Tuning austenite stability in a medium Mn steel and relationship to structure and mechanical properties

We study here the underlying factors that govern the stability of austenite in a medium Mn (Fe–0.18C–11Mn–3.8Al) (wt-%) steel. In this regard, a novel heat treatment involving intercritical quenching and tempering was designed to obtain high total elongation (TEL) and high ultimate tensile strength (UTS) in the cold-rolled steel. And the UTS and TEL approached 920–1150?MPa and 35–65%, respectively. The product of TEL and UTS (PSE) exceeded 40?GPa%, with a maximum value of 60?GPa%. A detailed analysis of microstructure before and after tensile deformation revealed that the TRIP effect occurred and the stability of austenite was predominantly governed by the grain sizes of austenite rather than the orientation of austenite grains. The theoretical analysis of work hardening data suggested that the superior elongation of medium Mn TRIP steel is related to the high stability of austenite and the cooperative deformation of ferrite.     

High-strength medium Mn quenching and partitioning steel with low yield ratio

ABSTRACT

A new microstructural design is proposed to develop a strong and ductile quenching and partitioning (Q&P) steel with low yield ratio. This steel has a heterogeneous dual phase microstructure which is developed by varying austenite thermal stability through Mn segregation. The heterogeneous microstructure contains large austenite grains which contribute to the low yield strength. The ultra-high tensile strength and good ductility are ascribed to the enhanced strain hardening behaviour resulted from the continuous transformation-induced plasticity (TRIP) effect. The present microstructural design enables a conventional medium Mn steel with high tensile strength, good ductility and low yield ratio, which promises easy forming and potential applications in automotive industries.

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

Recent progress in medium-Mn steels made with new designing strategies,a review

After summarizing the relevant researches on the medium Mn steels in references, two new targets on the tensile properties have been defined. One is that both transformation-induced(TRIP) and twinninginduced plasticity(TWIP) could be realized for the steel with a relatively low Mn content, which exhibits the similar tensile properties to the classical TWIP steels with higher Mn content. The other is to achieve ultrahigh ultimate tensile strength(1.5 GPa) without sacrificing formability. To achieve these goals,new designing strategies was put forward for compositions and the processing route. In particular, warm rolling was employed instead of the usual hot/cold rolling process because the former can produce a mixture of retained austenite grains with different morphologies and sizes via the partial recrystallization. Consequently, the retained austenite grains have a wide range of mechanic stability so that they can transform to martensite gradually during deformation, leading to enhanced TRIP effect and then improved mechanic properties. Finally, it is succeeded in manufacturing these targeted medium Mn steels in laboratory, some of them even exhibit better tensile properties than our expectation.     

Design of an effective heat treatment involving intercritical hardening for high-strength–high elongation of 0.2C–1.5Al–(6–8.5)Mn-Fe TRIP steels: microstructural evolution and deformation behaviour

ABSTRACT

We propose an effective heat treatment involving a combination of intercritical hardening and tempering to obtain high strength–high ductility in hot-rolled 0.2C–1.5Al–(6–8.5)Mn–Fe transformation-induced plasticity (TRIP) steels. An excellent combination of high ultimate tensile strength of 1045–1380?MPa and total elongation of 34–39% was obtained when the steels were subjected to intercritical hardening at 630–650?°C and tempered at 200?°C. Intercritical hardening impacted the co-existence of austenite, ferrite and martensite, such that the deformation behaviour varied with the Mn content. The excellent properties of the steels were attributed to cumulative contribution of enhanced TRIP effect of austenite and ferrite and martensite constituents. The discontinuous TRIP e?ect during tensile deformation involves stress relaxation and led to consequent enhancement of ductility.     

Effect of microstructure on transformation-induced plasticity of silicon-containing low-alloy steel

Fe-0.6C-1.5Si-0.8Mn steel was studied to determine the effect of the microstructure on transformation-induced plasticity (TRIP) of silicon-containing low-alloy steel. A remarkable increase in elongation through TRIP can develop in the steel subjected to the following heat treatments: (1) austemper combined with subcritical annealing (SA Aus-T): subcritical annealing at 993K followed by austempering at 673K and then light tempering (after austenitization at 1173K); (2) austemper coupled with interrupted quenching (IQ Aus-T): interrupted quenching at 533K followed by austempering at 673K and light tempering (after austenitization at 1173K).

The SA Aus-T treatment produced the triple structures of carbide-free upper bainite, retained austenite (γ_R), and free ferrite. As a result of the IQ Aus-T treatment, the triple structures of carbide-free upper bainite, γ_R, and tempered martensite appeared. The results are described and microstructural factors in TRIP are discussed.     

