Papers by Author: Shiro Torizuka

Abstract: While uniform elongation is a measure of ductility of the material, reduction in area in tensile tests is also an important measure of ductility. It was found that the reduction in area - tensile strength balance is far better than the conventional ferrite+pearlite steels and even superior to martensitic and bainitic steels. Formability of ultrafine-grained steel is examined by applying to form a M1.7 micro screw using these ultrafine-grained steels. Screws are formed through the process of cold heading and rolling. Relationship between cold heading, rolling, uniform elongation and reduction in area are investigated to clarify the formability of ultrafine-grained steels. Low-carbon ultrafine-grained steel has excellent cold headability and favorable rolling properties, i.e., excellent formability. Reduction in area is a measure to determine formability on cold heading. Ultrafine grained steel wire with length of several hundred meter were developed with the technology of warm continuous multi-directional rolling. This wire also have a good formability which can form microscrews. High strength microscrew with ultrafine grained structure was obtained.

Abstract: Ultra fine grained steels have been developed by many researchers. However, the study of influence on processes and product functions from different grain size are limited because the size of bulk material was small for these products. Authors have developed the production process of thin ultra fine grained stainless steel coil, and the effects are able to be clarified. This paper will firstly report the influence on micro hole piercing by comparing different grain size materials. Secondly, orifices are produced from these materials, and the liquid flow volume is measured as the functional effect of different grain size. The effects of grain size differences were discussed with observing the hole conditions and measuring flow volume. The effects of reduction of the grain size were summarized as follows: (1) Accurate small hole is produced when ultra fine grained stainless steel is employed. (2) Product functional improvement is possible, and the phenomena are useful for liquid control devices.

Abstract: In 0.1C-5Mn steels, 5%Mn addition increases hardening ability and makes 100% martensitic transformation even in air cooling without water quenching. Their Ms and Mf temperatures are in the range of 350-250°C, and subzero treatment is not needed. This makes it possible to measure Ms and Mf temperatures accurately by dilatometry. Utilizing a newly developed experimental technique that makes it possible to examine phase transformation behavior and conduct tensile testing with the same specimen, we examined these relationships with identical specimens and obtained the following results. Ms temperature decreases as much as 40 K with a decrease in austenite grain size from 254 to 30 m. Regarding martensite structure, the packet size and the block length decrease, while the lath width does not change, with the refinement of austenite grain size by about one tenth. True stress - true strain curves obtained up to fracture elucidates that the austenite refinement substantially improves true fracture strength and greatly increases true fracture strain of martensite, potentially invalidating the conventional concept of a trade-off balance between strength and ductility.

Abstract: While uniform elongation is a measure of ductility of the material, reduction in area in tensile tests is also an important measure of ductility. Ultrafine-grained steels with different carbon contents from ultralow carbon to high carbon were produced through warm caliber rolling. It was found that the reduction in area- tensile strength balance is far better than the conventional ferrite+pearlite steels and even superior to martensite steels for all materials. Formability of ultrafine-grained steel is examined by applying to form a M 1.7 micro screw using these ultrafine-grained steels. Screws are formed through the process of cold heading and rolling. Relationship between cold heading, rolling, uniform elongation and reduction in area are investigated to clarify the formability of ultrafine-grained steels. Low-carbon ultrafine-grained steel has excellent cold headability and favorable rolling properties, i.e., excellent formability. Reduction in area is a measure to determine formability on cold heading. Ultrafine grained steel wire with length of several hundred meter were developed with the technology of warm continuous multi-directional rolling. This wire also have a good formability which can form microscrews.

