Different Roles of Microalloying in Thin Slab Direct Rolling Technologies

HSLA steels constitute one of the main types of steels produced worldwide by Thin Slab Direct Rolling technologies (TSDR).Among microalloying elements,the most widely used are V,Nb and Ti.These elements play different roles during the austenite evolution in TSDR.Regarding austenite conditioning before transformation,the limitations in the total reduction that can be applied in TSDR technologies need to be considered when composition/process parameters are selected.In this context,whereas an important number of studies have been focused on Nb microalloyed grades,a less systematic analysis has been performed concerning the role of vanadium on austenite conditioning.This paper analyzes these singularities taking into account different process parameter conditions,such as total reduction and initial rolling temperature.