Retained austenite and mechanical properties in bainite transformed low alloy steels

Uniform ductility and formability of low alloy steels can be improved by the transformation plasticity effect of metastable retained austenite. In this work, intercritical annealing followed by bainite transformation resulted in the retention of austenite with sufficient stability for transformation plasticity interactions. The effect of retained austenite on mechanical properties was studied in two low-alloy steels. Bainite transformation was carried out in the range of 400 to 500°C. The strength properties (yield strength and ultimate tensile strength) were more sensitive to bainite isothermal transformation temperature than holding time. Maximum strength properties were obtained for the lower transformation temperatures. On the other hand, high uniform and total elongation values were obtained at lower transformation temperatures but were sensitive to bainite isothermal transformation time. Variations in uniform elongation with holding time were linked to variations in retained austenite stability. Maximum values of uniform elongation occurred at the same holding times as the maximum amount of retained austenite. The same was true for total elongation and ultimate tensile strength. The above results indicate a strong correlation between retained austenite stability and uniform ductility and suggest that further optimisation regarding chemical composition and processing with respect to austenite stabilisation may lead to a new class of triple-phase high-strength high-formability low-alloy steels.     

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.     

Sheet metal forming behaviour and mechanical properties of TRIP steels

Recently various kinds of high-strength sheet steels have been developed to meet the requirements of the automotive industry such as passive safety, weight reduction and saving energy. Usually the main problem of high-strength steels is their inferior ductility. Multiphase steels however show a very good combination of strength and formability so that the applicable region of high-strength steels has been widely enlarged. Multiphase steels have been developed for various purposes because of their ability to tailor properties by adjusting the type, the amount, and the distribution of different phases. Especially new developed triple-phase steels which make use of the TRIP effect (transformation induced plasticity) can further improve formability as well as strength due to the transformation of retained austenite to martensite during the deformation. In this work the transformation behaviour and the mechanical properties of low alloyed TRIP steels were investigated. The influence of the annealing parameters on transformation behaviour and on the amount of retained austenite were determined. In addition the temperature dependence of the mechanical properties and the effect of testing speed on the formability were studied. The investigation was carried out on seven different TRIP steels with different chemical compositions, especially the influence of the microalloying element niobium was considered. For reasons of comparison various mild and high-strength steels were tested parallel to the TRIP steels. It was found that the investigated TRIP steels offer very attractive combinations of elongation and strength values. An interesting temperature dependence of the mechanical properties can be observed, in such a way that the elongation values of the TRIP steels possess a maximum between +50 and +100°C. Due to its effect on grain size and on precipitation behaviour the addition of niobium leads to higher strength values without a strong decrease in ductility. In general, the mechanical properties are strongly affected by the type and the distribution of the different phases. The most important parameters, however, to influence the mechanical behaviour are the amount and the stability of the retained austenite, which are mainly controlled by the heat treatment and the chemical composition.     

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.     

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.     

Effect of alloying elements on the microstructure‐property relationship in thermomechanically processed C‐Mn‐Si TRIP steels

