Papers by Author: Shan Wu Yang

Abstract: The influence of prior austenite grain size on the crystallography of allotriomorphic ferrite is investigated in a low carbon steel. The results show that as the prior austenite grain size decreasing, the fraction of allotriomorphic ferrites that do not keep K-S orientation relationship with any surrounding prior austenite grains is increased. It is observed that such ferrites usually form at the grain edges or grain corners. It is known that with the grain size decreasing, the fraction of grain edges and corners increases. It is suggested that the free energy of the defects at such nucleation sites is higher than that at grain faces, and the nucleation barrier of ferrite is lower. As a result, the possibility for the ferrite to form that does not have orientation relationship with all surrounding austenite grains is increased at such sites.

Abstract: The microstructure evolution and precipitation behavior of two low carbon steels are studied, with 0.05C-0.77%Nb added in one steel and (0.03C-)1.63Cu-0.74%Nb added in the other as a comparison. In the Cu-Nb steel tempered at 600°C for 18 hrs, there are two peaks in the particle size distribution figure, one between 2-3nm formed by NbCN precipitates, and the other, 10-12nm for Cu precipitates. The TEM observation on carbon replica shows that the average particle diameter of NbCN precipitate is 2.81±0.78nm in C-Nb steel, while 4.23±0.95 nm in Cu-Nb steel with lower carbon. The analysis shows that this size increase of NbCN not only decreases the precipitation strengthening, but also weakens significantly the pinning effect on the dislocations, which results in a more serious microstructure softening in Cu-Nb steel.

Abstract: A Fe-0.05C-2.94Mn-1.87Si steel is heat treated using a two-stage isothermal holding process to obtain allotriomorphic ferrite and bainite. Two kinds of allotriomorphic ferrite are obtained, one with only carbon partitioning and the other, alloying element partitioning. It is observed that the allotriomorphic ferrite stimulates the adjacent bainite to select the similar variant on the side where near K-S relationship is maintained between ferrite and prior austenite. The longer the border length of the allotriomorphic ferrite, the larger the stimulated bainite area. The statistical measurement shows that the alltriomorhpic ferrite with alloying element partitioning stimulates such bainite variant selection as well as that with only carbon partitioning.

Abstract: Microstructure evolution in low-carbon bainitic steel during tempering is investigated by hardness measurements and metallographical examinations. It is found that the microstructure evolution and the hardness variation can be divided into four stages when samples were tempered at 600°C and 700°C, and the evolution of bainte is similar to recovery and recrystallization of deformed metals. It is also found that the newly formed ferrite during recrystallization grows more rapidly along the long axis of bainite laths, and there is evidence of composition changing during recrystallization.

Abstract: The ultra-low carbon high strength weathering steel was trial manufactured. By Optical micrographs observation, scanning electronic microscope (SEM), transmission electronic microscope (TEM), accelerated corrosion test, the corrosion resistant performance of test steel and CortenB steel were studied. The results showed that yield strength, tensile strength, elongation and -40 °C impact energy of test steel reached 510MPa, 600MPa, 22% and 115J, respectively. Corrosion resistance of test steel was superior to that of CortenB. The microstructure of ferrite and bainite, quickly forming adhesive dense rust layers to improve the corrosion resistance of test steel.

Abstract: By testing the mechanical properties, microstructure observation, accelerated corrosion test, the effect of alloying element nickel on microstructure and properties of weathering steels was studied. The results showed that nickel content from 0 to 0.44%（mass percent）have little influence on microstructure and mechanical properties of weathering steels.The corrosion resistance enhanced with increasing nickel content, and nickel content of 0.11% or more had significant enfluence on corrosion resistant performance of weathering steels.

Abstract: Back propagation (BP) neural network model was established, using the corrosion data of five kinds of recently developed bainite weathering steel and the commercial weathering steel 09CuPCrNi exposed in the offshore platform in Wanning. The influences of elements P, Cu, C and Cr on the corrosion behavior of weathering steel were studied according to the model. The experimental results indicate that the corrosion depth of bainite weathering steel corroded for 1 year could decline owing to the increasing contents of P, Cu and Cr in steel while C has little effect on the variation of the corrosion depth.

Abstract: . A low carbon steel is austenitized and isothermally held at 680°C to form allotriomorphic ferrite and followed by a holding at lower temperature to form bainite. The morphology of allotriomorphic ferrite/bainite interfaces is studied using optical microscope. Three kinds of combination are observed: Type I: interface on one side is clear while on the other side, unclear; Type II: unclear on both sides; Type III: clear on both sides. Clear interface indicates a large difference in the orientation between the bainite and the ferrite, and unclear interface, a very small difference. The statistical counting shows that the ratio of Type I is about 80-82%, and that of Type II, 7-8%, and Type III, 9-11%. It is observed that this ratio does not change with the austenite grain size and bainite forming temperature. And the clear and unclear side of allotriomorphic ferrite may have different influence on the nucleation rate of bainite at allotriomorhic ferrite/prior austenite interface.

Abstract: The dominant microstructures in low carbon bainite steels such as bainitic ferrite are non-equilibrium phases, which will tend to evolve into equilibrium phases when the steels are subjected to thermal disturbance. In-situ observation by optical and scanning electron microscopy was carried out in this investigation to track the evolution when the steels were isothermally held below A1 temperature. It is found that the primary polygonal ferrite grows slowly during isothermal holding, while bainitic ferrite changes rapidly into polygonal ferrite. Self-tempered bainitic ferrite would recover further and recrystallize. The lower the concentration product of carbon and niobium, the faster is the evolution.

Abstract: To improve the toughness and weldability, the carbon content of the steels has to be deduced, and more and more attention has been attracted to the low carbon and ultra-low carbon steels. To strengthen the microstructure Cu and Nb-bearing steels are developed. However, the knowledge on influence of combined addition of Cu and Nb is still in lack. The microstructure and mechanical properties are studied in the 6-mm thick as-rolled and tempered ultra-low carbon steel plates with varied copper and niobium content. The microstructure and mechanical properties are studied in the 6-mm thick as-rolled and tempered ultra-low carbon steel plates with varied copper and niobium content. The experimental results show that if niobium is added without copper, the increase of niobium addition does not have a significant influence on the phase transformation and mechanical properties before tempering. The strength and toughness of those copper-free niobium steels do not vary significantly after tempered at different temperatures, while the strength of niobium steels with 1.8% copper added increases after tempered in the range of 450-650°C and reaches a peak at 500-550°C. If combined with 1.8% copper, the increase of niobium addition from 0.08% to 0.16% improves the hardenabililty and strength significantly, and the strength peak after tempering moves to a lower temperature. The strength of air-cooled niobium steels with 1.8% copper added is usually higher than those water-cooled, while after tempered at a proper temperature, the strength of the latter becomes higher than the former.