一种新型高强塑积异质冷轧中锰钢的力学性能

使用原位电子背散射衍射(EBSD)和球差透射电镜(ACTEM)等手段,研究了新型异质结构中锰TRIP钢在拉伸过程中微观组织的演变机制和力学性能。结果表明,在680℃退火后的实验钢中生成了多形貌、多尺度的异质奥氏体结构(颗粒状、块状、片层状奥氏体)和铁素体组织,其抗拉强度为1272 MPa,总延伸率为54.5%,强塑积高达69.3 GPa·%。在拉伸过程中C/Mn含量较低的颗粒状奥氏体先发生相变,而C/Mn含量较高的块状和片层状奥氏体在较大的应变范围内逐渐发生相变,从而导致高强度与高塑性的良好匹配。结果还表明,马氏体相变优先在奥氏体晶界/相界附近的区域形核。与晶粒尺寸相比,C/Mn元素对奥氏体稳定性的作用更重要。     

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     

Enhanced strength-ductility of medium Mn steel by quenching,partitioning and tempering

ABSTRACT

A quench and partition (Q&P) process was combined with tempering in a medium Mn steel. The partitioning treatment enriched the austenite in carbon, and stabilised the austenite against transformation during cooling. The ductility of Q&P steel is significantly improved by tempering, with negligible loss in strength. The ductility was found to be determined by the martensite in the structure, rather than the austenite in the present case. The reason for the significant improvement in the ductility with tempering was suggested to be the reduction in the dislocation density after extended tempering treatment. The energy absorption of this alloy was increased to 28.5?GPa·% together with an ultrahigh tensile strength ～1400?MPa, which is one of the largest observations in this system.     

Revealing heterogeneous C partitioning in a medium Mn steel by nanoindentation

The present work employs nano-indentation technique to investigate the C partitioning in a medium Mn steel subjected to quenching and tempering process. It is found that the C partitioning between martensite and austenite is inhomogeneous. Particularly, the large lenticular martensite has negligible C partitioning into the austenitic matrix as it maintains an ultra-high nanohardness comparable to the one without tempering. Strategies to suppress the formation of large martensite are discussed.     

Si对中锰钢淬火配分组织和性能的影响

将20Mn5钢和20Mn5Si2钢进行淬火和配分(Q&P)工艺处理,用扫描电镜观测其微观组织,用X射线法测量残余奥氏体量,研究了Si对其微观组织和力学性能的影响.结果表明,试验钢中的奥氏体含量明显高于传统的TRIP钢和Q&P 工艺处理钢;在相同Q＆P工艺条件下,20Mn5Si2钢比20Mn5有较多的残余奥氏体,析出物数...     

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.     

中锰Q&P钢残余奥氏体的稳定性及其TRIP效应

通过单向拉伸及平面应变实验研究了Mn含量为7%的中锰淬火-配分(QP)钢残余奥氏体的机械稳定性,利用X射线衍射仪(XRD)测定试验钢残余奥氏体的含量,通过观察试验钢的拉伸曲线及扫描电镜(SEM)、透射电镜(TEM)照片,分析变形前后的微观组织,研究中锰QP钢的变形机制。结果表明:应力状态对残余奥氏体稳定性有较大的影响,平面应变更有利于相变诱导塑性(TRIP)效应的发挥;中锰QP钢的拉伸变形特征是由超细晶硬化机制和TRIP效应相互作用产生的,通过微观组织观察发现中锰QP钢的塑性变形主要是残余奥氏体的TRIP效应,其中薄膜状的残余奥氏体的稳定性最高。     

Process control maps to design an ultra-high strength-ductile steel

Steel with 2.4–2.5 GPa tensile strength and elongation to fracture of 4.8–5.7%, is produced by designing a novel heat treatment identical to quenching and tempering, in less than a few minutes. Since addition of Si to Fe–Mn steel promotes the austenite stabilisation by carbon enrichment, the elongation to fracture of 0.6C–1.6Si–1.2Mn (wt-%) steel treated by different quenching and partitioning (Q&P) routes is improved. Results demonstrated by process control maps give a good overview of the final microconstituents. By using higher partitioning temperatures, the tempering of martensite, stabilisation of austenite and improvement of the mechanical properties, could effectively be accelerated. This approach results in significant time and cost reduction which makes this heat treatment attractive for industries.     

In situ synchrotron study on the interplay between martensite formation, texture evolution and load partitioning in low-alloyed TRIP steels

We have studied the micromechanical behaviour of two low-alloyed multiphase TRIP steels with different aluminium contents by performing in situ high-energy X-ray diffraction experiments at a synchrotron source under increasing tensile stress levels. A detailed analysis of the two-dimensional diffraction data has allowed us to unravel the interplay between the martensite formation, the texture evolution and the load partitioning, and to correlate the observed behaviour to the macroscopic response of the material. The high aluminium content TRIP steel grade presents a higher volume fraction of retained austenite at room temperature that transforms more gradually into martensite under deformation, providing a larger uniform elongation. The comparison between the observed transformation behaviour and the texture evolution indicates that the 〈1 0 0〉 component along the loading direction corresponds to a low critical stress for the transformation. The evolution of the elastic strains revealed the occurrence of a significant load partitioning before reaching the macroscopic yield strength, which becomes more pronounced in the plastic regime due to the progressive yielding of the different grains in the polycrystalline material. This opens the door to tailor the austenite stability by altering the distribution in grain size, local carbon content, and grain orientation in order to produce the optimal load partitioning and work hardening for improved combinations of strength and formability in low-alloyed TRIP steels.     

