Deformation-induced martensitic transformation kinetics and correlative micromechanical behavior of medium-Mn transformation-induced plasticity steel

An in situ high-energy X-ray diffraction (HE-XRD) technique was mainly used to investigate the micromechanical behavior of medium-Mn Fe-0.12C-10.16Mn-1.87Al (in wt%) transformation-induced plasticity (TRIP) steel subjected to intercritical annealing at 625 °C, 650 °C, 675 °C and 700 °C for 1 h. As the intercritical annealing temperature increased, the volume fraction of retained austenite (RA) and ultimate tensile stress (UTS) increased, while the Lüders strain and yield stress (YS) decreased. The incremental work-hardening exponent of experimental steel increased with increasing intercritical annealing temperature. The overall trend of the transformation kinetics of the RA with respect to the true strain followed the sigmoidal shape predicted by the Olson and Cohen (OC) model. Load partitioning occurred among the ferrite, austenite and martensite immediately after entering the yielding stage. Because the stability of the RA decreased with increasing intercritical annealing temperature, the load undertaken by the martensite increased. The moderate transformation kinetics of the RA and effective load partitioning among constituent phases were found to contribute to a favorable combination of strength and ductility for this medium-Mn TRIP steel.     

Quenching and partitioning steel produced through hot rolling,direct quenching and annealing

A novel type of quenching and partitioning steel was developed using direct quenching after hot finishing rolling, followed by intercritical annealing, quenching and partitioning (DQ–Q&P) process. The desirable combination of strength and ductility was obtained. The effect of various intercritical annealing temperatures on the microstructures and mechanical proprieties was studied. With the decreasing intercritical annealing temperature, the amount of acicular retained austenite increased, which exhibited a good work-hardening behaviour resulting in enhanced tensile strength and total elongation. After annealing at 740°C, superior mechanical properties, which were the ultimate tensile strength of 1015?MPa and total elongation of 32.22%, were achieved.     

低碳硅锰钢I&Q&P处理中C,Mn元素配分综合作用EI北大核心CSCD

采用EMPA,SEM和XRD等手段,研究低碳硅锰钢在双相区保温淬火(I&Q)、双相区保温+奥氏体化+盐浴配分(I&Q&P)和奥氏体化+盐浴配分(Q&P)工艺中的C,Mn元素配分行为及对残余奥氏体的综合作用。结果表明:经I&Q工艺处理后,得到马氏体、铁素体加少量残余奥氏体混合组织,C,Mn在马氏体中出现了富集,并且C富集程度高于Mn;经I&Q&P工艺处理后,C,Mn在板条马氏体中呈现不均匀分布,C的局部富集现象更明显,按C,Mn含量的不同,马氏体可分为"高C高Mn"、"高C低Mn"和"低C低Mn"3种;相比较Q&P工艺中只有C配分作用稳定残余奥氏体,I&Q&P工艺在C,Mn配分综合作用下,能得到更多的残余奥氏体。     

前驱体对含Cu低碳钢I&Q&P处理后组织性能的影响

采用IQP工艺和EPMA、SEM和XRD等手段,研究了3种前驱体对含Cu低碳钢残余奥氏体含量及力学性能的影响。结果表明,双相区保温初期试验钢奥氏体长大由C配分控制,后期由合金元素Mn、Cu配分控制;双相区保温奥氏体化后,双相区配分后形成弥散分布的局部高浓度Mn、Cu区域仍保留富集效果,在随后的淬火-碳配分阶段易于形成残余奥氏体。经IQP处理后,前驱体为P+F的钢室温组织中马氏体板条较粗,原始奥氏体晶界并不明显;前驱体为F+M钢得到的马氏体板条有序细密;前驱体为M的钢室温组织中马氏体板条更加细密。其中,前驱体组织为M的钢中残余奥氏体量最高,延伸率为24.1%,强塑积可达25 338 MPa·%,综合性能最好。     

