Microstructures and Mechanical Properties of Si-AI-Mn TRIP Steel with Niobium

Microstructure consisting of ferrite, bainite and retained austenite can be obtained through intercritical annealing and isothermal treatment in bainite transformation region for low silicon TRIP （transformation induced plasticity） steel containing niobium. Effects of strain rate, Nb content and soaking temperature in bainite region on microstructure and mechanical properties of test steels were investigated. It is shown that as strain rate ranges from 10^-2 to 10^-4 s^-1, the volume fraction of transformed martensite from retained austenite, as well as tensile strength, elongation rate and strength-ductility product, increases. When Nb is added, the volume fraction of retained austenite decreases, but tensile strength and yield strength increase. While Nb content reaches 0.014%, the steel exhibits high elongation and combination of strength and ductility. Higher retained austenite volume fraction and good mechanical properties are obtained in the test steels when the soaking temperature in bainite region is 400℃. The maximum values of tensile strength, total elongation rate and strength-ductility product can reach 739 MPa, 38% and 28082 MPa%, respectively.     

Characterization of transformed and deformed microstructures in transformation induced plasticity steels using electron backscattering diffraction

The microstructure of transformation induced plasticity (TRIP) steels was characterized by means of electron backscattering diffraction (EBSD) technique to identify and quantify their different microstructures such as ferrite, bainite, and retained austenite. Further, the strain distribution in ferrite and retained austenite was analyzed during deformation. The TRIP steels were annealed by austempering for different durations to investigate the effect of the austempering time on the volume fraction change of the microstructural constituents. The quantitative analysis by EBSD coupled with an image contrast analysis revealed that the amount of retained austenite decreased and the amount of bainite increased with increasing austempering time. The mechanical properties of the TRIP steels were also affected by the austempering time. The maximum elongation was obtained in the sample austempered for 5 min, probably because of the good stability of retained austenite. The strain distribution in bcc and fcc phases during tensile deformation was characterized by evaluating the changes in the average local misorientation of the phases.     

高强贝氏体基体钒微合金化TRIP钢的性能

对一种钒微合金化TRIP钢进行冷轧连续退火,研究了钢的组织特征和力学性能。结果表明,贝氏体基TRIP钢的组织由贝氏体/马氏体和少量的残余奥氏体组成。随着贝氏体区等温时间的延长,钢的抗拉强度下降,屈服强度和延伸率提高。残余奥氏体由块状向薄膜状转变,体积分数增加,薄膜状残余奥氏体主要分布在贝氏体板条间,厚度为50-90 nm。在400℃等温180 s连续退火钢板呈现出相对低抗拉强度(960 MPa)、高屈服强度(765 MPa)和高延伸率(22.0%)的特性,而且加工硬化指数(0.20)、各向异性指数(0.94)和强塑积(21120 MPa.%)也较为优良。     

Effect of austenisation temperature on bainite transformation below martensite starting temperature

Effects of austenisation temperature on martensite and bainite transformation behaviour, microstructure, and mechanical properties of a bainitic steel austempered below martensite starting temperature were investigated in this study. Results show that the amount of athermal martensite gradually increased with the increase of austenisation temperature, whereas the amounts of bainite and retained austenite initially increased and then decreased, resulting in the trend of the first increase and then decrease in the product of tensile strength and elongation. In addition, the transformation rate of isothermal bainite after athermal martensite formation revealed a trend of deceleration and then acceleration with austenisation temperature at the beginning period. Moreover, the size of bainite plates decreased first and then increased with austenisation temperature.     

Microstructure and mechanical properties of C–Si–Mn(–Nb) TRIP steels after simulated thermomechanical processing

Abstract

Continuous and discontinuous cooling tests were performed using a quench deformation dilatometer to develop a comprehensive understanding of the structural and kinetic aspects of the bainite transformation in low carbon TRIP (transformation induced plasticity) steels as a function of thermomechanical processing and composition. Deformation in the unrecrystallised austenite region refined the ferrite grain size and increased the ferrite and bainite transformation temperatures for cooling rates from 10 to 90 K s^-1. The influence of niobium on the transformation kinetics was also investigated. Niobium increases the ferrite start transformation temperature, refines the ferrite microstructure, and stimulates the formation of acicular ferrite. The effect of the bainite isothermal transformation temperature on the final microstructure of steels with and without a small addition of niobium was studied. Niobium promotes the formation of stable retained austenite, which influences the mechanical properties of TRIP steels. The optimum mechanical properties were obtained after isothermal holding at 400°C in the niobium steel containing the maximum volume fraction of retained austenite with acicular ferrite as the predominant second phase.     

