Quantitative analysis on strengthening mechanism of ultra-thin hot strip of low carbon steel produced by CSP technique

Based on experimental data of positron annihilation technology, electrolytic dissolution technique, electron back-scattered pattern, etc. and by analysis the strengthening factors, the strengthening mechanism of ultra-thin hot strip of low carbon steel produced by CSP (Compact Strip Production) technique was investigated. The value of each strengthening mechanism and its contribution percentage to yield strength were achieved. The results show that refinement strengthening is the predominant strengthening mode; precipitation strengthening and dislocation strengthening are second to it, their contributions to yield strength are almost equal.     

薄板坯连铸连轧工艺生产的低碳钢冷轧基板力学特性

以采用薄板坯连铸连轧工艺生产的低碳钢作为冷轧基板,在实验室二辊可逆轧机上进行不同程度的冷变形,对不同变形后的冷轧板进行室温拉伸试验和显微硬度值测定,分析了其加工硬化情况,并对不同冷变形后试验钢的显微组织进行分析。结果表明:低碳钢经冷变形后,屈服强度和抗拉强度增大,加工硬化显著;试验钢的显微组织为铁素体和少量的珠光体,晶粒随着变形量的增大而拉长细化。     

Effects of Ti addition on low carbon hot strips produced by CSP process

Large quantity of fine Ti（C,N） particles, 15-30 nm in size, were observed in low carbon hot strips added to a small amount of Ti and produced by CSP process. The results showed that the precipitation of Ti（C,N） mostly took place during soaking and hot rolling, which is significantly different from that in the conventional production. These fine Ti carbonitride particles could be very effective on the austenite grain refinement by hindering grain growth of recrystallized austenite. Their precipitation behavior was discussed and compared with that of the steels produced in the conventional production.     

Precipitation characteristic of high strength steels microalloyed with titanium produced by compact strip production

Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and physics-chemical phase analysis were employed to investigate the precipitates in high strength steels microalloyed with Ti produced by compact strip production (CSP). It was seen that precipitates in Ti microalloyed steels mainly included TiN, Ti4C2S2, and TiC. The size of TiN particles varied from 50 to 500 nm, and they could precipitate during or before soaking. The Ti4C2S2 with the size of 40-100 nm might precipitate before rolling, and the TiC particles with the size of 5-50 nm precipitated heterogeneously. High Ti content would lead to the presence of bigger TiC particles that precipitated in austenite, and by contrast, TiC particles that precipitated in ferrite and the transformation of austenite to ferrite was smaller. They were less than 30 nm and mainly responsible for precipitate strengthening. It should be noted that the TiC particles in higher Ti content were generally smaller than those in the steel with a lower Ti content.     

CSP工艺条件下低碳钢板带材力学性能研究

热轧板带材成品因其内在组织形态及成分不同而呈现较明显的力学性能差异.就包钢薄板坯连续连轧CSP工艺条件下,低碳典型钢种Q235B和SS400显微组织及轧制工艺对材料力学性能的影响进行了实验研究.用数理统计方法建立了工艺参数与产品性能回归数值模型,模型拟合效果较好.     

Microstructure evolution and precipitation behavior of low carbon steel hot strips produced by CSP

The microstructures of low carbon steel before, during and after rolling deformation of each stand were observed using optical microscope. The result showed that the microstructures were very fine after six passes rolling deformation. The effect of the first stand reduction on microstructure refinement was very distinct. During the rolling process, with the increase of the accumulated strain, the microstructures would further refine, and the density of dislocation would increase at the same time. In continuous casting thin slabs and each finishing stand, lots of observed precipitates were mainly A12O3 and MnS along the grain boundaries or in grains,which played an important role in the mechanical properties of the hot strips of low carbon steel produced by CSP (compact strip production) technology.     

Effect of phosphorus on the microstructure and mechanical properties of strip cast carbon steel

Carbon steel strips with different phosphorus and carbon contents were produced by using the twin roll strip casting process.Fine grains and dendrite structure were observed in high-P steels.Negative phosphorus segregation was found in strip cast high-P and high-C steels.For the steels with different carbon contents,phosphorus distribution in the thickness direction of the strip is obviously different.This is because solutes are redistributed in the melting pool and the phosphorus segregation rate is ass...     

Subgrains and boron distribution of low carbon bainitic steels

The structure variation of deformed austenite during the relaxation stage after deformation at various temperatures in an Nb-B ultra low carbon bainitic steel and Fe-Ni alloy was studied by the thermo-simulation. Optical microscope and TEM were applied to analyze the microstructure after RPC （Relaxation-precipitation-controlling phase transformation technique） and the evolution of dislocation configuration. The particle tracking autoradiography （PTA） technique, revealing the distribution of boron, was employed to show the change of boron segregation after different relaxation times. The results indicate that during the relaxation stage the recovery occurs in the deformed austenite, the dislocations rearrange and subgrains form. During the subsequent cooling the boron will segregate at the boundaries of subgrains.     

