Papers by Author: F.C. Rizzo

Abstract: High strength steels containing significant fractions of retained austenite have been developed in recent years, and are the subject of growing commercial interest when associated with the TRIP phenomenon during deformation. A new process concept “quenching and partitioning” (Q&P) has been proposed by CSM/USA, and the results show the potential to create a new kind of steel microstructure with controlled amounts of retained austenite, enriched by carbon partitioning. Four steels containing C, Si, Mn, Ni, Cr and Mo, were designed with variation in the Ni and C content, aiming to decrease Bs temperature and to suppress carbide formation during the partitioning treatment. Several heat-treatment procedures were performed in specimens previously machined for tensile testing, while x-ray diffraction was used to determine the fraction of retained austenite. The tensile test results showed that except for the high C high Ni alloy, most of the processing conditions resulted in strengths superior to those of advanced high strength steels (AHSS), although it is importantly recognized that higher alloy additions were used in this study, in comparison with conventional AHSS grades.. A variety of strength and ductility combinations were observed, confirming the potential of the Q&P process and illustrating the strong influence of the final microstructure on the mechanical properties. Experimental results for samples partitioned at 400 °C indicate that higher ultimate tensile strength is associated with higher fraction of retained austenite for multiple heat treatments of each alloy investigated. The amount of retained austenite obtained was generally lower than that predicted by the model. Further studies are in progress to understand the influence of alloying and processing parameters (time/temperature) on the partitioning of carbon and precipitation of transition carbides.

Abstract: The microstructure following a new martensite heat treatment has been examined, principally by high-resolution microanalytical transmission electron microscopy and by atom probe tomography. The new process involves quenching to a temperature between the martensite-start (Ms) and martensite-finish (Mf) temperatures, followed by ageing either at or above, the initial quench temperature, whereupon carbon can partition from the supersaturated martensite phase to the untransformed austenite phase. Thus the treatment has been termed ‘Quenching and Partitioning’ (Q&P). The carbon must be protected from competing reactions, primarily carbide precipitation, during the first quench and partitioning steps, thus enabling the untransformed austenite to be enriched in carbon and largely stabilised against further decomposition to martensite upon final quenching to room temperature. This microstructural objective is almost directly opposed to conventional quenching and tempering of martensite, which seeks to eliminate retained austenite and where carbon supersaturation is relieved by carbide precipitation. This study focuses upon a steel composition representative of a TRIP-assisted sheet steel. The Q&P microstructure is characterised, paying particular attention to the prospect for controlling or suppressing carbide precipitation by alloying, through examination of the carbide precipitation that occurs.

Abstract: Development and use of high-speed steels for manufacturing the roll outer shell of hot strip mills represented a major recent technological advancement in the hot rolling field. However, it was observed that the oxidation behavior of these steels was different from that of conventional rolls. The high-speed steel oxidation rate is about four times higher than the alloys previously used. Furthermore, the rolling conditions are quite aggressive. Contact of the roll with the hot strip, air and water of the cooling system is expected to increase the oxidation of the roll surface in this wet atmosphere. Therefore, it is necessary to study their oxidation behavior in order to achieve the full potential of high-speed steel rolls for hot strip mills. In the present work, the oxidation behavior of three high-speed steels with differences in chromium content was studied. Corrosion tests were carried out in a thermobalance under dry and moist (12.5 % H2O) atmospheres at 765oC for 240 minutes. The corroded samples were examined by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersive micro-analysis. It was found that the variation of chromium content of the high-speed steels studied was sufficient to influence the oxidation behaviour. Samples with high chromium contents presented smallest final mass gain. The presence of humidity had a significant effect on the oxidation behavior.