Upgrade Rolling Based on Ultra Fast Cooling Technology for C-Mn Steel

By measuring the expansion curves of a C-Mn steel at different cooling rates by using an MMS-300 thermo- mechanical simulator, continuous cooling transformation curves were obtained. The new process ＂ultra fast cooling＋ laminar cooling＂ was simulated and the effects of ultra fast cooling ending temperature on microstructure had also been investigated. The hot rolling experiment was done by adopting ＂high temperature rolling-[-forepart ultra fast cooling＂ technologies at laboratory scale. The results revealed that ultra fast cooling can delay the decrease of disloca- tion density and refine ferrite grains. Diversity control of the microstructure and phase transformation strengthening can be realized by changing the ultra fast cooling ending temperature. With the decrease of ultra fast cooling ending temperature, the strength and toughness increase, but plasticity does not decrease obviously. The new technique can improve the yield strength by over 50 MPa. Therefore, the upgrade of mechanical properties of C-Mn steel can be realized by using ＂high temperature rolling＋ ultra fast cooling＋laminar cooling＂ technique. Compared with ＂low temperature rolling with large deformation degree＂ technique, this new technology can decrease the roiling force and in- crease the production efficiency.     

Influence of intercritical annealing temperature on microstructure and mechanical properties of medium Mn TRIP steel

The transformation, microstructure and mechanical properties of the 0. 2C- 5Mn TRIP steel after intercritical annealing were investigated using dilatometer, scanning electronic microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy(TEM), X- ray diffraction (XRD), and tensile testing machine. The phase transformation thermodynamics of the investigated steel after intercritical annealing was calculated by Factsage software and the characteristics of the transformation were discussed. The results show that the reversed austenite content increases with the increasing of the intercritical annealing temperature, the carbon content in reversed austenite firstly increases and then decreases, manganese content in reversed austenite decreases, which results in the decreasing of the thermal stability of reversed austenite. When the intercritical annealing temperature is 700??, an obvious martensitic transformation occurs during the cooling process. With the increasing of intercritical annealing temperature, cementite is gradually dissolved, but it cannot be completely dissolved due to the short transformation time. When the intercritical annealing temperature is 600-675??, the microstructure after intercritical annealing consists of ferrite, cementite and retained austenite. When the intercritical annealing temperature is 700??, the microstructure after intercritical annealing consists of ferrite, retained austenite, martensite and a small amount of undissolved cementite. The engineering stress and strain curves of the investigated steel are significantly changed with increasing intercritical annealing temperature. At the same time, the optimal mechanical properties with tensile strength of 1138MPa and total elongation of 23% can be obtained after annealed at 675?? for 3min.     

Influence of Prior Warm Deformation on Cementite Spheroidization Process in a Low-Alloy Medium Carbon Steel

Warm deformations have been applied to a low-alloy medium carbon steel (AISI 5140) to promote faster spheroidization during soft annealing treatments. The application of warm deformation leads to the fragmentation of cementite lamellae and the formation of defects on both cementite and the matrix. This induces faster lamellae break-up according to a boundary splitting mechanism, which is responsible for the improved spheroidization after annealing. The substructure developed in the matrix enhances pipe diffusion through the sub-boundaries, which helps the lamellae terminations to coarsen and causes lamellae fast splitting and finally yields a coarse cementite particle distribution. When deforming up to ε = 0.3, almost fully spheroidized microstructures are obtained after annealing at 993 K (720 °C), independently of the initial pearlite features. By means of the EBSD technique, it has been observed that the applied warm deformation, in addition to enhancing the degree of spheroidization, allows a much finer microstructure to be formed after annealing. Grain refinement takes place as a consequence of a continuous recrystallization process, which is directly related to cementite spheroidization in the long term.     

