Phase and Microstructure Evolution of a Low-Alloyed Steel During Intercritical Annealing and Quenching

Metallurgical and Materials Transactions A - Strong, yet ductile steels can be manufactured by applying optimized thermal treatments during production. Such treatments can be performed on...     

Effects of Silicon Content and Intercritical Annealing on Manganese Partitioning in Dual Phase Steels

Steels of constant manganese and carbon contents with silicon content of 0.34%-2.26% were cast.The as-cast steels were then hot rolled at 1100 ℃ in five passes to reduce the cast ingot thickness from 80 to 4 mm, air cooled to room temperature and cold rolled to 2 mm in thickness. Dual phase microstructures with different volume fraction of martensite were obtained through the intercritical annealing of the steels at different temperatures for 15 min followed by water quenching. In addition to intercritical annealing temperature, silicon content also altered the volume fraction of martensite in dual phase steels. The partitioning of manganese in dual phase silicon steels was investigated using energy-dispersive spectrometer (EDS). The partitioning coefficient, defined as the ratio of the amounts of alloying element in the austenite to that in the adjacent ferrite, for manganese increased with increasing intercritical annealing temperature and silicon content of steels. It was also found that the solubility of manganese in ferrite and austenite decreased with increasing intercritical temperature. The results were discussed by the diffusivity and the solubility of manganese in ferrite and austenite existed in dual phase silicon steels.     

70Nb合金钢丝双相区球化退火工艺

 采用正交试验法研究了大塑性变形70Nb合金钢丝双相区球化退火工艺。结果表明,在冷却速度一定(30 ℃/h)的条件下,决定球状碳化物尺寸的主要因素是保温时间(极差为0407,可信度达到67%)。最佳工艺参数为：加热温度770 ℃,加热时间60 min,保温温度680 ℃,保温时间360 min。其球状碳化物颗粒直径为181 μm,球化等级在35~40 级范围内,硬度HV 1681,较好的达到了锡林针布的使用标准。     

Fe-C-Mn-Al系TRIP钢两相区奥氏体转变模拟

为了研究Fe-C-Mn-A1系TRIP钢两相区奥氏体化过程中合金元素在奥氏体和铁素体中的分布,利用热膨胀仪、金相显微镜、电子探针等仪器,在对TRIP钢两相区奥氏体化过程进行热力学与动力学分析的基础上,建立了两相区奥氏体化过程的扩散模型,采用显式有限体积法对800℃与840℃的奥氏体化过程进行了数值求解.模拟结果表明:奥氏体转变初期受C元素在奥氏体中的扩散控制达到亚平衡,奥氏体转变速率较快;此时A1元素在奥氏体与铁素体界面处的浓度差较显著,Mn元素在奥氏体与铁素体界面处的浓度差不显著.奥氏体转变后期受Mn元素在铁素体内的扩散控制,转变速率较慢;此时A1元素在铁素体内已大量富集,Mn元素在奥氏体与铁索体界面处有较显著的浓度差.     

Temperature-Dependent Microstructural Evolution of Al-Rich Medium-Mn Steel During Intercritical Annealing

Metallurgical and Materials Transactions A - Medium-Mn automotive sheet steels require optimized heat-treatment processes to obtain benefits caused by strain-induced martensitic transformation of...     

Development of Bimodal Ferrite-Grain Structures in Low-Carbon Steel Using Rapid Intercritical Annealing

Mixed ferrite grain structures, which have fine- and coarse-grain regions and showing “bimodal” grain size distributions, have been produced by rapid intercritical annealing of warm-rolled (or cold-rolled) samples. Microstructural changes have been analyzed using dilatometric studies, size prediction of transformed and recrystallized grains, and microtexture measurements. Fine austenite grains (<5 μm) developed during rapid annealing and transformed into fine-ferrite grains (2 to 4 μm) after cooling. Coarse-ferrite grains (28 to 42 μm) resulted from the recrystallization and growth of deformed ferrite. The effect of heating rate on microstructural morphologies during intercritical annealing has also been studied. A slow rate of heating (30 K/s) developed a uniform distribution of fine-ferrite grains and austenitic islands, while rapid heating (300 K/s) generated coarse blocks of austenite, elongated along the prior-pearlitic regions, in the ferrite matrix. As expected, bimodal ferrite grain structures or fine-scale dual-phase structures showed superior combination of tensile strength and ductility, compared to the ultrafine-grained steels.     

