Effects of Alloying on Deformation Behavior of Low Carbon Steels in the Intercritical Temperature Range

Industrial thermomechanical processing of hot rolled steel strip products with rolling operations in the austenite + ferrite (γ + α) range offers, on one hand, unique possibilities for more precise control of microstructure and mechanical properties of as hot rolled products after accelerated cooling. On the other hand, there are significant technical problems related to the rolling stability induced by steel grade dependent non-monotonous variations in deformation resistance and its sensitivities to temperature and strain rate within the γ + α range. Based on laboratory results, the deformation behavior of low carbon (up to 0.2 %) steels alloyed with Mn, Si, Al and their combinations, as well as microalloyed with Nb at the intercritical temperatures is discussed.