New cold-rolled deep-drawing grades

An unstabilised ultra low carbon steel (12 ppm of C) offers an attractive combination of formability properties like yield strength, elongation, mean r-value and BH-index. The major drawback is its large planar anisotropy. This is attributed to the large grain-size of the hot-rolled product. An increase in the cooling rate (using ultra fast cooling technology) or a decrease in the coiling temperature do not refine the hot-band grain size. However, an optimisation of the cold-rolling and the annealing sequences result in a better balance of the drawing properties. Alloying elements like Cr, B, V, Al. Si or reduction of Mn content exert only a minor influence on the final properties. An addition of Nb (mass contents of 0.01 %) improves the drawability but decreases the BH-index when conventional continuous annealing temperatures are applied.     

超快冷工艺下600MPa高强钢的组织与性能

 以一种屈服强度为600MPa的热轧高强钢为研究对象,进行了超快冷工艺与层流冷却工艺的对比试验,对试验钢进行了力学性能、SEM、TEM及EDS分析。结果表明：与层流冷却工艺相比,超快冷工艺有效提高了钢的性能,屈服强度和抗拉强度分别提高了90和60MPa,其屈服强度、抗拉强度和断后伸长率分别为670、740MPa及19％,－20℃冲击功为105J,具有良好的强度及韧性。经过超快冷后,试验钢的组织为细化的铁素体,其强化相为细小的铁素体及细小析出物。     

Evolution of Through-Thickness Texture in Ultra Purified 17%Cr Ferritic Stainless Steels

 Texture inhomogeneity usually takes place in ferritic stainless steels due to the lack of phase transformation and recrystallization during hot strip rolling, which can deteriorate the formability of final sheets. In order to work out the way of weakening texture inhomogeneity, conventional hot rolling and warm rolling processes have been carried out with an ultra purified ferritic stainless steel. The results showed that the evolution of through-thickness texture is closely dependent on rolling process, especially for the texture in the center layer. For both conventional and warm rolling processes, shear texture components were formed in the surface layers after hot rolling and annealing; sharp α-fiber and weak γ-fiber with the major component at {111}<110> were developed in both cold rolled sheet surfaces, leading to the formation of inhomogeneous γ-fiber dominated by {111}<112> after recrystallization annealing. In the center layer of conventional rolled and annealed bands, strong α-fiber and weak γ-fiber textures were formed; the cold rolled textures were comprised of sharp α-fiber and weak γ-fiber with the major component at {111}<110>, and inhomogeneous γ-fiber dominated by {111}<112> was formed after recrystallization annealing. By contrast, in the centre layer of warm rolled bands, the texture was comprised of weak α-fiber and sharp γ-fiber, and γ-fiber became the only component after annealing. The cold rolled texture displayed a sharp γ-fiber with the major component at {111}<112> and the intensity of γ-fiber close to that of α-fiber, resulting in the formation of a nearly homogeneous γ-fiber recrystallization texture in the center layer of the final sheet.     

Effect of Annealing Time on Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of Cold-Rolled Niobium and Titanium Bearing Micro-alloyed Steel Strips

Effects of annealing time on microstructure of cold-rolled niobium-titanium bearing micro-alloyed steel strips were investigated by optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, electron back-scatter diffraction (EBSD) and transmission electron microscopy. The complete recrystallization annealing temperature of 670 °C and complete annealing time of 9 min were determined using Vickers-hardness testing and EBSD analysis. The ferrite microstructure with spheric cementite particles and nano-scale precipitates of Nb(C, N) in matrix was obtained. The kinetics of the ferrite grain growth is lowered due to ferrite grain boundaries pinned by the cementite particles, so the ferrite grain size of 5. 5 μm remains unchanged among the annealing time ranging from 9 to 30 min. In addition, the strength of tested steel also keeps unchanged with the increase of annealing time. The higher yield strength of approximately 420 MPa can be obtained by grain refinement and precipitation hardening and the higher elongation of approximately 40% and work-hardening exponent of approximately 0. 2 can be gained due to grain refinement and presence of cementite particles, indicating that the balance of strength, ductility and forming property is realized.     

