Materials Science Forum Vols. 654-656

Abstract: The “Quenching and Partitioning” (Q&P) process is a novel heat treatment designed for processing new generation advanced high strength steels (AHSS) with substantial ductility. In this study, evolution of complex microstructure for medium carbon steels during the Q&P process has been discussed in detail. Such steels have shown a complex multiphase microstructure consisted of fresh lath-martensite, fresh plate-martensite, transition carbide and/or cementite, isothermal martensite/lower bainite, and second twin-martensite after the one-step Q&P process (with the identical quenching and partitioning temperature). The morphology for the microstructure at room temperature after the two-step Q&P process (with different quenching and partitioning temperatures) demonstrated a little different. The formation of different microstructure for these two processes and their correlation with the mechanical properties are discussed.

Abstract: A novel heat treatment process, that is, quenching-partitioning-tempering (Q-P-T) process, has been developed as a new way to obtain ultrahigh strength martensitic structural steel containing retained austenite and alloying carbide. In order to display merit of the Q-P-T process, a medium carbon Nb-microalloyed steel is treated by Q-P-T 1-step process and Q-P-T 2-step process, as well as treated by the transformation induced plasticity heat treatment process and quenching and tempering process, respectively. The results show that Q-P-T samples possess better mechanical properties than those treated by other heat treatment processes. The origin of the good mechanical properties is analyzed based on the phase and microstructure characterization using X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy.

Abstract: The concepts new types of materials are, for economic reasons, focused mainly on low alloyed steels with a good combination of strength and ductility. Suitable heat and thermo-mechanical treatments play an important role for the utilization of these materials. Different alloying strategies are used to influence phase transformations. The quenching and partitioning process (Q-P Process) is one of the heat treatment methods which can result in a high ultimate strength as well as a good ductility. However, these good properties can be obtained only if a sufficient amount of retained austenite is stabilized. The influence of different contents of manganese, silicon and chromium on microstructural development and mechanical properties were experimentally tested. Alloying elements were used to stabilize the retained austenite in the final microstructure and also to strengthen the solid solution. Ultimate strengths of over 2000MPa with ductility over 10% were reached after the optimization of the Q-P Process. The microstructures were analyzed using several microscopic methods; mechanical properties were determined by a tensile test and the volume fraction of the retained austenite was established by X-ray diffraction phase analysis.

Abstract: An isothermal transformation was observed when a low-alloy, low-carbon steel was quenched and held in the MS–Mf temperature range after austenitized above A3. The precise nature of this isothermal transformation is still unclear. The present contribution is a comprehensive comparison using EBSD, internal friction (IF) and TEM analysis of the isothermal transformation product, the athermal martensite and the lower bainite. The observations revealed that the isothermal transformation product in the MS-Mf temperature range had its own microstructural characteristics with wavy lath boundaries and orientation relationship.

Abstract: The effect of composition and processing schedule on the microstructure of C-Mn-Si-Mo-(Al)-(Nb) steels containing nano-bainite was studied using transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and atom probe tomography (APT). The major phase formed in all steels was nano-bainite. However, the steels with lower carbon and alloying addition content subjected to TMP had better mechanical properties than high alloyed steel after isothermal treatment. The presence of ferrite in the microstructure can improve not only ductility but lead to the formation of retained austenite with optimum chemical stability.

Abstract: This study investigates the effect of N diffusion on a Nb-microalloyed steel made by twin roll casting at 525o C in a KNO3 salt bath. Nitriding up to 4 h increases the yield strength of the steel by ~50% with only a small drop in ductility, while 6 hours of nitriding causes brittle fracture. The improved mechanical performance after 4 hours of nitriding is thought to be a combined effect of solid solution strengthening of N diffusion and dispersion strengthening from extremely fine Nb-rich precipitates. Coarse features along grain boundaries consistently observed in steel nitrided for 6 hours are considered to be responsible for brittle fracture in samples nitrided for longer.

Abstract: Super304H, a Cu-containing 18Cr-9Ni-3CuNbN heat-resisting steel is wildly used as an superheater/reheater tube material for ultra-super-critical (USC) power plants all over the world. It is recognized that the Cu-rich phase is an important strengthening phase for Super304H. However, the detail precipitation behaviour and its strengthening effect are still not very clear. Investigated material was taken from routine production and was aged at 650°C for different times. The precipitation of Cu-rich phase in Super304H was studied by three dimensional atom probe (3DAP) and TEM. Experimental results show that Cu-rich clusters have been formed at very early stage of 650°C aging. The Cu-rich particle images have been clearly caught just after 650°C aging for 5h. The Cu atoms gradually concentrate to Cu-rich particles and the other elements (such as Cr, Ni etc) diffuse away from Cu-rich particles to γ-matrix with the increasing of aging time. The Cu-rich particle size and its density have been determined as a function of aging time. Cu-rich particles still keep nano-size and distribute homogenously in grains even after long time (1,000h) aging, which is one of the most important reasons for keeping good strength of Super304H heat-resistant steel at high temperatures.

Abstract: The carbonitrides precipitates in Nb-V micro-alloyed steels were investigated by 3DAP. Much difference in the composition and size of the precipitates were observed. It is proposed that the carbon atoms segregated first at the dislocation or vacancy, and the vanadium and niobium atoms diffused to these sites to form the V-C, V-Nb-C clusters, leading to the formation of (Nb,V)C complex phase. The composition becomes inhomogeneity as the precipitates grow up.

Abstract: The Cu-containing austenitic heat-resistant steel 18Cr-9Ni-3CuNbN has been widely used as superheater and reheater tube material for modern ultra-super-critical (USC) power plants in the world. High temperature structure stability is considered to be an important factor for long-term service. Long-term aging at 650°C for this steel was conducted from 100 to 10,000hours. Effect of aging time on microstructure was studied by means of SEM, TEM and 3DAP (three dimensional atom probe). Micro-hardness tests were carried out after aging at 650°C for different times to be considered as a representative of strength. Experimental results show that Cu-rich phase, MX and M23C6 are major strengthening precipitates in this steel. With on increasing of aging time, fine nano-size Cu-rich phase particles precipitate in the grains and its size is in the range of several nanometers to 35nm till 10,000h at 650°C. The fraction of MX also increases with aging time and its average size is about 100nm till 10,000h. Carbide M23C6 mainly precipitates at grain boundaries and coarsens quickly. Investigation results show that the most important strengthening effect for 18Cr-9Ni-3CuNbN steel is contributed by Cu-rich phase and MX in the grains and M23C6 carbide at the grain boundaries.

Abstract: Low carbon (~0.34 at.%) pipeline steels with high strength and high toughness are widely used for the transportation of petroleum and natural gas. These pipelines usually experience UOE (bending by U press, forming by O press, Expansion) piping followed by coating process at 250°C, which usually cause strain aging phenomenon with discontinuous yielding in service. In order to understand the major cause of the strain aging in these low carbon pipeline steels, the dislocations associated with solute carbon atoms have been investigated in three different types of steels (plate, pipe, and coated pipe). In-situ TEM heating up to 250°C for 30min did not cause any change of structure in both steel plate and pipe. However, APT results revealed the segregation of carbon atoms alone dislocation lines in ferrite region of both UOE pipes and coated pipes. It is believed that this solute segregation along the dislocations is the major cause in the case of strain aging of low carbon pipeline steels.