Papers by Author: Yvan Houbaert

Abstract: Low alloy transformation-induced plasticity aided (TRIP) steels have attracted much interest over the last years. TRIP steels were initially developed for automotive applications as they offer an excellent combination of strength and ductility at reasonable costs. These excellent mechanical properties mainly arise from a complex multiphase microstructure of a ferrite matrix and a dispersion of multiphase grains of bainite, martensite and metastable retained austenite. The relevant influence of microstructure on physical and mechanical properties makes metallographic study essential for an appropriate understanding and improvement of the mechanical behavior. An accurate microstructural characterization and quantification of the amount of the different constituents is indispensable to know how the stresses and strains are distributed within the different microstructural constituents. Among the different characterization methods commonly used electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD) appears to be the unique technique able to observe retained austenite grains often no larger than 1 μm. The present work shows the evolution of retained austenite while straining. Microstructural and textural evolution after different strains was examined by optical microscopy OM, EBSD and XRD techniques on TRIP800 steel. EBSD technique appears as a powerful tool for characterizing the complex multiphase steel microstructure and provides an accurate evaluation of the local crystallographic texture. It allows to measure orientation gradients within individual grains of each different phase. The distinction between some phases is observed.

Abstract: In this study, results are presented of an extensive experimental program to investigate the strain rate dependent mechanical properties of various Transformation Induced Plasticity (TRIP) steel grades. A split Hopkinson tensile bar setup was used for the high strain rate experiments and microstructural observation techniques such as LOM, SEM and EBSD revealed the mechanisms governing the observed behavior. With elevated testing temperatures and interrupted tensile experiments the material behavior and the austenite to martensite transformation is investigated. In dynamic conditions, the strain rate has limited influence on the material properties. Yet an important increase is noticed when comparing static to dynamic conditions. The differences in strength, elongation and energy absorption levels observed between the investigated materials can be attributed to their chemical composition. Adiabatic heating during high strain rate deformation tends to slow down the strain induced martensitic deformation. The elongation of the ferritic and austenite constituents is found to be strain rate dependent and the strain induced martensitic transformation occurs gradually in the material.

Abstract: TRIP-assisted steel with a composition of 0.2%C, 1.6%Mn, 1.5%Al was studied in the undeformed state, after the application of 10 and 30 % static tensile strain parallel to rolling the direction of the sheet and after dynamic (Hopkinson) fracture test. Detailed examination of the microstructure and microtexture by means of electron backscattered diffraction (EBSD) was carried out in order to quantify the microstructural constituents and to study the strain distribution. The microtexture evolution and the distribution of the specific texture components between the BCC and FCC phases were studied as a function of the external strain and the strain mode-static or dynamic. The strain localization and strain distribution between the structural constituents were quantified based on local misorientation maps. The full constraint Taylor model was used to predict the texture changes in the material and the results were compared to the experimental findings. Comparing the local misorientation data it was found that at low strains the ferrite accommodates approximately 10 times more deformation than the retained austenite. The strain localizes initially on the BCC-FCC phase boundaries and is then spread in the BCC constituents (ferrite and bainite) creating a deformation skeleton in the BCC phase. It was found that the observed texture changes in the measured retained austenite texture after deformation do not correspond exactly to the model prediction. The austenite texture components which were predicted by the Taylor model were not found in the measured austenite texture after deformation which means that they are first transformed to martensite, which is considered as an indication for the selective transformation of austenite under strain.

Abstract: As already intensive studies related to the processing of hot rolled dual phase steels have been reported in the past, the aim of this particular paper is to present some details within a processing strategy, that can be considered as useful for the processing of other special steel types. It will be shown that based on fundamental dilatometric measurements performed in the laboratory, a narrow window of processing parameters can be focused at. Moreover, practical dilatometric curves are shown, taking into account the transformation heat release in the arrested cooling zone (dry section), as to be considered regarding the industrial practice. Furthermore, by introducing a slab insert technique within the development schedule, not only time consuming research can be limited, especially main objectives can be achieved. Some of these objectives are: a) a simultaneous study of the influences of the chemical composition of the steels, b) a close control of the thermomechanical parameters encountered in the industrial environment, such as rolling reductions, strain rate and inter pass time conditions, c) a check of the homogeneity of mechanical properties versus the coil length.

Abstract: Galvannealed coatings are obtained by heat treating galvanized steel strips and are widely used in the automotive industry due to their improved properties. The variables influencing coating formation on high strength low alloy steel (HSLA) were analyzed. The study was carried out on samples obtained from an industrial plant and on samples coated in a hot dip process simulator. The mechanical properties of the steel substrate were evaluated, and the morphology and Fe content in the various phases of the coating and its characteristics were analyzed and compared. It was found that the Fe-Zn phases can be controlled and performed varying the temperature and holding time during the annealing cycles, avoiding the formation of undesirable phases.