The effect of additions of Nb, Al and Mo to Fe‐C‐Mn‐Si TRIP steel on the final microstructure and mechanical properties after simulated thermomechanical processing (TMP) has been studied. The laboratory simulations of discontinuous cooling during TMP were performed using a hot rolling mill. All samples were characterised using optical microscopy and image analysis. The volume fraction of retained austenite was ascertained using a heat tinting technique and X‐ray diffraction measurements. Room temperature mechanical properties were determined by a tensile test. From this a comprehensive understanding of the structural aspect of the bainite transformation in these types of TRIP steels has been developed. The results have shown that the final microstructures of thermomechanically processed TRIP steels comprise ~ 50 % of polygonal ferrite, 7 ‐12 % of retained austenite, non‐carbide bainitic structure and martensite. All steels exhibited a good combination of ultimate tensile strength and total elongation. The microstructure‐property examination revealed the relationship between the composition of TRIP steels and their mechanical properties. It has been shown that the addition of Mo to the C‐Si‐Mn‐Nb TRIP steel increases the ultimate tensile strength up to 1020 MPa. The stability of the retained austenite of the Nb‐Mo steel was degraded, which led to a decrease in the elongation (24 %). The results have demonstrated that the addition of Al to C‐Si‐Mn‐Nb steel leads to a good combination of strength (~ 940 MPa) and elongation (~ 30 %) due to the formation of refined acicular ferrite and granular bainite structure with ~7 ‐ 8 % of stable retained austenite. Furthermore, it has been found that the addition of Al increases the volume fraction of bainitic ferrite laths. The investigations have shown an interesting result that, in the Nb‐Mo‐Al steel, Al has a more pronounced effect on the microstructure in comparison with Mo. It has been found that the bainitic structure of the Nb‐Mo‐Al steel appears to be more granular than in the Nb‐Mo steel. Moreover, the volume fraction of the retained austenite increased (12 %) with decreasing bainitic ferrite content. The results have demonstrated that this steel has the best mechanical properties (1100 MPa and 28 % elongation). It has been concluded that the combined effect of Nb, Mo, and Al addition on the dispersion of the bainite, martensite and retained austenite in the ferrite matrix and the morphology of these phases is different than effect of Nb, Mo and Al, separately.     

Austempering of Hot Rolled SiMn TRIP Steels

 The austempering after hot rolling in hot rolled Si Mn TRIP (transformation induced plasticity) steels was investigated. The mechanism of TRIP was discussed through examination of the microstructure and the mechanical properties of this kind of steel. The results showed that the strain induced transformation to martensite of retained austenite occurs in hot rolled Si Mn TRIP steels. The sample exhibited a good combination of ultimate tensile strength and total elongation when it was held at the bainite transformation temperature after hot deformation. The stability of retained austenite increases with an increase in isothermal holding time, and a further increase in the holding duration resulted in the decrease of stability. The mechanical properties were optimal when holding for 25 min, and tensile strength and total elongation reached the maximum values (774 MPa and 33%, respectively).     

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.     

Microstructure and Tensile Properties in Dual Phase and Trip Steels

Advanced high‐strength steels, like dual phase and TRIP steels, have gained much interest for automotive application. The complex microstructures in dual phase steels, and even more critical, the metastable microstructure in TRIP steels, do not follow the well‐established traditional microstructure‐property relationships for deep drawing steels. The volume fraction of the different phases, the phase distribution, and the stability of metastable phases influence significantly the forming potential. This paper discusses the correlation between different microstructural features and the mechanical properties. The tensile test properties of dual phase steels are governed by the martensite volume fraction, the martensite hardness and to a much smaller extent the martensite island diameter. Both in dual phase and more pronounced in TRIP steels the retained austenite content plays a vital role in determining the formability. The stability of the retained austenite can be described by different methods, it needs to be adjusted according to the forming temperature and the type and amount of strain. In general, multiphase steels require a very strict microstructure control in order to develop predictable forming behaviour.     

Influence of alloying elements on the kinetics of strain-induced martensitic nucleation in low-alloy, multiphase high-strength steels

Low-alloy multiphase transformation-induced-plasticity (TRIP) steels offer excellent mechanical properties in terms of elongation and strength. This results from the complex synergy between the different phases, i.e., ferrite, bainite, and retained austenite. The precise knowledge of the austenite-to-martensite transformation kinetics is required to understand the behavior of TRIP steels in a wide array of applications. The parameters determining the stability of the metastable austenite were reviewed and investigated experimentally, with special attention paid to the effect of the chemical composition, the temperature, and the size of the austenite particles. The results show that the stability and rate of transformation of the austenite particles in TRIP steels have a pronounced composition dependence: austenite particles transform at a faster rate in CMnSi TRIP steel than in TRIP steels in which Si is fully or partially replaced by Al and P. The results clearly support the view that (1) both a high C content and a submicron size are required for the room-temperature stability of the austenite particles and (2) the effect of the chemical composition on the transformation is due to its influence on the intrinsic stacking-fault energy. In addition, the composition dependence of the Md ₃₀ temperature was derived by regression analysis of experimental data. The influence of the size of the retained austenite particles on their Ms ^σ temperature was studied by means of a thermodynamic model. Both the analysis of the transformation-kinetics data and the microstructural analysis by transmission electron microscopy revealed the very limited role of autocatalysis in the transformation.     