The effect of intercritical annealing temperature on the structure of niobium microalloyed dualphase steel

The structures produced in a Nb-microalloyed steel by oil quenching after intercritical anneals at 760 and 810 °C have been examined by light and transmission electron microscopy. After both anneals, the periphery of the austenite pool transforms on cooling to ferrite in the same orientation as the ferrite retained during intercritical annealing. Thus the ferrite forms by an epitaxial growth mechanism without the formation of a new interface or grain boundary. The new ferrite is precipitate-free in contrast to the retained ferrite which develops a very dense precipitate dispersion during intercritical annealing. In the carbonenriched interior of the austenite pool beyond the epitaxial ferrite only martensite forms in specimens annealed at 760 °C but various mixtures of ferrite and cementite form in specimens annealed at 810 °C. The latter structures include lamellar pearlite, a degenerate pearlite, and cementite interphase precipitation. All Nb is in solution in the austenite formed at 810 °C, and therefore the low hardenability of the specimens annealed at that temperature is best explained by the effect of low austenite carbon content.     

退火温度对冷轧中锰钢组织性能和断裂行为的影响

 为了系统研究临界区退火和全奥氏体区退火对中锰钢性能的影响,为中锰钢的实际应用提供理论基础,在650~900 ℃范围内系统研究了冷轧中锰钢的显微组织和力学性能,并通过断口形貌观察分析了试验钢的断裂特性。结果表明,试验钢在临界区退火的综合力学性能明显优于全奥氏体区退火。650~750 ℃退火时,抗拉强度在1 000 MPa左右,强塑积超过30 GPa·%,发生韧性断裂,宏观上可以观察到明显的层状裂纹,微观下为大量韧窝;在800~900 ℃退火时,抗拉强度在743~1 154 MPa范围内波动较大,强塑积不足10 GPa·%,断口平整,发生脆性沿晶断裂;退火温度为650 ℃时,组织为片层状和等轴状的奥氏体、铁素体双相及大量渗碳体;随着退火温度的升高,渗碳体逐渐溶解消失,等轴状组织所占体积分数明显增加,奥氏体体积分数也不断增加,在750 ℃时达到52.2%;退火温度为800 ℃时,有马氏体产生,奥氏体体积分数下降;退火温度为900 ℃时,组织基本为马氏体,残留奥氏体体积分数仅为14.6%。     

Influences of Austenization Temperature and Annealing Time on Duplex Ultrafine Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of Medium Mn Steel

A duplex ultrafine microstructure in a medium manganese steel(0.2C-5Mn)was produced by austenite reverted transformation annealing(ART-annealing).The microstructural evolution during annealing was examined by scanning electron microscopy(SEM),transmission electron microscopy(TEM)and X-ray diffraction(XRD).Based on the microstructure examination,it was found that some M3 C type carbides appeared in the martensitic matrix at the beginning of the ART-annealing.But with further increasing annealing time,these carbides would be dissolved and finally disappeared.Meanwhile,the austenite lath was developed in the ART-annealing process and the volume fraction of austenite increased with the increase of the annealing time,which resulted in a duplex microstructure consisting of ultrafine-grained ferrite and large fraction of reverted austenite after long time annealing.The mechanical property examinations by uniaxial tensile tests showed that ART-annealing(6h,650 ℃)resulted in a superhigh product of strength to elongation up to 42GPa·%.     

加热工艺对中锰钢残余奥氏体含量的影响

 研究了不同加热方式对0.2%C-5%Mn钢650℃临界退火后残余奥氏体含量的影响。采用透射电镜TEM、电子背散射EBSD等技术研究了碳化物析出和组织形貌,利用XRD技术测定了残余奥氏体体积分数。结果表明：较低温度下等温一段时间后加热到650℃,或直接快速加热到650℃进行临界退火,可获得较多残余奥氏体。因为快速加热既能抑制升温过程中组织的回复和再结晶,也能抑制粗大渗碳体颗粒的析出;在较低温度等温处理时可析出细小弥散的碳化物并在临界退火时迅速固溶,这些细小弥散的碳化物作为形核核心加速了奥氏体相变。     