Abstract: Oxide scales growing during hot rolling of steel represent an industrial and environmental problem. Tertiary oxide, which starts to form before entering the finishing stands, remains on the steel surface until the end of the process, affecting the final surface quality and the response to downstream processing. Characterizing scale layers and the scale/steel interface in terms of phase morphology, texture, grain structure and chemical composition is fundamental for a better understanding of their behaviour and the effect of thermomechanical cycles on the material response to further processing. Thin tertiary scale layers have been grown on ULC steel under controlled conditions in a laboratory device adequately positioned in a compression-testing machine, immediately before plane strain deformation. After heating under a protective atmosphere (nitrogen), the samples have been oxidized in air at 1050°C for a short oxidation time. Immediately after this controlled oxidation, some of the samples were subjected to plane strain compression (PSC) inside the experimental device, in order to simulate the finishing hot rolling process. Direct observations of oxide scale layers are impossible. The EBSD technique has been identified as a powerful tool that can be used to reveal the microstructure within the oxide scale and to distinguish between its constitutive phases, based on their distinct crystal lattices. The texture of the deformed oxide scales, originally grown on ULC steel, was determined in a SEM using the EBSD technique. This will help to achieve a better understanding of their complex deformation behaviour. Because the substrate deformation affects the oxide layer, orientation relationships between scale layer and substrate were measured and the crystallographic orientation between undeformed and deformed areas was determined. Strongly textured wustite grains with a clearly pronounced columnar structure were observed after oxidation at 1050°C. The detailed EBSD study reveals that the oxide layer is able to accommodate a significant amount of deformation.

Abstract: Steel containing a high Si-content is mainly used as electrical steel in flux carrying electrical machines. These materials are divided in the categories: grain oriented and non oriented electrical steels, mainly used in transformers and electrical motors, respectively. Their industrial production is normally limited to silicon contents lower than 3.5 m.-%, due to the generation of brittle ordered structures if the Si content is increased beyond this value. The paper reports on microstructure and texture evolution during processing by rolling of electrical steel in the high Si-range. The materials studied are two industrial electrical steels with a silicon content of 2.4 and 3.2 m.-%, their situation was as-received after hot rolling and industrial annealing. The different processing parameters, as rolling temperatures and cooling conditions have a strong influence on the final microstructures and textures. The importance of hot rolling and intermediate annealing processes is enhanced since above 2 m.-% Si these steels do not experience the usual α-γ-α phase transformation, because they present a bcc crystal structure over the entire solidus domain. Consequently, their microstructures and textures are strongly inherited from the earlier processing steps into the final product. The as-received materials were cold rolled with a nominal reduction of 75%. Their microstructures and textures were analysed by EBSD. The results obtained were compared with those of the industrial hot band. The textures were studied by the interpretation of the most important crystallographic fibre textures, extracted from the ODF’s of φ2 = 45o section of the Euler space. Special attention was given to the evolution of the most important magnetic textural components. Although in terms of grain shape, IQ, texture and normalised thickness position or ‘s’-parameter the microstructures obtained before and after cold rolling are totally different, the overall crystallographic textures seem not to differ very much.

Abstract: The shape memory behaviour of a Fe29Mn7Si5Cr based alloy has been investigated. Characterization of the martensitic transformation and the different structural constituents was performed using optical microscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD) methods and electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD). The transformation temperatures and the shape recovery were determined by dilatometry on prestrained samples.

Abstract: Research performed at Ghent University, regarding new production methods for electrical steel, has shown that high silicon steel suffers an ageing phenomenon at room temperature. Recent studies carried out by the same group using different analysis techniques (Mossbauer spectroscopy, neutron diffraction, etc) brought to light a probable process of ordering towards the D03-structure, which is responsible for the observed low ductility during cold rolling and makes the processing of steel extremely difficult. In addition, the Si-steels become more brittle as the delay time between hot and cold rolling is increased. Frequency dependent internal friction (FDIF) studies were performed on different Fe - Si alloys with a Si content varying from 3.73 at. % to 8.7 at. % immediately after several thermal treatments and compared with ultra-low carbon steel. The evolution of relaxation peaks during the IF measurements, performed at constant room temperature, helps to understand the ageing mechanisms. Three processes have been observed: firstly, as expected, addition of Si reduces the carbon Snoek peak. Secondly, a peak associated to C - Si is formed. Thirdly, a low frequency peak associated with Zener relaxation (Si atom pairs) appears for a content of approximately 3.77 wt. % Si. The two latter peaks decrease with ageing time and in the case of the Zener peak there is a notable displacement to higher frequencies with a small increase of the Si content. The reduction of the peaks during the ageing after annealing is more noticeable in quenched specimens than in air cooled ones, and in furnace cooled specimens the reduction is even smaller, indicating that the process is really an ageing phenomenon. Room temperature short-range ordering might explain both the lowering of the Zener peak and the observed macroscopic embrittlement.

Abstract: Exposure of metals and alloys to high temperatures leads to the formation of oxide scales, with a large impact on surface quality. The most important features of the oxide layer are its thickness, composition, structure, adherence and coherence. Temperature, time, gas atmosphere and chemical composition determine the growth of oxide layers. In this paper, the characteristics of the high temperature oxidation properties of Fe-Si alloys are discussed in terms of oxide growth mechanism, kinetics and phase morphology. The oxidation kinetics of different Fe-Si alloy steels in air, its scale structure and composition were investigated over the temperature range 900-1250°C. Oxidation experiments were performed in air, to analyse the oxidation process. Experiments were carried out in an electric furnace at temperatures ranging from 900 to 1250°C, for times between 16 and 7200s. Thus treated specimens were characterised by metallography and their scale thickness was measured by optical microscopy. Scale morphology was studied and scale composition confirmed by EDS (Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy) and EBSD (Electron Backscattered Diffraction) analysis. Results show that high temperature oxidation of Si- alloys presents the classic three layered oxide scale. On the grain boundaries in the scale, iron-silicate was found. Observations show a Sienrichment at the scale –metal interface. This enrichment is present in the form a mixed wustite-iron silicate (fayalite) phase, FeO-Fe2SiO4. A very rapid build-up of oxide occurs when a liquid phase, due to the wustite-fayalite eutectic, is present in the surface of the steel.