Effect of rolling and epitaxial ferrite on the tensile properties of low alloy steel

A low alloy steel containing 0.09% C was thermomechanically processed at the intercritical annealing temperature of 790 °C to produce dual-phase microstructure from 50% of austenite. After applying different rolling reductions at this temperature, the specimens were quenched in boiling water to promote the growth of epitaxial ferrite. Warm rolling at 790 °C decreased the hardenability of austenite due to increased in interfacial area of austenite and ferrite. Tensile strength was improved by increasing the rolling reductions both in longitudinal and transverse directions without any significant loss in ductility attributed to the presence of epitaxial ferrite. Microvoid formation in the necked region and their percentage area fraction was measured. The correlation between the area fractions of microvoids formation with strain in the necked region ultimately defined the mode of failure.     

Stabilization of retained austenite by the two-step intercritical heat treatment and its effect on the toughness of a low alloyed steel

Fine film-like stable retained austenite was obtained in a Fe–0.08C–0.5Si–2.4Mn–0.5Ni in weight percent (wt.%) steel by the two-step intercritical heat treatment. The first step of intercritical annealing creates a mixed microstructure of preliminary alloy-enriched martensite and lean alloyed intercritical ferrite, which is called as “reverted structure” and “un-reverted structure”, respectively. The second step of intercritical tempering is beneficial for producing film-like stable reverted austenite along the reverted structure. The stabilization of retained austenite was studied by using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), dilatometry and X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis. The two-step austenite reverted transformation associated with intercritical partition of C, Mn and Ni is believed to be the underlying basis for stabilization of retained austenite during the two-step intercritical heat treatment. Stable retained austenite is not only beneficial for high ductility, but also for low temperature toughness by restricting brittle fracture. With 10% (volume fraction) of retained austenite in the steel, high low temperature toughness with average Charpy impact energy of 65 J at −80 °C was obtained.     

Influence of initial microstructures on intercritical annealing behaviour in a medium Mn steel

ABSTRACT

The present work reports the effect of different initial microstructures on reverse transformation kinetics and morphologies of austenite formed during intercritical annealing in Fe-0.14C-7Mn-1Si (wt-%) medium Mn steel. Three different initial microstructures were produced by cold-rolling and cold-rolling followed by austenitisation at 820°C and 900°C. The specimen austenitised at higher temperature shows lath-type austenite after intercritical annealing. The difference in austenitisation temperature leads to different Mn distribution in martensitic initial microstructures, thereby leading to a difference in morphology of austenite. The inhomogeneous Mn profiles in initial microstructures also affect reverse transformation kinetics of austenite upon intercritical annealing. The presence of Mn-enriched regions accelerates austenite growth at an early stage of intercritical annealing but retards the transformation kinetics afterwards.

This paper is part of a Thematic Issue on Medium Manganese Steels.     

Experimental study of the distribution of alloying elements after the formation of epitaxial ferrite upon cooling in a low-carbon steel

The distributions of carbon and substitutional elements in a low-carbon steel during the formation of epitaxial ferrite on cooling after intercritical annealing have been studied by electron probe microanalysis (EPMA). The analysis has shown that the formation of epitaxial ferrite takes place with a partial redistribution of alloying elements between the epitaxial ferrite and the austenite. This redistribution of alloying elements causes compositional gradients in the epitaxial ferrite that lead to a different etching behaviour with respect to the intercritical ferrite. Contrary to Thermo-Calc predictions, a distinct partitioning behaviour of silicon has been observed.     