Comparison and analysis of dislocation density, morphology and evolution in microstructure of low-carbon steel produced using different technologies

Three kinds of specimens were produced from hot strips of similar composition and same thickness （nominal gauge 4.0 mm） but produced using different technologies, and the dislocation density of these strips was quantitatively measured by positron annihilation technique test. The dislocation morphology and evolution in microstructure of each pass for producing the 1.9 mm hot strip using CSP （compact strip production） technology were observed under an H-800 transmission electron microscope; its density was also quantitatively measured using the positron annihilation technique test, and the factors influencing the dislocation density during the production process were analyzed. The experimental results show that the dislocation density in the microstructure produced using CSP technology is higher than that in the microstructure produced using conventional technology. This result was discussed and confirmed on the basis of the finite element simulation and the theory relevant to dislocations.     

Effect of dislocation configuration on non—equilibrium boron segregation during cooling

Different densities and configurations of crystal defects were obtained in an austenitic Fe-30% Ni alloy and an ultra low carbon bainitic(ULCB) alloy by undergoing different deformations and annealing treatments at high temperatures.Boron segregation on grain boundaries and subgrain boundaries during air-cooling were revealed by means of the particle tracking autoradiography technique.It is found that non-equilibrium segregation is resisted in deformed grains after recovery and polygonization,borondepleted zones seem to be quite clear in recrystallized grains than those in deformed original grains during cooling.Subgrain boundaries and polygonized dislocation cells have a significant effect on non-equilibrium boron segregation during the air-cooling.The results implicates that dislocation configuration is a more important factor affecting boron segregation at grain boundaries rather than the density of defects itself in the grain.     

Microstructure and strengthening parameters of ultra—thin hot strip of low carbon steel

The microstructure and precipitation mechanism of ultra-thin hot strip produced by CSP technology were analyzed by electron back scattered diffraction(EBSD),H-800 transmission electron microscope(TEM) and thermodynamics theory.The EBSD results show that the finishing hot rolling microstructures are mixture of recrystallized and deformed austenite.After phase transformation,ferrite grains embody subastructures and dislocations that led ultra-thin hot strip high strength and relatively low elongation rate.TEM observations show that there are a lot of fine and dispersive precipitates in microstructures.Most of aluminium nitrides are in grains.While coexisted precipitates of MnS along grain boundaries,Coexisted precipitates compose cation-vacancy type oxides such as Al2O3 in the core,while MnS at the fringe of surface.At the same time,reasons for microstructure refinement and strengthening effect were invstigated.     

Microstructure of AISI 304 stainless steel strips produced by a twin-roll caster

By optical inspection of macro-etched metallography and electron back-scattered diffraction (EBSD) mapping,this paper analyzed the microstructure of anstenitic stainless steel strips produced with an equal-diameter twin-roll strip caster.The results indicate that the microstructure of the strips includes two columnar zones with highly compact dendrites and one equiaxed zone.The characteristics,such as grain size and growing direction of columnar grains and equiaxed grains,were investigated.An additional transitional area with many freer grains between the columnar zone and the equiaxed zone was found.As shown in EBSD analysis,small angle boundaries exist both in the columnar zone and the equiaxed zone,although they are especially more in the transitional area.Additionally,some <111> twin boundaries were found in the mierostructure of the strips.     

Effect of Cu on the boron segregation at grain boundaries and vacancy-type defects in ultra-low carbon micro-alloy steels

By thermal neutron irradiation particle tracking autoradiography(PTA)technique,the development of boron segregation at grain boundaries in ultra-low carbon micro-alloy steels was investigated during cooling from 1150°C to 850°C,and the effect of Cu on boron segregation at grain boundaries was discussed.By positron annihilation lifetime(PAL)technique,the changes of vacancy-type defects with temperatures and the effect of Cu on vacancy-type defects in the cooling process were discussed.Results show that,the concentration of boron at grain boundaries increases rapidly at the beginning of the cooling;after that,it begins to decrease;and then,it increases gradually again.The addition of Cu not only increases the concentration of boron at grain boundaries but also speeds up the development process of boron segregation at grain boundaries.During the continuous cooling process,the addition of Cu significantly affects the change of vacancy-type defects with temperatures in ultra-low carbon micro-alloy steels.     

CSP工艺Q235 B热轧带钢边部裂纹成因分析

为减少采用CSP工艺生产的Q235B热轧带钢边部裂纹缺陷,分别在Q235 B连铸坯和热轧带钢裂纹处进行取样,通过宏观形貌、金相组织、扫描电镜及能谱分析等方法,研究铸坯角部横裂纹与热轧带钢边部裂纹的演变规律和形态变化. 结果表明,结晶器卷渣、冷却不均匀是产生连铸坯角部裂纹的主要原因;第2道次过渡带钢的金相组织中出现混晶现象,裂纹边上存在脱碳现象;热轧带钢边部裂纹主要源自于铸坯裂纹,并在轧制过程中得到扩展. 根据连铸工艺参数,对边部裂纹缺陷率与液渣层厚度、保护渣消耗量、结晶器振动参数、中间包过热度、结晶器传热参数以及铸坯宽度的关系进行统计分析,并提出相应的边部裂纹控制工艺措施.     