轴承钢珠光体球化的研究现状及发展趋势

概述了轴承钢球化退火在轴承生产中的作用,分析了珠光体由片层状转变为颗粒状的变化规律,讨论了片层渗碳体的打断、短棒状向颗粒状转变以及颗粒状熟化长大的热力学机制。结果认为珠光体球化工艺的不足,一是存在碳化物分布不均匀、尺寸大小存在差异等问题;二是退火工艺固定化、格式化等问题,未能适应轴承钢的发展;三是球化退火后的组织检验粗糙化、不够细致。球化工艺的发展趋势,一是要在轧钢或锻压生产阶段通过引入塑性变形或增大冷却过冷度等方法来保证片层组织更加均匀、细化,无网状渗碳体;二是要开发新的球化工艺,例如在有可能的条件内引入电场、磁场以及高温高压应力场等方法来改善球化工艺;三是要将球化组织的定量化检验标准化。     

Effects on the cementite distribution in low carbon enamelling steels

To enamel modern LC‐steels it is necessary to provide a sufficient amount of hydrogen recombination sites as well as hydrogen traps within the materials microstructure to keep the hydrogen inside the steel. Hence surface defects like fish scaling, which are related to the effusion of hydrogen, can be avoided. Therefore it is necessary to produce internal surfaces inside the steel In form of hard and brittle particles which can be fractured during cold rolling and produce voids. For LC‐steels these particles could be formed by iron carbides. Aiming at an increased amount of cementite particles inside the steel, the carbon content could be raised or the parameters of the thermomechanical treatment (TMT) could be adjusted for a given carbon content to form coarse cementite particles. In this investigation the TMT‐parameters were systematically varied in hot compression tests and the results were evaluated by quantitative metallography. The focus was laid on the variation of the final deformation temperature, the coiling temperature and the cooling rate after coiling.     

Microstructural evolution of submicron sized ferrite in bimodal structural ultrafine grained ferrite/cementite steels by annealing below austenized temperature

The microstructural evolution of submicron sized ferrite in bimodal structural ultrafine grained ferrite/cementite steels with 0.15 pct carbon content and 0.45 pct carbon content upon annealing below the austenized temperature was investigated. The average grain sizes of the ferrites with a normal density and with a high density of cementite particles were plotted, respectively, as a function of the annealed temperature and time, and exhibited different coarsening behaviors. The average grain sizes of the ferrites with a normal density of cementite particles gradually coarsened by increasing the annealing temperature or time, while those with a high density of cementite particles hardly changed at first, and then coarsened after reaching a certain annealing condition. The coarsening of the ferrite grain size in the steel with 0.15 pct carbon content occurred much more readily than that in the steel with 0.45 pct carbon content upon annealing. The spacing and the critical spacing of cementite particle were measured and hypothetically calculated, respectively. The size and the distribution of cementite particles was one of the critical factors affecting the microstructural evolution in this type of cementite particle spherodized steels. Most of the coarsening of the ferrite grain size occurred after the cementite particle spacing reached the required critical value.     

退火后冷却方式对冷轧中锰钢微观组织和力学性能的影响

采用拉伸试验、扫描电镜、电子背散射衍射、透射电镜、X射线衍射等手段,研究了冷轧中锰钢(0.2C-5Mn)退火后不同冷却方式下的微观组织特点和拉伸性能.实验钢冷轧退火后为铁素体加逆转变奥氏体的双相组织.退火后空冷可以获得稳定性较高的逆转变奥氏体,且其体积分数也明显高于退火后炉冷.退火后空冷实验钢中的逆转变奥氏体在变形过程中产生持续的TRIP效应,提高强度的同时获得了较高的塑性,强塑积可达到26.5 GPa·%。      

On the Austenite Stability of a New Quality of Twinning Induced Plasticity Steel, Exploring New Ranges of Mn and C

A new high-manganese, low-silicon TWIP steel was studied to evaluate austenite stability after different heat treatment conditions. To determine the phase transformations, dilatometric experiments were performed, and the microstructure was characterized by light optical microscopy, X-ray diffraction, and transmission electron microscopy. Precipitation of lamellar cementite was observed in the microstructure for extended treatment times at 823 K (550 °C). Long isothermal holding at this temperature also caused epsilon martensite formation during cooling, resulting from a decrease in austenite stability due to carbon depletion in the matrix when a quantifiable amount of cementite is formed.     