Analysis of Microstructure Evolution in Quenching and Partitioning Automotive Sheet Steel

Extensive research efforts are underway globally to develop new steel microstructure concepts for high-strength sheet products, driven largely by the need for lightweight automotive structures in support of designs to enhance occupant safety and energy efficiency. One promising approach, involving the quenching and partitioning (Q&P) process, was introduced in the predecessor to this paper series, Austenite Formation and Decomposition, 2003.[1] Development of the Q&P process has continued through to the present, and the current status is highlighted in this article, along with some alternative approaches that are also receiving attention. Special emphasis is placed on the synthesis and interpretation of the fundamental phase transformation responses, perspectives related to alloying and processing, and the resulting microstructure and properties. Key mechanistic issues are discussed, including carbide formation and suppression, migration of the martensite/austenite interface, carbon partitioning, and partitioning kinetics.     

淬火-贝氏体区配分工艺及钢的组织性能

 Q&P（Quenching and Partitioning, 淬火配分）工艺在CCE条件下,通过采用[Ms]和[Mf]点之间的最佳淬火温度和低于[Ms]点的配分温度,避免配分阶段的贝氏体形成最终可以得到最高含量的残余奥氏体组织。但试验中得到不足体积分数8%的残余奥氏体含量限制了钢塑性的提高。通过提出淬火-贝氏体区配分工艺,并应用在(0.21～0.29)C-(1.5~2.0)Si-(1.5～2.1)Mn成分钢,得到了体积分数12%左右的残余奥氏体含量和25%左右的伸长率,同时强度保持在1 000～1 100 MPa,强塑积最高达到36.6 GPa·%。不同的淬火温度和配分温度试验结果表明,工艺变化对强度影响较低,伸长率和强塑积随着配分温度的提高而提高,其中270 ℃的淬火温度试样的提高幅度高于245 ℃淬火试样,采用Q&PB工艺得到了无碳贝氏体＋马氏体＋残余奥氏体的三相组织。淬火和贝氏体区配分得到了优异的强度和塑性的结合,为新一代汽车用钢的发展提供新的思路。     

Mn Diffusion at Early Stage of Intercritical Annealing of 5Mn Steel

Mn distribution and austenite morphology at the early stage of intercritical annealing of 5Mn steel were investigated. It was experimentally demonstrated that a newly formed 20 nm-thick austenite was formed without the partitioning of Mn. The elemental analysis confirmed that the growth of austenite should be controlled by the diffusion of C prior to the diffusion of Mn at a low heating rate. The austenite growth started under negligible-partitioning local equilibrium mode and then switched to partitioning local equilibrium mode. Mn segregation at the γ/α interface suggested that the collector plate mechanism was the essential way of Mn partitioning at the early stage of austenite growth.     

Formation of Banded Microstructures with Rapid Intercritical Annealing of Cold-Rolled Sheet Steel

The effects of heating rate in the range of 0.3 to 693 °C/s on transformations during intercritical annealing of a cold-rolled 0.12C-1.4Mn-0.02Nb steel with either a ferrite-pearlite or ferrite-spheroidized carbide microstructure were evaluated. Heating rates were selected to impart different predicted degrees of ferrite recrystallization present at the onset of austenite formation. Rapid heating minimized ferrite recrystallization with both prior microstructures and minimized pearlite spheroidization in the ferrite-pearlite condition, and austenite formation occurred preferentially in recovered ferrite regions as opposed to along recrystallized ferrite boundaries. Martensite was evenly distributed in slowly heated steels because austenite formed on recrystallized, equiaxed, ferrite boundaries. With rapid heating, austenite formed in directionally oriented recovered ferrite, which increased the degree of banding. The greatest degree of banding was found with intermediate heating rates leading to partial recrystallization, because austenite formed preferentially in the remaining recovered ferrite, which was located in bands along the rolling direction. Ferrite-spheroidized carbide microstructures had somewhat reduced martensite banding when compared to the ferrite-pearlite condition, where elongated pearlite enhanced banded austenite leading to banding in transformed microstructures.     