低温临界区退火时间对22MnB5钢组织和性能的影响

为了研究22MnB5钢在退火过程中的组织演变规律,细化热冲压成形后马氏体板条束,通过扫描电镜(SEM)、能谱分析、电子背散射衍射(EBSD)分析技术和拉伸实验等方法,研究了不同低温临界区退火时间对22MnB5钢显微组织和力学性能的影响,并阐述了不均匀奥氏体在退火过程中的转变机制及合金元素对粒状珠光体形成的影响.研究表明,经低温临界区不同退火时间保温及随后等温处理后,得到不同的珠光体形态,在770℃保温0.5 h,并在700℃等温处理后,得到铁素体基体上分布颗粒状碳化物的粒状珠光体组织;随着临界区保温时间的延长,奥氏体转变逐渐均匀,使部分奥氏体在随后的等温过程中发生共析转变,得到多边形铁素体+片层状珠光体组织.粒状珠光体组织有利于细化淬火后的马氏体板条束,提高综合力学性能.     

Controlling of reheated quenching temperature of 1000 MPa grade steel plate for hydropower station

The strength and toughness of 1000 MPa grade steel plate for hydropower station treated by different reheated quenching temperatures were investigated. With the increasing of reheated quenching temperature, the yield strength and tensile strength increase sharply, whereas the value of impact toughness decreases slowly. The lath martensite with high density dislocations enhances dislocation strengthening. On the contrary, the acicular or block ferrite (soft phase) produced by intercritical quenching reduces the phase transformation strengthening. Moreover, the ferrite has a low solubility of interstitial carbon due to the body‐centered‐cubic lattice structure. The bar‐shaped precipitates occur during the isothermal holding at the intercritical temperature and it will reduce the precipitation strengthening. The ferrite phase and high misorientation boundaries are the main factors that contribute to the toughening of the experimental steel. The lower the reheated quenching temperature is, the higher proportion of ferrite and high misorientation boundaries becomes. Considering the requirements for mechanical properties of 1000 MPa grade steel plate for hydropower station, the optimal temperature of reheated quenching is ～920 °C.     

Initial microstructure and retained austenite in 8 Mn steel controlled by cooling rate

The present work investigates the effect of the initial microstructure on phase transformation after intercritical annealing by measuring the amount of austenite, which was obtained by X-ray diffraction and saturation magnetisation. Pieces of 8?Mn steel were austenitised at 1100°C for 1?h followed by different cooling rates: water, air, and furnace. Samples of each piece were subsequently intercritically annealed from 600 to 800°C followed by air cooling. The microstructure was characterised using scanning electron microscopy and electron backscatter diffraction. Results show how changing the cooling rate affects the temperature of intercritical annealing at which the highest content of retained austenite was obtained.     

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。     

Tensile deformation of a duplex Fe-20Mn-9Al-0.6C steel having the reduced specific weight

The room temperature deformation characteristics of a duplex Fe-20Mn-9Al-0.6C steel with the reduced specific weight of 6.84 g/cm³ in the fully solutionized state were described in conjunction with the deformation mechanisms of its constituent phases. The phase fraction was insensitive to annealing temperature in the range of 800-1100 °C. The ferrite grain size was also nearly unaltered but the austenite grain size slightly increased with increasing annealing temperature. This revealed that there is little window to control the microstructure of the steel by annealing. The steel exhibited a good combination of strength over 800 MPa and ductility over 45% in the present annealing conditions. Ferrite was harder than austenite in this steel. Strain hardening of both phases was monotonic during tensile deformation, but the strain hardening exponent of austenite was higher than that of ferrite, indicating the better strain hardenability of austenite. In addition, the strain hardening exponent of austenite increased but that of ferrite remained unchanged with increasing annealing temperature. The overall strain hardening of the steel followed that of austenite. Considering element partitioning by annealing, the stacking fault energy of austenite of the steel was estimated as ∼70 mJ/m². Even with the relatively high stacking fault energy, planar glide dominantly occurred in austenite. Neither strain induced martensite nor mechanical twins formed in austenite during tensile deformation. Ferrite exhibited the deformed microstructures typically observed in the wavy glide materials, i.e. dislocation cells. The mechanical properties of the present duplex steel were compared to those of advance high strength automotive steels recently developed.     

