Physical Simulation of Thermally Induced Martensite Formation from Retained Austenite in TRIP Steels

The present work analyses the total free energy of the material during the martensitic transformation. A general expression for the martensite fraction as a function of temperature is derived, assuming that the nonchemical free energyis proportional to th     

Deformation-induced austenite grain rotation and transformation in TRIP-assisted steel

Uniaxial straining experiments were performed on a rolled and annealed Si-alloyed TRIP (transformation-induced plasticity) steel sheet in order to assess the role of its microstructure on the mechanical stability of austenite grains with respect to martensitic transformation. The transformation behavior of individual metastable austenite grains was studied both at the surface and inside the bulk of the material using electron back-scattered diffraction (EBSD) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) by deforming the samples to different strain levels up to about 20%. A comparison of the XRD and EBSD results revealed that the retained austenite grains at the surface have a stronger tendency to transform than the austenite grains in the bulk of the material. The deformation-induced changes of individual austenite grains before and after straining were monitored with EBSD. Three different types of austenite grains can be distinguished that have different transformation behaviors: austenite grains at the grain boundaries between ferrite grains, twinned austenite grains, and embedded austenite grains that are completely surrounded by a single ferrite grain. It was found that twinned austenite grains and the austenite grains present at the grain boundaries between larger ferrite grains typically transform first, i.e. are less stable, in contrast to austenite grains that are completely embedded in a larger ferrite grain. In the latter case, straining leads to rotations of the harder austenite grain within the softer ferrite matrix before the austenite transforms into martensite. The analysis suggests that austenite grain rotation behavior is also a significant factor contributing to enhancement of the ductility.     

Overview of Mechanisms Involved During the Quenching and Partitioning Process in Steels

The application of the quenching and partitioning (Q&P) process in steels involves a microstructural evolution that is more complex than just the formation of martensite followed by carbon partitioning from martensite to austenite. Examples of this complexity are the formation of epitaxial ferrite during the first quenching step and the formation of bainite, carbides, and carbon gradients as well as migration of martensite/austenite interfaces during the partitioning step. In this work, recent investigations on the mechanisms controlling microstructural changes during the application of the Q&P process are evaluated, leading to phase-formation based concepts for the design of Q&P steels.     

In situ observations on the austenite stability in TRIP‐steel during tensile testing

In‐situ deformation tests have been performed on a steel displaying the transformation‐induced plasticity (TRIP) effect, while monitoring the phase transformation by means of X‐ray diffraction. A tensile stress is applied to 0.4 mm thick samples of this steel with mass contents of 0.26 % Si, 1.5 % Mn, and 1.8 % Al in a transmission geometry for a synchrotron‐radiation beam of 25 μm · 25 μm. On the diffraction patterns every grain appears as a discrete spot. The austenite {200} reflections are analysed during this investigation. The diffraction patterns are treated like a powder pattern for five different η‐angles, with η representing the angle between the tensile direction and the normal direction of the diffracting {200} planes. The results of the analysis show that η = 0° and η = 90° are the preferential orientations for the transformation to martensite. The Ludwigson and Burger model [9] is used to gain more information about the stress dependence of the deformation induced martensite formation. The microdiffraction patterns also reveal the changes in carbon concentration in austenite at each retained austenite fraction.     

A Revised Criterion for the Portevin–Le Chatelier Effect Based on the Strain-Rate Sensitivity of the Work-Hardening Rate

An improved analysis is presented of the stability of plastic deformation under conditions where dynamic strain aging (DSA) occurs, which leads to instabilities known as the Portevin–Le Chatelier (PLC) effect. It is shown that PLC instabilities can occur for conditions that are not covered by the currently prevailing criterion presented by Estrin and Kubin (1991), which focuses on a negative strain rate sensitivity of the flow stress, caused by interactions of solutes with thermally activated glide of mobile dislocations. The current analysis recognizes that the strain-rate sensitivity of the flow stress consists of two contributions, one associated with glide of mobile dislocations and the second with work hardening, related to storage of immobile dislocations. In this paper, an instability criterion is proposed that takes into account the possibility of a negative strain-rate sensitivity of the work-hardening rate, which is caused by diffusion of solutes to immobile dislocations. The latter contribution leads to an extended instability criterion. This criterion also provides an explanation for the existence of a critical strain above which instabilities occur. In this article, previously published tensile test data are used to show that a negative strain-rate sensitivity of the work-hardening rate, which influences significantly the occurrence of the PLC effect, can indeed occur under DSA conditions.     

Inhibition of hemopoiesis in vitro by neuroblastoma-derived gangliosides

Hemopoiesis is disturbed in bone marrow-involving cancers like leukemia and neuroblastoma. Shedding of gangliosides by tumor cells may contribute to this tumor-induced bone marrow suppression. We studied in vitro the inhibitory effects of murine neuroblastoma cells (Neuro-2a and C1300) and their gangliosides on hemopoiesis using normal murine hemopoietic progenitor colony-forming assays. Transwell cultured neuroblastoma cells showed a dose-dependent inhibition on hemopoiesis, indicating that a soluble factor was responsible for this effect. Furthermore, the supernatant of Neuro-2a cultured cells inhibited hemopoietic proliferation and differentiation. To determine whether the inhibitory effect was indeed due to shed gangliosides and not, for instance, caused by cytokines, the effect of DL-threo-1 -phenyl-2-decanoylamino-3-morpholino-1-propanol (DL-PDMP) on Neuro-2a cells was studied. DL-PDMP is a potent inhibitor of glucosylceramide synthase, resulting in inhibition of the synthesis and shedding of gangliosides. The initially observed inhibitory effect of supernatant of Neuro-2a cells was abrogated by culturing these cells for 3 days in the presence of 10 microM DL-PDMP. Moreover, gangliosides isolated from Neuro-2a cell membranes inhibited hemopoietic growth. To determine whether the described phenomena in vitro are a reflection of bone marrow suppression occurring in vivo, gangliosides isolated from plasma of neuroblastoma patients were tested for their effects on human hemopoietic progenitor colony-forming assays. These human neuroblastoma-derived gangliosides inhibited normal erythropoiesis (colony-forming unit-erythroid/burst-forming unit-erythroid) and myelopoiesis (colony-forming unit-granulocyte/macrophage) to a higher extent compared with gangliosides isolated from control plasma. Altogether these results suggest that gangliosides shed by neuroblastoma cells inhibit hemopoiesis and may contribute to the observed bone marrow depression in neuroblastoma patients.     

A model for ferrite/pearlite band formation and prevention in steels

A model for predicting the conditions under which ferrite/pearlite band formation occurs, and therefore the conditions in which it can be avoided in steels, has been developed. The model requires as input the alloy composition and microchemical segregation wavelength, and provides in turn the homogenization temperature and time in which the alloy should be held in the austenite region for band elimination. The model was applied to three alloys and predicted with accuracy the conditions under which bands were observed to disappear in different investigations from literature. The conditions under which the model can be applied to any alloy are explored.