Papers by Keyword: Thermomechanical Process

Abstract: Development of S6 tool steel has been discussed in this research by conducting a bit modification in the chemical composition using aluminum instead of molybdenum, and micro addition of boron to enhance the marteniste structure. Then, the hardenability and thermal stability have been detected in regarding to S6 tool steel. A novel isothermal treatment process has been suggested to enrich the retained austenite, and thereby, it has been tracked by using XRD, optical microscope, and SEM in conjugation with EDS. The effect of retained on the mechanical properties has been determined. The results ensure that aluminum has inhibited the graphite formation through the slow cooling regime. No change of hardenability or thermal stability of S6 tool steel triggered from adding of aluminum and microaddition of boron. In addition, the novel isothermal process leads to enrichment of retained austenite that has significantly affected on the combination of ductility with strength of the newly designed steel.

Abstract: Ni-Ti shape memory alloys have shape memory effect, that if they are deformed from martensitic phase state at a lower temperature, they will recover their original shape by heating them to austenitic phase state. To have them for an application using this shape memory effect, usually they undergo a constraint aging after plastic deformation. That is, they are fixed with tool set and together heat treated in a furnace after they are formed at room temperature. However a large load is needed to form them at room temperature. Thus, this study is aimed to lower the forming load by combining the forming and aging process together in a furnace at high temperature. In this study, a Ni-Ti shape memory alloy wire having a diameter of 0.63 mm is bent in a heated chamber at 450°C, 500°C, 550°C, and 600°C, respectively, by a V-shaped punch of 2 mm in radius to an angle of 60°, then held along with the die set at its dead center in the chamber for maximum one hour long, and then quenched in the water. All of the bent wires have the shape memory effect. That is, the wires recover their bent geometry once they are unbent at about 4°C and heated again at about 100°C. The experiment results showed that the bent wires can have the geometry accuracy as desired because of stress relaxation found in the process, which depends on the process temperature and duration. As a result, the higher the process temperature is and the longer the duration is, the better the accuracy of the formed wires is.

Abstract: Because of their smart characteristics with shape memory effect and superelasticity, NiTi shape memory alloys used in sensors and actuators are regarded as an emerging applied material with high added value by their additional biomedical compatibility for medical devices and implants. It is meaningful to pay more attention to study the production technique of NiTi shape memory alloys. For this reason, this article is aimed to investigate the results of a NiTi shape memory alloy wire in thermomechanical forming process regarding the processing temperature and duration. Thereafter a NiTi shape memory alloy wire of 0.63 mm in diameter is formed in a furnace at 450°C, 500°C, 550°C, and 600°C, respectively, by a semi cylindrical punch of 32 mm in diameter, then held together with the die set in the furnace for 10, 30, and 50 minutes long, respectively, and then quenched in the water. All of the formed wires have shape memory effect. That is, the wires returned their formed geometry once they were straightened below martensite transformation finishing temperature about room temperature and heated again above austenite transformation finishing temperature about 70°C. These thermomechanical forming processes were also investigated by commercial finite element software DEFORM. Both analytical and experimental results showed that the formed wires could not have the geometry precision as wanted because of stress relaxation found in process, which depends on the process temperature and the treatment duration. As a result, the lower the temperature and the shorter the duration is, the larger the springback is. That means that the higher the treatment temperature is and the longer the holding time is, the better the precision of the formed part is.

Abstract: The effect of intercritical deformation on development of microstructure in low-silicon contents multiphase TRIP-assisted steels were investigated by laboratory simulation of controlled-thermomechanical processing in an automated hot compression testing machine. A typical multiple cooling stages TMP program was applied and samples were deformed in intercritical region to different strains. Microstructures of samples were characterized by optical and scanning electron microscopy, XRD and Mössbauer. The result indicated that intercritical straining increases volume fraction of polygonal ferrite and granular-type retained austenite particles, but reduces fraction of bainite. The increase in retained austenite volume fraction is attributed to strain-assisted diffusion of carbon and to refinement of retained austenite particles.

Abstract: A new approach is proposed in this paper that describes the development of flexible rolling technology in industrial processing of C – Mn and Low C - microalloyed steels. Scientific knowledge of industrially-significant processes for these materials is presently fragmented and scattered in published literature, which causes impediment to process innovation and optimization. In the current work, it is demonstrated that new process sequences could be developed by breaking down existing process routes in to key elements and then by recombining them to generate novel alternative and more efficient hot processing sequences. The proposed methodology establishes a platform for a more realistic assessment of existing process routes and the development of new hybrid process routes that combine ideas from alternative processes. This enables the identification of an optimal process sequence for specified steel compositions that also satisfies simultaneous design criteria such as process feasibility and property maximization. Application of the proposed algorithm in industrial-scale rod rolling of a medium C-Mn steel is demonstrated and discussed.

