Papers by Keyword: Steel

Abstract: Two novel methods of obtaining microduplex structures, ferrite plus spherical carbides, in ultrahigh strength steels (~2000MPa) are introduced. One is through an adequate deformation just below the austenite-ferrite equilibrium transformation temperature (i.e. Ae₃ temperature, ~983K) followed by water quenching. The adequate deformation directly leads to the formation of a (ferrite plus spherical carbides) microduplex structure. The microstructure evolution during the deformation includes pearlite transformation, cementite spheroidization and ferrite recrystallization. The other is through an adequate deformation above Ae₃ temperature (~1003K) followed by water quenching to produce martensite firstly and then obtain a (ferrite plus spherical carbides) microduplex structure during warm deformation of martensite. Microstructural analysis on the microduplex structure shows that submicron carbides are located at ferrite grain boundaries while nanometer ones are dispersed inside ferrite grains. This kind of carbide distribution may suppress the coarsening of ferrite grains and form a dynamic equilibrium of ferrite grain size on a specific deformation condition. The strain rate sensitivity of the (ferrite plus spherical carbides) microduplex structures is about 0.4 at 973K and strain rate of 10^-4s^-1.

Abstract: The work hardening behavior was investigated in ferritic steels containing hard particles or soft Cu particles with various volume fractions and particle diameters, and then the effect of plastically deformable soft particles on the work hardening was evaluated in terms of the accumulation of GN dislocations. The amount of work hardening and dislocation density increased with an increase of volume fraction of dispersion particles and a decrease of particle diameter in hard particle dispersion steel. On the other hand, in soft Cu particle dispersion steel, the effect of volume fraction and particle diameter on work hardening behavior was relatively small. TEM observation suggested that stress relaxation around particle takes place by plastic deformation of Cu particle itself. In order to consider the effect of plastic deformation of Cu particles on accumulation of GN dislocations, "particle plastic accommodation parameter" was proposed to modify the Ashby's work hardening theory. As a result, the amount of work hardening was successfully predicted for both the hard and soft particle dispersion steels

Abstract: The automotive industry applies pressure on the PM industry to produce components with superior mechanical properties at minimum cost. In this regard, sinter-hardenable powders are particularly well suited since they allow direct quenching of components at the end of the sintering cycle, thus eliminating the extra steps required for heat treating. This paper presents the results of the modeling of the influence of admixing and/or prealloying on the optimization of compressibility and hardenability of sinter-hardenable steel powders. A first design of experiments (DOE) was used to optimize the chemical composition and to study the interactions between prealloyed elements (Nickel, Chromium, Molybdenum and Manganese) and admixed elements (Nickel, Chromium, Manganese and Copper) on hardenability and compressibility. A second DOE was generated based on the results obtained in the first series. Results show that among all of the examined alloying elements, only prealloyed nickel, chromium and molybdenum had a significant effect on compressibility and hardenability. Moreover, within the range of concentrations under study, the optimum sinter-hardenable powder had the following (prealloyed) chemistry: 1.5 wt-% Ni, 0.55 wt-% Cr and 1.25 wt-% Mo.

Abstract: We studied the crystallographic features, especially the orientation relationship with respect to austenite, of martensite in a steel transformed from coarse-grained equiaxed austenite (35 μm), ultrafine-grained equiaxed (2.5 μm) or lamellar (300nm) austenite fabricated by sever plastic deformation. With decreasing the grain size of equiaxed austenite, the orientation relationship changed from Kurdjumov - Sachs relationship to Greninger - Troiano relationship. We inferred that this change of orientation relationship could be attributed to the small size of martensite plate transformed from the ultrafine-grained equiaxed austenite. The martensite transformed from the ultrafine-grained lamellar austenite did not have a definite orientation relationship with austenite. We considered that a high density of dislocations or a high density of low angle boundaries within the ultrafine lamellar austenite grain resulted in the large deviation of orientation relationship.