Effect of bainitic transformation on mechanical properties of 0.6C-Si-Mn steel

The mechanical properties of 0.6C-Si-Mn steel transformed isothermally in the bainitic temperature region (593 and 648 K) were investigated. The mechanical properties of the steels were improved with increasing bainite and retained austenite and the corresponding decrease in martensite. Marked benefits of the mechanical properties were obtained for the steels containing the maximum content of retained austenite in the bainite matrix, independent of transformation temperature. For isothermal transformation at 593 K, the 0.2% yield stress, _y, ultimate tensile stress, _u, and notch tensile stress (NTS) were improved significantly, while the advantage of the per cent elongation and Charpy 2 mm V-notch (CVN) impact energy was relatively small. As a result of isothermal transformation at 648 K, the per cent elongation and CVN impact energy were dramatically improved, while the superiority of _y, _u and NTS was not much greater than isothermal transformation at 593 K. Compared to 0.6C steels transformed isothermally at the same temperatures, in which little appreciable retained austenite was found, the isothermally transformed steels having a microstructure consisting of bainite and retained austenite improved the mechanical properties remarkably. These results are described and discussed.     

The effect of processing parameters on the microstructure and mechanical properties of low-Si transformation-induced plasticity steels

A base low Si, high-Al transformation-induced plasticity (TRIP) steel and one with 0.03Nb and 0.02Ti (wt%) additions were subjected to thermo-mechanical processing (TMP) and galvanising simulations. The microstructure and mechanical properties were analysed using a combination of optical and electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction and tensile testing and the results compared with those from intercritically annealed–galvanised steels. The addition of Nb and Ti results in microstructure refinement and an increase in the amount of the retained austenite after TMP which in turn, leads to increases in the tensile strength (~750 MPa) and the total elongation (TE) (~29 %). A deterioration in the volume fraction of retained austenite and the mechanical properties was noted in both steels after the additional galvanising simulation. For the base steel, all TMP and galvanised samples presented with continuous yielding during tensile testing. The Nb–Ti steel exhibited discontinuous yielding and extended Lüders banding when TMP was followed by a longer coiling time. Both steels returned discontinuous yielding after the intercritical annealing–galvanising treatment. The discontinuous yielding behaviour was associated with the much finer ferrite grain size in the intercritically annealed steels and the ageing processes that take place during galvanising.     

热轧C-Si-Mn系TRIP钢的组织与力学性能

为了探讨热轧TRIP钢的制备工艺与其组织及力学性能的关系,采用热轧控冷工艺在实验室制备了C-Si-Mn系TRIP钢,利用光学显微镜、扫描电镜及透射电镜对试验钢的组织进行了观察,利用能谱仪对试验钢中的夹杂进行了观察.研究得到试验钢的力学性能为:σb=605 Pa,σs=440 Pa,δ=28.4%,σs/σb=0.73.定量金相检测结果表明,试验钢中三相含量分别为:残余奥氏体5.6%,铁素体67.6%,贝氏体26.8%.     

贝氏体区等温时间对TRIP钢残奥及力学性能影响

为研究贝氏体区等温时间对热轧TRIP钢残余奥氏体和力学性能的影响,采用金相显微镜、X射线衍射、拉伸实验等方法对3种不同贝氏体区等温时间下制备的热轧TRIP钢进行分析.结果表明:随着贝氏体等温时间的延长,残余奥氏体量减少而残余奥氏体碳含量增加,残余奥氏体晶粒尺寸及残余奥氏体形貌变化不大;热轧TRIP钢的力学性能随着贝氏体...     

Si和Nb对高强热轧高扩孔钢组织和性能的影响

为了研究Si和Nb对高强热轧高扩孔钢板显微组织、力学性能和扩孔性能的影响,在CSP连轧线上进行了3种成分试验钢的热轧试制,并对试验钢在扩孔过程中裂纹的形成和扩展行为进行了分析.研究表明:3种成分热轧钢板的显微组织均由铁素体和贝氏体组成,钢板的抗拉强度均高于610 MPa,伸长率大于24.5%,扩孔率高于104%;Si含量的增加,提高了组织中铁素体的含量,钢板的强度、伸长率和扩孔率得到提高;Nb含量的增加,细化了钢板的组织,钢板的强度和扩孔率增加明显,伸长率变化不大;试验钢在扩孔过程中裂纹主要沿铁素体和贝氏体的晶界处扩展,部分裂纹穿过铁素体晶粒.     

