Papers by Author: Stéphane Godet

Abstract: There has recently been significant interest in the problem of variant selection in the strain-induced transformation of austenite to α’-martensite in metastable austenitic stainless steels. Previous work has highlighted our poor understanding of the mechanisms leading to this transformation, in particular the role that the macroscopic stress plays in the transformation. In this work, we have sought to perform detailed experiments aimed at developing a statistical grain level view of variant selection in one particular grade of austenitic stainless steel. EBSD measurements made over a large number of grains as well as macroscopic texture measurements made at different levels of imposed plastic strain allow for comparison against various approaches for predicting variant selection based on the Patel-Cohen interaction energy.

Abstract: The aim of this research is to investigate the effect of Cr and Al (strong ferrite formers) on the strain-induced γ-to-pearlite transformation in eutectoid steels. The microstructure evolution during the hot deformation of three eutectoid steel grades was investigated using hot torsion testing. More specifically, the steels were deformed to strain levels varying from ε = 0,5 to ε = 1,5 at their specific Ar₁ temperature. Hot deformation of the undercooled austenite leads to strain-induced γ-to-pearlite transformation and to the almost instantaneous spheroidization of the formed carbides. The corresponding microstructures consist of submicronic cementite particles and ferritic grains that are 1-5 μm in size. It is shown that 1,5% Cr addition and 0,5% Al addition increase the equilibrium transformation temperature but slower significantly the kinetics of the strain-induced transformation and consequently reduce the kinetics of cementite spheroidization and of ferrite recrystallization.

Abstract: The eutectoid transformation of austenite can occur cooperatively (pearlite transformation) or by means of a non-cooperative mode (Divorced Eutectoid Transformation). In the cooperative mode, ferrite and cementite grow together, leading to the typical lamellar microstructure of pearlite. In the non-cooperative mode, spheroidal cementite particles grow directly from the undissolved carbides in the austenite phase. The transformation product is a fully spheroidized microstructure. In this study, the parameters promoting the occurrence of DET in a hypereutectoid steel (austenitization temperature, cooling rate, presence of proeutectoid cementite in the initial microstructure) were investigated. It is shown that low undercooling levels and a homogenous distribution of fine carbides in the austenite promote the DET over the lamellar transformation mode. The spheroidized microstructures produced by DET lead to larger ductilities comparing to those obtained by the lamellar transformation mode.

Abstract: Austenitic steels can exhibit a complex transformation sequence during deformation. Indeed, the austenitic phase transforms first into bands of ε (HCP) martensite. This transformation is then followed by the formation of α’ (BCC) martensite. In this study, the crystallography of the transformation together with the occurrence of variant selection is studied at the scale of individual austenite grains. About ten prior austenite grains deformed at different strain levels in uniaxial tension were analysed by means of EBSD techniques. One of the classical approaches to predict the variant selection phenomenon is based on the calculation of the interaction energy between the macroscopic stress and the shape deformation associated with the formation of the product phase. The formation of the α’ variants was observed to lead to a very strong variant selection that cannot be fully explained by energetic criterion. It is suggested that the crystallography of the transformation sequence can account for the unexpected variants.

Abstract: The orientation relationships that apply to the fcc (γ) – bcc (α) phase transformation in high-performance hot-rolled TRIP-aided steels were characterised by EBSD techniques. A statistical treatment of the experimental data allows the mean orientation relationship to be determined. This mean orientation relationship was compared to the models commonly proposed in the literature and confronted qualitatively to the predictions of the phenomenological theory of martensite crystallography (PTMC). The variant selection phenomenon was also characterized quantitatively at the level of individual austenite grains. The reconstruction of the EBSD maps evidences that bainite grows by packets in which the bainite laths share a common {111}γ plane in the austenite. This growth mechanism is not influenced by the prior hot deformation of the austenite. The hot deformation has a critical influence on the number of packets that forms. The analysis of the crystallographic features of the bainite packets reveals that all possible variants are formed in a packet, though in different proportions.

Abstract: Eutectoid steels present a wide range of interesting mechanical properties (high strength, wear resistance, ductility and toughness) and could be a cheaper alternative to high strength low-alloyed steels (HSLA) in applications where weldability is not a critical requirement. The mechanical properties of pearlite are mainly dictated by the interlamellar spacing and the spheroidization of cementite. In this work, the spheroidization kinetics during annealing of a fully pearlitic steel produced in an electric arc furnace (EAF) is investigated. More specifically, the influence of a prior cold deformation and of the interlamellar spacing is studied using image analysis and hardness tests. It is shown that spheroidization is faster in fine pearlite than in coarse pearlite. Prior cold deformation strongly accelerates the spheroidization kinetics in fine and coarse pearlite. The tensile properties corresponding to different pearlite microstructure were measured and are compared to the hardness evolution during annealing.

Abstract: The orientation relationships that apply to phase transformations in high-performance TRIP and TWIP steels were characterised by orientation imaging and EBSD techniques. The results are presented in the fundamental zones of Rodrigues-Frank space that correspond to the specific phase transformation under consideration (cubic to cubic or cubic to hexagonal). The use of Rodrigues-Frank space enables straightforward comparison to be made with orientation relationships proposed in the literature. The observations indicate that the active slip systems in the parent phase play important roles in variant selection.

Abstract: TRIP-assisted multiphase steels exhibit an excellent balance of strength and ductility, which makes them very attractive for the automotive industry. These remarkable mechanical properties can be attributed mainly to their composite-like microstructures and to the transformation of retained austenite into martensite during straining (Transformation-Induced Plasticity). The aim of this study is to highlight the interactions between the hot rolling conditions, the transformation of austenite and formation of the microstructure, and the resulting mechanical properties. Various rolling simulation techniques were employed to determine how the composite microstructure is formed during the various steps of multi-stage thermomechanical processing.

Abstract: Orientations of both the α and γ phases in a multi-phase commercial steel were measured by means of electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD) techniques. Using the average orientation of each austenite grain as the reference frame, the orientation relationships between the two lattices were compared with the common orientation relationships (i.e. the Kurdjumov-Sachs and Nishiyama-Wassermann) in Rodrigues-Frank space. The occurrence of variant selection in individual austenite grains was examined using a recent dislocation-based model. This model considers the role of the slip systems that were active during prior deformation, as well as those of in-plane reactions, cross-slip and the partial dislocations that are linked to specific variants. It also unites the competing K-S and N-W relationships through the dissociation of perfect dislocations. Reasonably good agreement was observed between the predictions and the observations. Possible explanations for some of the discrepancies are also presented.

Abstract: In warm rolled steels, the intensity of the <111>//ND annealing texture, which favours formability, has been related to the formation of shear bands during rolling. Coarse hot band grain sizes (HBGS’s) facilitate flow localization, the mechanism associated with the formation of shear bands.In this work, the effect of grain size after hot rolling was studied in a low carbon steel containing small additions of Cr and Mn. The formation of shear bands and their subsequent influence on the normal anisotropy rm and planar anisotropy Dr in the annealed steels were of particular interest. Two HBGS’s (18 and 30mm) were employed and the specimens were warm rolled to reductions of 65 and 80% at various temperatures between 640 and 700°C. The results show that the frequency of shear banding is slightly lower for the smaller grain size. The normal anisotropy was not affected by the HBGS; by contrast, much lower Dr values were associated with the finer grained steel.