Abstract: The authors have developed a new friction-stir welding (FSW) tool that enables to weld high-softening-temperature materials (HSTMs), such as steels, titanium and zirconium alloys. The new tool is made of a Co-based heat-resistant alloy strengthened by precipitating intermetallics, Co₃(Al,W), with a L1₂ structure at high temperatures. The Co-based alloy tool exhibits yield strengths higher than 500 MPa at 1000 deg C, so it might have a great potential as a tool material for FSW of HSTMs. In this study, the feasibility of using the Co-based alloy tool with various HSTMs was examined. Changes in the tool shape during FSW and the weld appearances produced with the Co-based alloy tool will be briefly shown.

Abstract: The study was carried out in order to evaluate the effect of the pulsed electric current (PEC) treatment on the corrosion as well as on static strength of Polish reinforcing steel. As-received St3SX was used for investigations. Two kinds of specimens were manufactured by turning from 20 mm diameter re-bars: cylinders of 10 mm diameter and 28 mm length for corrosion tests and standard cylindrical specimens of 6 mm diameter and 30 mm length for static tension tests. Corrosion tests was performed according to the ASTM B117-97 standard. As-received steel tensile specimens and the specimens after PEC treatment were tested using a servo-hydraulic universal testing machine at the strain rate of 10^-2 s^-1.

Abstract: In development of 12%Cr high temperature steels used for fossil fired power plants, the precipitation of large Z-phase particles, CrMN, has been identified as a major problem since they replace small and finely distributed MN particles. This causes a premature breakdown in the long-term creep strength of the steel. The Cr content promotes Z-phase precipitation, making MN strengthening of these materials unfeasible, since 12%Cr is necessary for oxidation resistance. The authors have suggested an acceleration of Z-phase precipitation to obtain a fine and stable distribution of CrMN instead of MN, thus preserving long-term creep strength. This can be done by alloying with Ta instead of Nb and V. Recent investigations have indicated a direct transformation of MN into CrMN to take place, not the traditional nucleation/dissolution process. In this paper atomic resolution microscopy shows how Cr atoms diffuse from the steel matrix into TaN precipitates and physically transform them into CrTaN. The crystal structure of the precipitates changes from that of a typical MN NaCl type crystal structure to a Z-phase crystal structure with alternating double layers of Cr and TaN. Since there is a large contrast between heavy Ta atoms and light Cr atoms, the ordering of the Cr layers inside the TaN particles can clearly be observed.

Abstract: The warm deformation behavior of as-quenched and as-annealed ASTM 1045 steel was studied by isothermal compression testing on a Gleeble3500 machine. The temperature range was 550-700°C and the strain rate range 0.001-0.1s^-1. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) was used to study the microstructures associated with the observed deformation phenomenons. The results show that the flow stress of quenched specimens is higher than that of annealed ones at 550°C when strain rates are greater than 0.001s^-1. However, at 600-700°C and strain rate of 0.001s^-1, the whole flow curves of quenched specimens are below that of annealed ones. Under the rest conditions, the flow stress of quenched specimens is higher at the beginning of compression and then the opposite is true after the strain is greater than a critical value. The microstructure examination proves that the dynamic recrystallization easily occurs in quenched specimens during warm compression, which results in the above phenomenons. Keywords: warm deformation, flow stress, steel, quenching, annealing

Abstract: Under laboratory conditions, simulated Bell-type annealing technology , researched the annealing temperature on the SPCC cold-rolled steel sheet mechanical properties. The results indicate that when the time of annealing is shorter (1h), the hardness of steel that used to test decreased with the annealing temperature increased; when the time of annealing is longer (5h), the microhardness is increase slightly with the annealing temperature increased, while the lower plastic decreased.

Abstract: Oxidation of U71Mn steels under three different reheating curves in air are experimentally analyzed in this study. Total heating time of the heating curves are numerical computed before experiment. The results showed that oxidation began from about 900K, become noticeable and accelerated at near 1100K and became fast from about 1250K. The total mass increase of oxidation under high, typical and low heating rate are 159, 131 and 104 mg/cm²，when the total heating time are 268, 286, and 316 minutes. Keywords: oxidation; steel; high temperature; reheating furnace