and thus the amount of retained austenite contributed by any individual platelet is determined. Subsequently, the evolution of the population of the platelets in the entire microstructure is determined and, thus, the volume fraction of retained austenite as a function of transformation time is calculated. Application and comparison of calculations with experimental results, obtained from four different multiphase TRIP steel compositions, exhibited very good qualitative and quantitative agreement.     

Physical Metallurgy of Multi‐Phase Steel for Improved Passenger Car Crash‐Worthiness

The dynamic testing of high strength automotive steel grades is of great practical importance if their crash‐worthiness is to be evaluated. During forming operations, steels are processed in a controlled dynamic manner. In collisions, the deformation is different in the sense that the deformation is not controlled, i.e. both strain and strain rate are not pre‐determined. No clear standard testing procedures are currently available to test high strength steels dynamically, in order to evaluate their performance during car crashes. High tensile strength TRIP‐aided steels have been developed by the steel industry because of their promising high strain rate performance. The present contribution focuses on the effect of the strain rate and temperature on the mechanical behaviour of the low alloy high strength TRIP steel. The tests were carried out on the separated phases in order to determine their specific high strain rate deformation response. The temperature‐dependence of the transformation rate of the retained austenite is presented. It is argued that the adiabatic conditions present during high strain rate deformations have a beneficial effect on the behaviour of TRIP steel.     

Prediction and Experimental Validation of Forming Limit Curve of a Quenched and Partitioned Steel

Forming limit curve(FLC)is an effective tool to evaluate the formability of sheet metals.An accurate FLC prediction for a sheet metal is beneficial to its engineering application.A quenched and partitioned steel,known as QP980,is one of the 3rd generation advanced high strength steels and is composed of martensite,ferrite and a considerable amount of retained austenite(RA).Martensite transformation from RA induced by deformation,namely,transformation induced plasticity(TRIP),promotes the capability of work hardening and consequently formability.Nakazima tests were carried out to obtain the experimental forming limit strains with the aid of digital image correlation techniques.Scanning electron microscopy(SEM)was employed to examine the fracture morphologies of Nakazima specimens of the QP980 steel.The observed dimple pattern indicated that tensile stress was the predominant factor which led to failure of QP980 specimens.Therefore,maximum tensile stress criterion(MTSC)was adopted as the forming limit criterion.To predict the FLC of QP980 steel,Von-Mises yield criterion and power hardening law were adopted according to the tested mechanical properties of QP980 steel.Results were compared with those derived from other three representative instability theories,e.g.Hill criterion,Storen-Rice vertex theory and Bressan-Williams model,which shows that the MTSC based FLC is in better agreement with the experimental results.