Microstructure analysis of AISI 304 stainless steel produced by twin-roll thin strip casting process

The microstructure of AISI 304 austenite stainless steel fabricated by the thin strip casting process were investigated using optical microscope, scanning electron microscope (SEM), transmission electron microscope (TEM), and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The microstructures of the casting strips show a duplex structure consisting of delta ferrite and austenite. The volume fraction of the delta ferrite is about 9.74vol% at the center and 6.77vol% at the surface of the casting thin strip, in vermicular and band shapes. On account of rapid cooling and solidification in the continuous casting process, many kinds of inclusions and precipitates have been found. Most of the inclusions and precipitates are spherical complex compounds consisting of oxides, such as, SiO2, MnO, Al2O3, Cr2O3, and FeO or their multiplicity oxides of MnO·Al2O3, 2FeO·SiO2, and 2MnO·SiO2. Many defects including dislocations and stacking faults have also formed during the rapid cooling and solidification process, which is helpful to improve the mechanical properties of the casting strips.     

Influence of copper on quality of hot strips by EAF-CSP process

Electron microscopy and X-ray Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy (XEDS) study on influence of Cu on low carbon hot strips produced by CSP (Compact Strip Production) process has been carried out. The results indicated that copper segregation and enrichment at inteffacial layer between oxidized surface and steel matrix is the key factor, which results in microcracks and edge flaws on the strips. The primary considerations to prevent detrimental effects from Cu include controlling copper content in proper level, higher soaking temperature and non-oxidizable atmosphere during soaking. Copper sulfide precipitates with nanometers in size were observed, they may be beneficial to the properties of CSP products, and influence of Cu on quality of CSP hot strips is discussed.     

LD-BAr-CC工艺生产低碳铝镇静钢纯净度研究

研究武汉钢铁股份有限公司炼钢总厂四分厂LD-BAr-CC工艺条件下生产的低碳铝镇静钢的纯净度,分析各工艺阶段钢中显微夹杂、大型夹杂以及全氧、氮含量的变化情况。结果表明,在该厂现行工艺条件下,采用吹氩工艺可明显降低钢中夹杂物含量和全氧含量,全氧含量从精炼前的109.30×10-6降至30.75×10-6。各工序中钢的显微夹杂物主要为Al2O3和SiO2,这是脱氧产物和钢液二次氧化产物在钢中的残留物;大型夹杂物主要是Al2O3、SiO2以及硅铝酸盐等复合夹杂,与浮渣的卷入有很大关系。     

Grain refinement of low carbon steel produced by CSP process

In comparison with conventional production for hot strips, compact strip production (CSP) brings about some new micro-structural phenomena. Investigations were carried out to clarify the grain refinement mechanism of low carbon steel strips produced by the EAF-CSP process. Samples, obtained from the same rolling stock during continuous rolling, were examined through SEM,TEM and XEDS. Thin slabs have a dominant columnar structure and the spacing of the secondary dendrite arms ranges from 90 to ～125 μm. The average grain sizes for the central area of the samples from the 1st to 6th pass are 41.6, 25.2, 21.4, 20.2, 13.1, 6.7 μm,respectively. Large number of nanometer oxide and sulfide have been found in the low carbon steel produced by the CSP process.The grain refinement mechanism can be summarized as follows: finer solidification structure of the thin slab; austenite recrystalliza-tion at higher temperature and stain accumulation at lower temperature caused by the great reduction of single rolling pass during continuous rolling; nano-scaled precipitates of sulfide and oxide which drag grain boundaries of austenite or ferrite to prevent the grain coarsening.     

Study on temper-rapid cooling process of low carbon steel produced by CSP

On the basis of the effect of carbon precipitation on the microstructure and properties of steel products below At temperature, a new thermal treatment method （temper-rapid cooling process） was studied. By the temper-rapid cooling process, the yield strengths of the high strength low carbon （HSLC） steel ZJ330 and SPA-H produced using the compact strip production （CSP） process increased from 340 to about 410 MPa and from 410 to about 450 MPa, respectively. The results indirectly indicated that there existed nanoscaled iron-carbon precipitates that have obvious precipitation effect on low carbon steel produced by CSP. The prospect of application is discussed.     

Aspects of microstructure in low carbon steels produced by the CSP process

The solidification structure, microstructure evolution during rolling and precipitates with nanometers in dimension of the low carbon steels produced by CSP process with thin slabs have been studied in recent years. Important differences in microstructure and mechanical properties between the CSP products and the conventional one were observed. These differences may arise from the much rapider solidification rate and cooling rate after casting of the thin slabs. Some aspects of the microstructure for the low carbon steels of the CSP thin slabs are summarized and compared with the conventional one.