Effect of Ultra Fast Cooling on the Alloy Cost Reduction of the X80 Pipeline Steel

The microstructures and mechanical properties of X80 pipeline steels produced by both novel ultra fast cooling and conventional‐accelerated continuous cooling modes are investigated. Results showed that different levels of Mo addition had a remarkable effect on the microstructures and mechanical properties of the investigated pipeline steels. The proeutectoid ferrite and pearlite formation is inhibited in the high‐Mo steel and acicular ferrite is obtained over a wide range of cooling rates, whereas the dominant acicular ferrite microstructure can only be obtained when the cooling rates reach up to 5 C s^?1. Very similar microstructures and mechanical properties are obtained in the low‐Mo steel produced with ultra fast cooling and in the high‐Mo steel produced by the conventional‐accelerated continuous cooling. It was proved by simulation and industrial trials that high‐strength low‐alloy steels such as pipeline steels, can be produced using the novel ultra fast cooling which also reduce alloy cost.

     

An On-line Finite Element Temperature Field Modelfor Plate Ultra Fast Cooling Process

Taking the element specific-heat interpolation function into account,a one-dimensional(1-D)finite element temperature field model for the on-line control of the ultra fast cooling process was developed based on the heat transfer theory.This 1-D model was successfully implemented in one 4 300mm plate production line.To improve the calculation accuracy of this model,the temperature-dependent material properties inside an element were considered during the modeling process.Furthermore,in order to satisfy the real-time requirements of the on-line model,the variable bandwidth storage method and the Cholesky decomposition method were used in the programming to storage the data and carry out the numerical solution.The on-line application of the proposed model indicated that the deviation between the calculated cooling stop temperature and the measured one was less than±15℃.     

New thermomechanical strategies for the production of high strength low alloyed multiphase steel showing a transformation induced plasticity (TRIP) effect

In the last years a lot of research was done in the development of TRIP-assisted multiphase steels. Two principal ways were proposed: - controlled cooling during the hot-rolling process to obtain hot-rolled TRIP-assisted multiphase steels and - the combination of intercritical annealing and isothermal holding at bainite formation temperatures during continuous annealing resulting in cold-rolled TRIP-assisted steel products. Unfortunately both proposed thermomechanical methods require a high silicon level to inhibit cementite precipitation in order to avoid a loss of stability for the metastable retained austenite. In addition, due to high silicon levels, red scale surface defects and a moderate hot dip galvanizability appear. In this article, new thermomechanical strategies for the production of high strength low alloyed TRIP-assisted multiphase steels with good hot-dip galvanizability and without red scale defects will be presented. Regarding the thermomechanical path, the stabilization of the retained austenite in the final microstructure can be optimized by the application of the additional step of batch annealing between hot rolling and cold rolling. This additional thermomechanical step activates manganese diffusion in the ferrite matrix and manganese enrichment processes of the cementite. During the step of continuous annealing, the manganese enriched cementite is transformed into stabilization-optimized retained austenite. Regarding the final microstructure, a fine grained ferrite matrix of about 3 μm grain size containing small islands of intragranular and intergranular stabilzation-optimized retained austenite can be obtained.     

Microstructure Evolution and Microhardness of Ultrafine-grained High Carbon Steel during Multiple Laser Shock Processing

Surface microstructure and microhardness of(ferrite+cementite)microduplex structure of the ultrafinegrained high carbon steel after laser shock processing(LSP)with different impact times were investigated by means of scanning electron microscopy(SEM),transmission electron microscopy(TEM),X-ray diffraction(XRD)and microhardness measurements.Equiaxed ferrite grains were refined from 400 to 150nm,and the cementite lamellae were fully spheroidized,with a decrease of the particle diameter from 150 to 100nm as the impact times increased.The cementite dissolution was enhanced significantly.Correspondingly,the lattice parameter ofα-Fe and microhardness increased with the impact times.