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。     

初始组织对低碳钢IQ&P工艺残留奥氏体及力学性能的影响

采用双相区再加热-淬火-碳配分(IQP)工艺,研究初始组织为铁素体+珠光体的IQP-Ⅰ多相钢和初始组织为马氏体的IQP-Ⅱ多相钢的组织形貌、残留奥氏体及力学性能。结果表明:初始组织为铁素体+珠光体的IQP-Ⅰ多相钢室温组织中,铁素体和马氏体基本呈块状分布,块状残留奥氏体存在于铁素体与马氏体界面处,薄膜状只存在于马氏体内的板条之间,且残留奥氏体含量较少,TRIP效应不明显,其抗拉强度为957 MPa,伸长率只有20%,强塑积为19905.6MPa·%。初始组织为马氏体的IQP-Ⅱ多相钢中铁素体和马氏体大多呈灰黑色的板条状或针状,且细小的针状马氏体均匀地分布在铁素体基体上,残留奥氏体只以薄膜状平行分布在铁素体基体上,体积分数达到了13.2%,且具有较高的稳定性,TRIP效应较明显,强塑积达到21560MPa·%,可以获得强度和塑性的良好结合。     

回火方式对调质高强度钢组织和性能的影响

为改善高强度钢的塑性和韧性,对同一种低合金高强度钢进行两种不同回火方式的调质处理,淬火+缓慢加热回火的传统调质与淬火+感应加热回火的新调质工艺,分析该工艺对钢的组织与性能的影响.利用扫描电镜和透射电镜观察组织及析出物的变化,采用X射线衍射仪分析了钢中残余奥氏体体积分数.结果表明:两种工艺下,钢的组织均为板条宽300～500 nm左右的马氏体组织,感应加热回火调质工艺处理后,板条组织明显,析出物大多约为20 nm,比传统调质处理后的细小;两种不同热处理工艺均能提高钢的屈服强度.感应加热至500℃回火后试验钢具有16%以上的延伸率,-40℃冲击功达到32 J,优于传统调质工艺处理钢板的综合性能.感应加热回火能获得更多小尺寸析出物和更多的残余奥氏体,有利于改善钢的塑性和韧性.     

Relative effect of C and Mn on strength-toughness of medium Mn steels

In order to find an alternative choice for structural load-bearing components, an effort was made to improve the impact toughness of medium Mn steel through inter-critical annealing treatment without significant reduction in strength. Besides, the relative effect of C and Mn contents on microstructure and mechanical properties of medium Mn steels was also studied. Fibrous microstructures with fine, alternate films of ferrite and martensite with retained austenite were obtained. The low-C, high-Mn steel showed a superior combination of yield strength, ductility and impact toughness due to finer microstructure and higher retained austenite fraction, as compared to high-C, low-Mn steel. Thus, the beneficial effect of Mn enrichment in stabilising retained austenite and improving mechanical properties by transformation induced plasticity effect becomes evident.     

热处理对C12A耐热钢的组织与性能影响

通过对铸造C12A耐热钢进行热处理,观察其微观组织,测定其力学性能。试验结果表明：正（淬）火组织为板条马氏体＋部分针状马氏体＋少量残余奥氏体,其硬度比较高,塑性和韧性不是很好;正（淬）火＋回火组织为回火马氏体,其硬度不是很高,塑性和韧性比较好,具有良好的综合性能;退火组织为铁素体,其硬度低,塑性和韧性高;通过正火＋回火,研究回火温度对其微观组织和力学性能的影响。试验结果表明：回火温度对C12A钢的组织和性能有较大影响,其硬度随回火温度的升高呈先降后升趋势。     

Influence of various material design parameters on deformation behaviors of TRIP steels

In this paper, the microstructure-based finite element modeling method is used as a virtual design tool in investigating the respective influence of various material design parameters on the deformation behaviors of transformation-induced plasticity (TRIP) steels. For this purpose, the separate effects of several different material design parameters, such as the volume fraction and stability of austenite phase and the strengths of the constituent phases, on the ultimate tensile strength (UTS) and ductility/formability of TRIP steels are quantitatively examined using different representative volume elements (RVEs) representing different TRIP steels. The computational results suggest that higher austenite stability is helpful in enhancing the ductility and formability of TRIP steels by delaying the martensitic transformation to a later stage, whereas increase of austenite volume fraction and/or ferrite strength alone is not beneficial to improve the performance of TRIP steels. The results also indicate that various material design parameters must be adjusted concurrently to develop high-performance TRIP steels. The information based on investigations in this paper can help guide the development of high-performance TRIP steels by providing the microstructure level deformation mechanisms.