Abstract: The aim of the paper is to determine the influence of hot deformation conditions on σ-ε curves and microstructure evolution of new-developed high-manganese C-Mn-Si-Al-Nb austenitic steel. The force-energetic parameters of hot-working were determined in continuous and multi-stage compression tests performed in a temperature range of 850 to 1100°C by the use of the Gleeble 3800 thermomechanical simulator. Evaluation of processes controlling work-hardening were identified by microstructure observations of the specimens water-quenched after various conditions of plastic deformation. Multi-stage compression tests with true strain of 0.29 permit to use the dynamic and metadynamic recrystallization for forming the fine-grained, austenite microstructure of steel in the whole range of deformation temperature.

Abstract: The phase transformation and the final microstructure were studied in a pipeline steel grade API-X80 by carrying out a number of physical simulations of the industrial hot rolling schedules. The deformation and the cooling parameters were simulated by means of hot torsion and dilatometry experiments. Torsion deformations in the same range as in the hot rolling schedule were applied in a multi-deformation cycle at various temperatures in the austenite region. Subsequently the following parameters were varied with respect to a reference status: the reheating temperature from 900 to 1200°C, the deformation step from 0.6 to 0.15 von Misses strain, the strain rate from 1 to 10 s-1, the inter-pass time from 0.4 to 2 s, the deformation temperature from 1,100 to 850°C, the cooling rate from 0.1 to 100°C/s and the cooling stop temperature from 650 to 25°C. The transformation product microstructures were observed with optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy and electron backscatter diffraction. The experimental data were used to study the microstructure evolution of none-deformed austenite and highly deformed austenite (Von Misses strain of 3.2), and the corresponding CCT diagrams were constructed. The detailed microstructure characteristics obtained from the present work as well as the data from the CCT diagrams for undeformed and deformed austenite could be used to optimize the mechanical properties, strength and toughness of pipeline steel grades by thermo-mechanical control process.

Abstract: According to various studies, Grain Boundary Engineering (GBE) is likely to enhance mechanical properties of polycrystalline materials. The present investigation highlights some relationships between thermomechanical process (TMP) parameters of a commercial nickel-base superalloy PER72, supplied by Aubert & Duval (equivalent to Udimet®720™) and the resulting microstructure. The long-term goal is to develop TMPs that modify the Grain Boundary Character Distributions (GBCD) in order to improve high temperature properties. In this context, Grain Boundary Engineering (GBE) techniques are considered, thinking of replacing standard forming processes by optimised thermomechanical treatments. Mechanical testing at high temperature (compression and torsion tests) has been carried out and it is shown that multi-step treatments promote twinning. Some clues are then presented in an attempt to explain when and how twins are created.

Abstract: Aluminium is increasingly used in structural components in cars. The advantages are many, and recyclability, weight saving and energy absorption during impact and are often considered as the most important. There are also several disadvantages compared to iron and steel, i.e. material cost, low stiffness, lack of fatigue limit, high thermal conductivity, high thermal expansion coefficient, corrosion susceptibility and others. To enhance the advantages and to minimize the disadvantages, several actions can be made. To prevent recrystallization is one of them, and has to be dealt with from the melt through all thermo-mechanical, mass reducing and assembly processes – “from the ore to the car”. As recrystallization may reduce the static strength and fatigue life time in a finished component considerably, preventing recrystallization is as important as to optimize component geometry. Additionally, there is considerable risk of inter-granular cracking or melting during thermo-mechanical processing, especially those involving very high strain and forming temperatures above eutectics. To prevent recrystallization, a well balanced budget on chemical composition, strain, strain rates and temperatures is essential. Examples of successes and failures are vital ingredients of the base of knowledge in development of highly utilized aluminium car components. All process steps, from alloying and melt treatment of wrought aluminium alloys to the assembly of a finished component, can influence on product performance. AlMgSi1 alloys are used as examples in evaluating recrystallization in this paper. By focusing on recrystallization, other major factors influencing performance are not neglected, but not further discussed here.

Abstract: The nature of phase transformation in metastable austenitic steels due to strain- induced ’-martensite formation is used as new contribution to lightweight construction in crash safety applications. A thermomechanical tool design was developed to enhance the ’-martensite evolution in local areas. Draw and stop beads allow a concerted stretch-out of material by increasing true strain . The local warming of defined regions avoids the phase transformation to retain the original austenitic lattice while a regional cooling enforce this nature by realizing a constant true strain .