Surface Selective Oxide Reduction During the Intercritical Annealing of Medium Mn Steel

Third generation advanced high-strength steels achieve an excellent strength–ductility balance using a cost-effective alloy composition. During the continuous annealing of medium Mn steel, the formation of an external selective oxide layer of MnO has a negative impact on the coating quality after galvanizing. A procedure to reduce the selective oxide was therefore developed. It involves annealing in the temperature range of 1073 K to 1323 K (800 °C to 1050 °C) in a HN_x gas atmosphere. Annealing at higher temperatures and the use of larger H₂ volume fractions are shown to make the gas atmosphere reducing with respect to MnO. The reduction of the surface MnO layer was observed by SEM, GDOES, and cross-sectional TEM analysis.     

两相区保温时间对冷轧双相钢组织性能的影响

对Q345冷轧钢板两相区退火进行了研究,通过对不同保温时间试验钢板的金相组织以及拉伸试验结果对比,得出如下结论：保温时间对试验钢微观组织和力学性能有影响,790℃下60～120 s退火,可以有效消除冷轧过程中产生的带状组织,并能避免因过长保温造成的组织粗化。     

淬火-配分马氏体钢的组织特征

淬火-配分(Quenching and Partitioning,简称QP)工艺是针对马氏体钢提出的热处理新工艺。利用QP工艺处理40Si2Ni2钢,并通过扫描电镜观察其微观组织特征。结果表明,与传统淬火+回火工艺得到的组织不同,QP组织为低碳(回火态)和高碳马氏体(淬火态)共存,其中高碳马氏体呈现为有规则几何形状、边界清晰、无析出物析出的块状组织,淬火温度(QT)对高碳马氏体(淬火态)量有影响。     

Combined Intercritical Annealing and Q&amp;P Processing of Medium Mn Steel

The microstructure and mechanical properties of intercritically annealed medium Mn steel are dependent on the selection of the intercritical annealing (IA) temperature. While the yield strength (YS) decreases with increasing IA temperature, the ultimate tensile strength increases with increasing IA temperature. Strain aging phenomena, both static and dynamic, are also often observed. The present contribution shows that, by combining IA with the quench and partitioning processing of the intercritical austenite, it is possible to obtain non-aging mechanical properties which combine a high YS with an ultra-high tensile strength. These properties are particularly suitable for automotive parts related to passenger safety.     

低C含7.7%Ni低温钢经两相区淬火后的组织性能

 提出了一种Ni质量分数为7.7%的低C低温用CrNi钢,研究了其经淬火+两相区淬火+回火（QLT）处理后的力学性能,采用扫描电镜（SEM）、透射电镜（TEM）、X射线衍射（XRD）和电子背散射衍射（EBSD）对试验钢的显微组织演化规律进行了研究。结果表明：经QLT处理的试验钢的显微组织主要为铁素体（F）+板条马氏体（LM）+马氏体/奥氏体组元（M/A）+回转奥氏体（γ′）。随着两相区热处理温度（tL）的升高,LM的比例逐渐增加,F的比例逐渐减少,晶粒细化,大角度晶界（HAGB）比例和平均晶界角度（AGBA）大幅增加。当tL在650~680℃时,γ′的体积分数约为7%。-196℃下韧性（KV2）主要取决于γ′含量和HAGB比例两个因素。经QLT处理,试验钢的屈服强度（Rp0.2）大于530MPa,抗拉强度（Rm）大于670MPa,-196℃下的冲击韧性大于150J,强韧性达到了当前9Ni钢的水平。