Abstract: Steel bars having a cross section of 18mm square with uniform distribution of ultrafine ferrite grains were produced through a multi-pass warm caliber rolling process in a 0.15%C-0.3%Si-1.5%Mn steel. The average ferrite grain sizes of 0.43μ m, 0.70μ m and 1.2 μ m were obtained in the isothermal warm caliber rolling processes at 773K, 823K and 873K respectively. Even though caliber rolling results in inhomogeneous strain distribution, multi-pass caliber rolling to large cumulated strains of 2 or 3 can be uniformly introduced in to the bar samples. Strain accumulation due to the multi-pass warm deformations was confirmed by comparing microstructural evolution through the multi-pass deformations with that of single pass deformation. The size of ultrafine grains formed through warm deformation was found to depend on the Zener-Hollomon parameter. The similarity of the microstructural evolution with single pass deformation reveals that the multi-pass warm deformation is an effective method to obtain ultrafine grained ferrite structure in bulk materials. It is proposed that compressive strain-Z parameter plots along with grain size-Z parameter plots help in establishing the processing conditions for obtaining products with a desired microstructure and grain size. Finally, such “processing maps” developed for a variety of materials serve useful purpose in bridging the science and technology of developing bulk ultrafine grained materials in semi-finished / finished products.

Abstract: Ultrafine-grained steels with a grain size of about one micron offer the prospect of high strength coupled with high toughness among conventional steel compositions and are attracting the attention of researchers worldwide. Application of these ultrafine-grained steels to potential engineering structures demands extensive study of their mechanical properties. While there are many studies on the development of ultrafine-grained microstructures through various deformation processing techniques on a spectrum of compositions, fewer studies were reported on the more important aspect of evaluating their mechanical properties. This is to verify the basic assumption that the microstructural refinement at bulk level indeed improves the mechanical properties offering the prospect of a realistic replacement of the existing conventional steels in the near future. As we move towards the ultimate goal of applying these advanced high strength materials, this review article attempts to present a comprehensive picture on the mechanical properties of ultrafine-grained steels with varying carbon contents fabricated by large strain warm deformation. Finally, it is believed that time is ripe for exploring the possible applications of these materials for structural applications.

Abstract: During large strain deformation of materials, the high angle grain boundary spacing approaches the order of mean thermal diffusion distances for given deformation conditions. Based on the results of microstructural and grain size analysis in low carbon steel subjected to large strain-high Z deformation, the evolved ferrite grain size was found to be controlled by the Zener-Hollomon parameter and grain boundary diffusion was found to be the controlling mechanism.

Abstract: The microstructural change was observed during large strain high Z deformation with high strain rate in high temperature range using ultra low carbon steel. The finer grains were obtained as decreasing the deformation temperature and increasing the strain rate. And the fraction of high angle grain boundaries became higher in low deformation temperature and strong texture of ferrite recrystallized dynamically was measured such as ND//<100>,<111> and RD//<110>. The change of grain size could be analyzed by Zener-Hollomon parameter, whereas the duration has large effect on the deviation of expected grain size in deformation with high strain rate.

Abstract: We examined the microstructure development in low carbon steel (0.15% C) during heavy warm deformation (HWD) using field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) and electron back-scattering diffraction (EBSD). Plane strain compression tests have been conducted in the temperature range of 773-923 K at strain rates of 0.01 s-1 and 1 s-1 with the specimens deformed to 25% of their original thickness. We summarize the strain rate and temperature into the Zener-Hollomon parameter and investigate its variation with plastic strain on the basis of the evolved microstructures and grain boundary character with a view to understanding the critical conditions for forming ultrafine grains and classifying them. Once established, these compressive strain-Z parameter plots simplify the selection of processing parameters (such as strain, strain rate, and temperature), towards achieving tailor-made microstructures in industrial components.

Abstract: During large strain deformation of materials, the width of the initial high angle grain boundaries approaches the order of mean diffusion distances encountered during elevated temperature deformation. Since the evolution of ultrafine grains is attributed to thermally activated processes, the role of interfaces in determining the grain size is significant. In order to investigate into this role, microstructure development in low carbon steel (0.15% C) subjected to large strain deformation was studied with specific reference to the controlling mechanism of ferrite grain size evolution. Plane strain compression tests have been conducted in the temperature range of 773-923K at strain rates of 0.01 s -1 and 1 s-1 and the specimens were deformed to 25% of the original thickness and the Microstructural evolution is studied. Based on the results obtained, diffusion along grain boundaries was found to be the mechanism controlling ferrite grain size in this material processed through large strain deformation.