Effects of heat treatment and alloying elements on the microstructures and mechanical properties of 0.15 wt pct C transformation-induced plasticity-aided cold-rolled steel sheets

The main emphasis of this study has been placed on understanding the effects of manganese and silicon additions and of heat-treatment (intercritical annealing and isothermal treatment) conditions on the microstructures and mechanical properties of 0.15 wt pct C transformation-induced plasticity (TRIP)-aided cold-rolled steel sheets. The steel sheets were intercritically annealed and isothermally treated at the bainitic region. Microstructural observation and tensile tests were conducted, and volume fractions of retained austenite were measured. Steels having a high manganese content had higher retained austenite fractions than the steels having a low manganese content, but showed characteristics of a dual-phase steel such as continuous yielding behavior, high tensile strength over 1000 MPa, and a low elongation of about 20 pct. The retained austenite fractions and mechanical properties varied with the heat-treatment conditions. In particular, the retained austenite fractions increased with decreasing intercritical annealing and isothermal treatment temperatures, thereby resulting in the improvement of the elongation and strength-ductility balance without a serious decrease in the yield or tensile strength. These findings suggested that the intercritical annealing and isothermal treatment conditions should be established in consideration of the stability of austenite and the solubility of alloying elements in the austenite formed during the intercritical annealing.     

Effect of Cooling Method on Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of Hot-Rolled C-Si-Mn TRIP Steel

 The controlled cooling technology following hot rolling process is a vital factor that affects the final microstructure and mechanical properties of the hot-rolled transformation induced plasticity (TRIP) steels. In the present study, low alloy C-Si-Mn TRIP steel was successfully fabricated by hot rolling process with a 450 hot rolling mill. To maximize the volume fraction and stability of retained austenite of the steel, two different cooling methods (air-cooling and ultra-fast cooling “AC-UFC” and ultra-fast cooling, air-cooling and ultra-fast cooling “UFC-AC-UFC”) were conducted. The effects of the cooling method on the microstructure of hot-rolled TRIP steel were investigated via optical microscope, transmission electron microscope and conversion electron Mssbauer spectroscope. The mechanical properties of the steel were also evaluated by conventional tensile test. The results indicated that ferrite and bainite in the microstructure were refined with the cooling method of UFC-AC-UFC. The morphology of retained austenite was also changed from small islands distributing in bainite district (obtained with AC-UFC) to granular shape locating at the triple junction of the ferrite grain boundaries (obtained with UFC-AC-UFC). As a result, the TRIP steel with a content of retained austenite of 1152%, total elongation of 32% and product of tensile strength and total elongation of 27552 MPa·% was obtained.     

1300 MPa级Nb微合金化DH钢的组织性能

设计了不同相构成的超高强DH钢,抗拉强度均大于1300 MPa,组织由铁素体、马氏体、残留奥氏体和极少量碳化物构成。对比了不同相构成对超高强DH钢力学性能和应变硬化行为等的影响,并深入研究了残留奥氏体在超高强度DH钢中的作用机制。结果表明:随着马氏体和残留奥氏体体积分数的增大,铁素体体积分数的减小,实验钢屈服和抗拉强度同时升高,而延伸率呈先增大后减小趋势。软韧相铁素体体积分数的减小和硬相马氏体体积分数的增大导致屈服强度和抗拉强度增加。相对于回火马氏体,淬火马氏体对强度的提升更显著,在拉伸过程中转变的残留奥氏体的量是引起延伸率变化的主要原因,组织中显著的带状组织会造成颈缩后延伸率的明显降低。通过对应变硬化行为的分析表明,随着真应变的增大,应变硬化率呈减小的趋势,在真应变大于2%后的大范围内,对于应变硬化率,DH1>DH2>DH3,主要与铁素体体积分数有关;在真应变大于5.73%后,DH2钢的应变硬化率高于DH1钢和DH3钢,主要与DH2钢中更显著的TRIP效应有关。除了残留奥氏体体积分数,残留奥氏体中的碳含量对TRIP效应同样有显著的影响。较高比例的硬相马氏体组织结合适当比例的软韧相铁素体和残留奥氏体有助于DH2钢获得最良好的强塑积13.17 GPa·%,其中屈服强度达880 MPa,抗拉强度达1497 MPa,均匀延伸率为6.71%,总伸长率为8.8%,颈缩后延伸率为2.09%,屈强比0.59。      

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.     