Retained austenite stabilisation in low carbon high silicon steel during isothermal holding

We elucidate here the role of isothermal hold temperature of 300–500°C after intercritical annealing at 760°C on bainitic transformation and in governing the stabilisation of retained austenite in a 0.23C-1.35Si-1.82Mn steel. A critical analysis was attempted to explain the observations using displacive mechanism of bainite formation in the attempt to endeavour to understand the kinetics of bainitic transformation during isothermal holding. The model predicted that carbon enrichment in austenite was of particular significance in governing the stability of retained austenite. Thus, through the contribution of transformation induced plasticity effect of retained austenite, high tensile strength (964?MPa) and excellent ductility (uniform elongation of 24.5% and total elongation of 32%) was obtained on isothermal holding at 400°C.     

Enhancement of tensile properties by room-temperature quenching and partitioning of 0.2C–10Mn–2Al steel

ABSTRACT

Processing conditions better than those of conventional quenching and partitioning process are suggested for 0.2C–10Mn–2Al steel. The steel can retain 24% of austenite on quenching to room temperature and effectively partition carbon from martensite to austenite at 200°C. The resulting tensile properties were comparable to those produced by conventional quenching and partitioning. Moreover, the suggested processing condition resolves an issue of intercritically annealed medium Mn steels by improving the yield strength and eliminating yield point phenomenon as well as serrated flow.

This paper is part of a Thematic Issue on Medium Manganese Steels.     

A medium-Mn steel processed by novel twin-roll strip casting route

A medium-Mn steel (Fe–0.3C–4Mn–1.82Al–0.6Si wt-%) was produced by a novel processing route involving twin-roll strip casting, hot rolling and intercritical annealing (IA). Macrosegregation was absent in the as-cast strip. The microstructure of the as-cast strip consisted of martensite and austenite (～10 vol.-%), and the solidification structure was characterised by dendritic structure. With an increase in IA temperature from 680 to 725 and to 755°C, austenite fraction in intercritically annealed steels was increased from 22 to 45% and then decreased to 27%. The 710°C intercritically annealed steel yielded excellent mechanical properties with a tensile strength of ～1007?MPa and total elongation of ～48%, achieved by a high volume fraction of austenite (～42%) with appropriate mechanical stability.     

Effect of austenitizing temperature and cooling rate on the structure and properties of a ultrahigh strength low alloy steel

A 0.3C-CrMoV(ESR) steel is being developed primarily for making pressure vessels used for aerospace applications. Since it is important to understand the range of microstructures and mechanical properties that will be obtained in the heat affected zone of welds, the steel has been subjected to different austenitizing treatments (temperatures ranging from 925°C to 1250°C) followed by cooling at various rates to room temperature. It has been shown that the austenite grain size increased from about 10 to 250 μm as the austenitizing temperature is increased from 925°C to 1250°C (1 hr) and that the hardness, YS, UTS,% elongation and% reduction in area as well as CVN energy for 450°C tempered condition decrease as the austenitizing temperature is increased for all cooling rates (furnace cooling, air cooling, oil quenching, quenching and tempering at 450°C). This is attributed mainly to the increase in austenitic grain size. The ranges of microstructures that can be obtained in the heat-affected zone are massive ferrite, fine pearlite, upper as well as lower bainite and martensite. The Charpy impact energy for the oil-quenched steel tempered at 200°C, however, did not vary significantly with austenitizing temperature.     

