Effects of Rare Earths on Structural Transformation of Heavy Rail Steel

Abstract:

Clean heavy rail steel was prepared by the process of vacuum induction furnace smelting, forge work and rolling. Effects of Rare earths (RE) on phase transformation and microstructure of heavy rail steel were investigated by thermal simulation machine, metallographic microscope and scanning electronic microscope. Thermal simulate tests indicate that, RE can move the C curve of pearlite transformation to lower right, prolong the incubation period of pearlite and improve the stability of undercooled austenite. The minimum incubation period of pearlite transformation is increased from 24s to 30s by RE. Furthermore, RE can decrease the critical cooling rate of pearlite transformation from 1°C•s^-1 to 0.5°C•s^-1 and the critical cooling rate of quenching from 15°C•s^-1 to 13°C•s^-1. Additionally, RE can fine the annealing and anormalizing pearlite notably. The pearlite laminae distance of heavy rail steel added RE is decreased by 12.9% (annealing) and 13.3% (normalizing), respectively.

• Periodical: Advanced Materials Research (Volumes 194-196)
• Pages: 237-242
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.4028/www.scientific.net/AMR.194-196.237
• Online since: February 2011
• Authors: Cheng Jun Liu, Ya He Huang, Mao Fa Jiang
• Keywords: Heavy Rail Steel, Pearlite Transformation, Rare Earth (RE)

References

[1] Q. LIN, H. B. WANG and L. TANG. Journal of the Chinese Rare Earth Society. Vol. 19(2001), p.146.

[2] L. TANG, Y. C. WANG and A.Y. ZHAO. Iron Steel Vanadium Titanium. Vol. 21(2000), p.39.

[3] L. J. ZHOU, L. D. TANG and Z. MAO. Research on Iron and Steel. Vol. 16 (2001), p.10.

[4] P. Z. LI, K. LOU and Y. M. OU. Chinese Rare Earths. (1980), p.49.

[5] Y. G. ZHU, Y. LIU and Z. L. LIU. Journal of the Chinese Rare Earth Society. Vol. 21(2003), p.681.

[6] W. X. LI and Z. C. LIU. Journal of Baotou University of Iron and Steel Technology. Vol. 12 (1993), p.35.

[7] L. Y. YANG, B. F. WANG and C. L. LI. Journal of Baotou University of Iron and Steel Technology. Vol. 23(2004), p.45.

[8] H. LIU, D. ZHENG and Z. Y. XU. Ordnance Material Science and Engineering. Vol. 15(1992), p.8.

[9] W. J. LIU. Metallurgical Transactions. Vol. 19A(1988), p.1403.

[10] T. Du. Journal of Iron and Steel Research. Vol. 6 (1994), p.6.