回火温度对两相区退火海工钢组织和性能的影响

对690 MPa级海工钢进行“淬火+两相区退火+回火”三步热处理,研究了回火温度对其组织和性能的影响、分析了力学性能变化与组织演变和残余奥氏体体积分数之间的关系。结果表明：回火后实验钢的显微组织为回火贝氏体/马氏体、临界铁素体和残余奥氏体的混合组织。随着回火温度的提高贝氏体/马氏体和临界铁素体逐渐分解成小尺寸晶粒,而残余奥氏体的体积分数逐渐增加;屈服强度由787 MPa降低到716 MPa,塑性和低温韧性明显增强,断后伸长率由20.30%增至29.24%,-40℃下的冲击功由77 J提升至150 J。残余奥氏体体积分数的增加引起裂纹扩展功增大,是低温韧性提高的主要原因。贝氏体/马氏体的分解和残余奥氏体的生成,引起组织细化、晶粒内低KAM值位错的比例逐渐提高和小角度晶界峰值的频率增大,使材料的塑性和韧性显著提高。     

Effect of retained austenite characteristics on fatigue behavior and tensile properties of transformation induced plasticity steel

Transformation induced plasticity steels are commonly used for automotive industry due to their high strength and high ductility. These steels achieve good balance of strength and ductility due to transformation of retained austenite to martensite during deformation. In this study, effect of retained austenite characteristics on fatigue and tensile property of conventional CMnSi steel is evaluated. Tensile and fatigue test were carried out at room temperature. After mechanical tests, fractography observations were carried out by scanning electron microscopy. All samples show reasonably high values of tensile strength and fatigue limit. Results of fatigue test show that fatigue performance of this steel improved by increasing volume fracture of retained austenite.     

A novel ultra-strong hot stamping steel treated by quenching and partitioning process

In the present study, we design a novel hot stamping steel containing high amounts of C and Si and micro-alloying element (i.e. Nb). The steel was subjected to quenching and partitioning (Q&P) process. The new Q&P treated hot stamping steel exhibits a significantly improved mechanical property in terms of strength, ductility and impact toughness compared with the traditional 22MnB5 hot stamping steel. The influence of partitioning time on the microstructure and mechanical properties was investigated. The retained austenite (RA) fraction and the carbon content of RA significantly increased with higher partitioning times. With increasing partitioning time, the uniform elongation, total elongation, strength-ductility balance and impact energy was also remarkably enhanced. The maximum strength-ductility balance achieves around 23?GPa %.     

轧制工艺对低碳中锰钢微观组织和力学行为的影响

目的 研究热轧和温轧两种轧制工艺对低碳中锰钢的微观组织演变和力学性能的影响规律,阐明两种轧制工艺对马氏体转变和应变硬化行为的影响.方法 通过对热轧和温轧两种轧制工艺得到的实验钢进行拉伸性能测试,分析温轧后实验钢强塑性同步提升的现象,通过EBSD数据分析,测量热轧和温轧实验钢中马氏体的转变量,并对两种轧制工艺拉伸后实验钢...     

The effects of Nb and Mo addition on transformation and properties in low carbon bainitic steels

Four low carbon bainite steels were designed to investigate the effects of Mo and Nb addition on bainitic transformation, microstructures and properties by metallographic method and dilatometry. The results show that single Nb addition retards bainitic transformation in low carbon bainite steels, although it can improve strength by refining microstructures. Moreover, Mo addition is effective to improve the strength of low carbon bainite steel by promoting bainitic transformation and single Mo addition has a better strengthening effect than single Nb addition. Further, in Mo bearing steel, Nb addition refines bainite sheaves, but meanwhile hinders bainitic transformation because of smaller austenite grains. Consequently, the composite strengthening effect of Mo and Nb addition has little improvement compared with individual addition of Mo in low carbon bainite steels.     