Microstructure,phase equilibria,and transformations in corrosion resistant dual phase steel designated 3CR12

Abstract

To optimize the properties of the new corrosion resisting steel 3CR12 the microstructure has been studied as a function heat treatment. The kinetics of both the decomposition of austenite and the reaustenization reactions have been investigated using a series of isothermal anneals. The steel has a dual phase ferrite–austenite structure between 800 and 1350°C and the amount of austenite is maximum at about 1050°C. At this temperature a higher nickel version of the alloy is fully austenite. On cooling to ambient temperature, the austenite transforms to a lath-type martensite. Heat treatments at temperatures up to 800°C cause the slow tempering of the martensite, the recovery and recrystallization of original ferrite regions, and the nucleation and growth of newly formed ferrite. The growth of ferrite requires the concomitant precipitation of carbides and nitride particles from the austenite or martensite and these particles mark the stepwise movement of the interface. In contrast the reaustenization does not require any immediate redistribution of elements. Consequently, the hardness of the resulting martensite is a function of both the temperature and time of the austenization treatment. These findings can be used to advantage by the producers, fabricators, and end users of the steel since variations in thermomechanical treatments promote differences in formability, strength, and toughness.

MST/493     

Influence of intercritical annealing on strength and impact behaviour of niobium containing steels

Abstract

The influence of inter critical annealing at 730°C on the impact properties and strength of C–Mn–Al–Nb steels has been examined. For low Mn (0·56%), Nb steels, intercritical annealing resulted in improved impact performance and the impact transition temperature (ITT) was reduced by as much as 35 K with no change in strength. The improvement in impact performance is considered to be due to Mn segregating to the α/γ boundaries leading to refinement of the grain boundary carbides. This refinement increased with holding time at 730°C in accordance with an increased grain boundary segregation of Mn. Strength was not influenced because grain size remained unchanged on intercritical annealing. The improvement in impact behaviour was greater the longer the holding time at 730°C but was significant even after 15 min. Improvements occurred both on cooling from the austenitising temperature (9·20°C) to 730°C and on heating from room temperature to 730°C, the latter heat treatment being the more beneficial. For higher Mn (1·4%), Nb steels, improvements in impact performance resulting from intercritical annealing depended on cooling rate. Again, the Mn build-up in the y increases with time of intercritical annealing. Owing to the initial overall higher Mn level and finer grain size, the steels were susceptible to martensite formation if the cooling rate was too high. At a cooling rate of 40 K min - 1, improvements in impact behaviour occurred only after short intercritical annealing times (30 min) when only a small amount of martensite had formed. Long times caused a serious deterioration in impact behaviour due to the presence of high volume fractions of martensite. Slow cooling (1 K min^?1), however, ensured ferrite–pearlite structures and significant improvements in impact behaviour (20–60 K reductions in ITT) were noted on intercritical annealing with no change in strength. The short holding times required to achieve an improvement in impact behaviour in these fine grained steels are encouraging for the possible commercial exploitation of this heat treatment.

MST/1382     

Tensile properties of iron-based P/M steels with ferrite + martensite microstructure

The effect of intercritical heat treatments on the tensile properties of iron-based P/M steels was investigated. For this purpose, atomized iron powder (Ancorsteel 1000) was admixed with 0.3 wt.% graphite powder. Tensile test specimens were cold pressed at 700 MPa and sintered at 1120 °C for 30 min under pure argon gas atmosphere. After sintering, ∼20% pearlite volume fraction in a ferrite matrix was obtained. To produce coarse ferrite + martensite microstructures, the sintered specimens were intercritically annealed at 724 and 760 °C and quenched in water. To obtain fine ferrite + martensite microstructures, the sintered specimens were first austenitized at 890 °C and water-quenched to produce a fully martensitic structure. These specimens were then intercritically annealed at 724 and 760 °C and re-quenched. After the intercritical annealing at 724 and 760 °C and quenching, martensite volume fractions were ∼ 18% and 43%, respectively, in both the coarse- and fine-grained specimens. Although the intercritically annealed specimens exhibited higher yield and tensile strength than the as-sintered specimens, their elongation values were lower. Specimens with a fine ferrite + martensite microstructure showed high yield and tensile strength and ductility in comparison to specimens with a coarse ferrite + martensite microstructure. The strength values of specimens increased with increasing martensite volume fraction.