Papers by Author: Carlos Capdevila

Abstract: The major challenge in a heat-resistant steel is to generate thermally stable microstructures that allow increasing the operating temperature, which will improve the thermal efficiency of the power plant without diminishing strength or time to rupture. The strengthening mechanism in tempered martensitic 9Cr steels comes mainly from the combination of solid solution effect and of precipitation hardening by fine MX carbo-nitrides, which enhance the sub-boundary hardening. This work is focused on the effect of ausforming processing on MX nanoprecipitation, on both their distribution and number density, during the subsequent tempering heat treatment. The creep strength at 700 oC was evaluated by small punch creep tests. The creep results after ausforming were compared to those obtained after conventional heat treatment concluding, in general, that ausforming boosts the creep strength of the steel at 700 oC. Therefore, conventional ausforming thermomechanical treatment is a promising processing route to raise the operating temperature of 9Cr heat-resistant steels.

Abstract: The many practical difficulties and longer lead time with heat treatment of mould steels after machining have led to increased demand for steels in prehardened condition, typically ~ 40HRC. At this hardness the steel possesses an optimal combination of high strength and machinability. The steels used for moulds require a wide range of demanding properties, among which high enough strength and toughness are the primary necessities in order to resist any deformation and dimensional change in mould during use. Uddeholm Impax HH which resembles the modified AISI P20 has been widely used for moulding of plastics and die-casting of low melting temperature metals. The common hardening process for Impax HH is conventional quenching and tempering. Hence, investigating the effect of hardening parameters on the required properties upon this steel grade is beneficial in improving it for better performance as a prehardened mould steel. In the present work, the effect of changes in austenitization temperature and consequently the prior austenite grain and martensite packet sizes on the tensile properties and impact toughness of Uddeholm Impax HH at the hardness of ~40HRC is studied. The results have shown reduction in impact toughness but no considerable change in yield and ultimate tensile strength upon increasing the austenitization temperature.

Abstract: The temporal evolution of the microstructure resulting from phase separation into Fe-rich (α), Cr-rich (α¢), and Fe(Ti,Al) (β¢) phases of a Fe-20Cr-6Al-0.5Ti alloy has been analyzed by thermoelectric power measurements (TEP). The early stages of decomposition and the evolution of the three-dimensional microstructure have been analyzed by atom probe tomography (APT). The roles of Cr, Al, and Ti during the decomposition process have been investigated in terms of solute partitioning between the phases. Analysis of proximity histograms revealed that significant Al and Ti partitioning occurs, which is consistent with theoretical calculations. The results indicate that as the α-α¢ phase separation proceeds, Al and Ti are rejected into the α phase, which causes the β¢ phase to nucleate on the surface of the α¢ phase.

Abstract: The ferritic oxide dispersion strengthened alloys (ODS) are manufactured using the mechanical alloying process. The development of a coarse grained microstructure during the recrystallization has been noted and discussed by a number of authors but, the mechanism of grain control remains uncertain. Recent work has emphasized the large influence of non-uniformities on the development of the recrystallized microstructure. The purpose of the present work was to study the effect of non-uniform plastic strain on recrystallization of Fe-base ODS alloy named MA 957.

Abstract: Carbide free bainite has achieved the highest strength and toughness combinations to date for bainitic steels in as-rolled conditions. By alloying designing and with the help of phase transformation theory, it was possible to improve simultaneously the strength and toughness because of the ultra-fine grain size of the bainitic ferrite plates. Ultimate tensile strengths ranging from 1600 MPa to 1800 MPa were achieved while keeping a total elongation higher than 10 %. Their toughness at room temperature matches tempered martensitic steels, known to be the best-in-class regarding this property. However, it has been observed that the presence of coalesced bainite leads to a dramatic deterioration in toughness in these novel high strength bainitic steels.

Abstract: In this work the prominent influence of Particle Stimulated Nucleation (PSN) on the overall process of nucleation and subsequent grain growth is discussed and a global recrystallisation kinetics model is proposed. This model accounts for the effect of the most relevant industrial parameters, such as cold reduction and annealing temperature. Moreover, not only the role of the cementite content, which is function of the nominal carbon content, is included in the model, but also the morphology of the second phase particles. Experimental evidence is given to ascertain the accuracy of the theoretical predictions.

Abstract: The kinetics of phase transformations in medium-carbon forging steels (MCFS) have been modeled based on CALPHAD multicomponent thermodynamics and the classical nucleation-growth theory. New treatments include the time dependency of parabolic growth rate of proeutectoid ferrite (α) , which account for the soft impingement effect by carbon enrichment in austenite (γ). And a potential transition of γ/α interface equilibrium has also been considered depending on temperatures and velocity of the moving interface. To make a realistic prediction of the onset of pearlite (P) transformation, a normal distribution of γ grain size has been assumed and successive α→P transformation kinetics in each grain size have been summated. The developed program coupled with thermodynamic solver, 'ThermoCalc', calculated the isothermal kinetics of MCFS and has been found to predict well the effect of minor difference of chemical composition / holding temperatures.

Abstract: The recrystallisation behaviour of two cold-rolled low carbon microalloyed steels with different Ti content was investigated by thermoelectric power (TEP) measurements and metallography. It was shown that recrystallisation was more sluggish in the higher Ti grade steel as compare with traditional ELC and LC steels. The existence of Ti in solid solution together with the pinning effect of Nb-, V- and Ti-rich particles are likely to be responsible for such behaviour. Metallographic etching with picral revealed that cementite act as preferential nucleation site for recrystallisation.

Abstract: Austenite grain growth in microalloyed steels is governed by the coarsening of fine precipitates present at grain boundaries below the grain coarsening temperature. Zener model is widely used in metals to describe the pinning effect of second phase particles precipitated in the matrix. In this work it has been discussed whether grain boundary or volume diffusion is the rate controlling process for the coarsening of the niobium carbonitrides. Calculations on austenite grain growth kinetics, obtained coupling Zener theory and both rate controlling processes of precipitate coarsening, have been compared against experimental austenite grain size results under nonisothermal heating conditions. In this sense, it has been concluded that the coarsening of niobium carbonitrides is mainly controlled by volume diffusion of Nb in austenite.

Abstract: Grain growth is a thermally activated process in which the average grain size increases as temperature and time increases. The driving force for grain growth results from the decrease in the free energy associated with the reduction in total grain boundary energy. There are several known factors that influence the migration of grain boundaries such as second phase particles precipitated in the matrix and the solute elements segregated at grain boundaries. The austenite grain boundaries are revealed using the thermal etching method. Carbon extraction replicas were prepared to determine the composition and size of precipitates present in the matrix. In this work, the evolution of the average prior austenite grain size (PAGS) of a low carbon steel microalloyed with niobium is studied as a function of temperature and heating rate. Austenite grains show a two-stage growth. It has been found that as heating rate increases, the grain coarsening temperature (TGC) increases and the grain size at that temperature decreases. TGC temperature lies around 40-60°C below the temperature for complete dissolution of carbonitrides (TDISS).