Mechanical and Transformation Behaviors of a C-Mn-Si-Al-Cr TRIP Steel under Stress

Transformation induced plasticity （TRIP） steels combine high strength and excellent ductility, making them suited for application in crash-relevant parts in the automotive industry. However, the high Si contents in the conventional TRIP steel will generate surface defects on the hot rolled strip, which is difficult to process in continuous galvanizing lines. In order to solve the above problem the TRIP steel with the addition of Al replacing majority of Si was designed. In the present paper, the volume fraction of various phases in a C-Mn-Si-Al-Cr TRIP steel was determined by metallographic examination and X-ray diffraction analysis, and the multi-phase microstructures were characterized using an atomic force microscope based on their height difference. Tensile tests were performed at different temperatures ranging from -40℃ to 90℃. The results show that transition temperature Ms^σ in the present TRIP steel cannot be determined due to its lower volume fraction of retained austenite, different from the conventional TRIP steel. While the yield stress and tensile strength at different temperatures are higher than those of the conventional TRIP steel, which is attributed to the addition of Cr. In order to evaluate the effect of martensitic transformation on the total elongation, the sample without retained austenite obtained by quenching in liquid nitrogen was carried out under tensile test. The results indicate that the elongation of the original sample containing 9% retained austenite is about 20% higher than that of the sample quenched in liquid nitrogen, which demonstrates that the retained austenite plays an important role in improving the elongation of the TRIP steel.     

Microstructure Features with Ultrafined and Purified Grains for Si-Mn Hot-rolling TRIP Steel

1. IntroductionThe material with ultra fine grain size less than5 μm has comprehensive mechanical properties of highstrength, high toughness and high ductility, while con-ventional common steel usually has grain size around10 μm[1~8]. Besides, the transformation induced plas-ticity (TRIP) steels with appropriate retained austen-ite have been well known for the high plasticity but lessstrength loss and considered as one of prospective highstrength low alloy steels in decades[9~16]. However,…     

High temperature mechanical properties of triple phase steels

A 0.15% C–1.2% Si–1.7% Mn steel was intercritically annealed at 780 °C for 5 min and then isothermally held at 400 °C for 4 min followed by oil quenching to room temperature and the annealed microstructure consist of 75% ferrite , 15% bainite and 10% retained austenite was produced. Samples of this steel with triple phase structure were tensile tested at temperature range of 25–450 °C. Stress–strain curves showed serration flow at temperature range of 120–400 °C and smooth flow at the other temperatures. All of the stress–strain curves showed discontinuous yielding at all testing temperatures. Both yield and ultimate tensile strength decreased with increasing temperature, but there exists a temperature region (120–400 °C) where a reduction of strength with increasing temperature is retarded or even slightly increased. The variation in the mechanical properties with temperature was related to the effects of dynamic strain aging, high temperature softening, bainite tempering and austenite to martensite transformation during deformation.     

Intercritical annealing pre-treatment used in a hot-dip galvanised TRIP steel

An intercritical annealing pre-treatment was added before the conventional two-step heat treatment process, and the effect of the isothermal bainitic transformation (IBT) time on the steel's microstructure and mechanical properties were investigated. The microstructure was investigated using scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and X-ray diffraction, while the mechanical properties were evaluated using tensile testing. The microstructure of the three-step hot-dip galvanised transformation induced plasticity (TRIP) steel consists of ferrite, bainite, retained austenite, and martensite. The mechanical properties of the steel after the three-step heat treatment process are excellent, with a tensile strength above 770?MPa and elongation above 29%. The effect of IBT time on the mechanical properties was insignificant because the intercritical annealing pre-treatment increases the bainitic transformation rate.     

Hot-rolled and continuously cooled bainitic steel with good strength–elongation combination

The current work demonstrates the microstructural evolution and mechanical property evaluation of a newly designed steel composition after hot rolling in laboratory-scale rolling mill, followed by continuous cooling. The steel thus developed has typically about 80% carbide-free bainite; about 20% retained austenite and can deliver ～1400?MPa ultimate tensile strength along with more than 20% total elongation. The presence of ultra-fine bainite plates (～100–130?nm thick) with high dislocation density was thought to be responsible for ultra-high strength. Excellent ductility at such strength level could be due to the presence of sufficient amount of retained austenite (～20%) thermally stable at room temperature but starts transforming to martensite during deformation exhibiting transformation-induced plasticity effect.