一次淬火马氏体对Q&P钢组织和性能的影响

 研究了一次淬火马氏体对低合金钢经淬火和配分(Quenching and Partitioning,Q&P)工艺后微观组织和单轴拉伸性能的影响,用扫描电镜进行微观组织表征,用X射线法测量残留奥氏体量。试验结果表明,随着一次淬火马氏体比例的增加,二次淬火马氏体的尺寸和数量逐渐减少,残留奥氏体体积分数呈先增加后减少的趋势,一次淬火马氏体体积分数为40%时获得最大残留奥氏体体积分数为16.92%。一次淬火马氏体体积分数为30%～70%时试验钢获得了较高的塑性和强塑积,马氏体基体为钢提供了高强度,残留奥氏体在变形过程中的TRIP效应提高了钢的塑性。     

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.     

Effect of Microstructure in TRIP Steel on Its Tensile Behavior at High Strain Rate

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Effects of Holding Temperature for Austempering on Mechanical Properties of Si-Mn TRIP Steel

A new type of high strength steel containing a significant amount of stable retained austenite was obtained by austempering immediately after intercritical annealing. This sort of low carbon steel only contains alloying elements of silicon and manganese rather than nickel and chromium. Its mechanical properties were enhanced considerably due to strain-induced martensite transformation and transformation-induced plasticity (TRIP) of retained austenite when it was strained at temperatures between Ms and Md, because retained austenite was moderately stabilized due to carbon enrichment by austempering. Austempering was carried out at different temperatures and 400℃ was found to be optimal. Tensile strength, total elongation and strength-ductility balance reached the maximum values and the product of tensile strength and total elongation exceeded 30 135 MPa % when the TRIP steel was held at 400℃ and strained at 350℃.     

等温时间对低硅含铝热轧TRIP钢组织性能的影响

 为了实现低硅含铝热轧TRIP钢的工业应用，以低硅含铝热轧TRIP钢为研究对象，采用扫描电子显微镜、透射电子显微镜、拉伸试验和X射线衍射等试验方法，研究了不同等温时间对试验钢显微组织和力学性能的影响。结果表明，试验钢的显微组织主要由多边形铁素体、贝氏体铁素体和残余奥氏体组成，随着等温时间的增加，板条贝氏体的体积分数升高，粒状贝氏体的体积分数降低；当等温时间为20 min时，试验钢的综合力学性能最佳，抗拉强度为732.25 MPa，断后伸长率为36%，强塑积为26.36 GPa·%；残余奥氏体的体积分数和碳含量先升高后降低，等温时间为20 min时试验钢表现出较强的加工硬化行为。     

不同工艺下低碳Mn-Si钢的组织与力学性能

通过Gleeble-1500热模拟压缩试验,借助光学显微镜、扫描电镜、X射线衍射及拉伸试验等,研究一种低碳Mn-Si钢在基于热轧动态相变的热轧TRIP钢工艺和基于贝氏体等温处理工艺下的组织与力学性能,比较了通过两种工艺获得的不同复相组织状态对材料的加工硬化能力的影响.结果表明:实验钢在基于动态相变的热轧TRIP钢工艺下获得了以细晶铁素体为基体和贝氏体、残余奥氏体组成的复相组织,而在基于贝氏体等温处理工艺下得到了以板条贝氏体为基体和残余奥氏体组成的复相组织,前者中残余奥氏体含量较高且其碳含量也较高.实验钢具有以板条贝氏体为基体的复相组织时屈服强度和抗拉强度较高;但由于残余奥氏体稳定性较差,实验钢的加工硬化能力较弱,导致其均匀延伸率和总延伸率较小.