Materials Science Forum Vols. 654-656

Abstract: Ultra-fine grained TRIP steels (UFG-TRIP) containing 6wt%Mn were produced by intercritical annealing. An ultra-fine grained microstructure with a grain size less than 1μm was obtained. The formation mechanism of the high volume fraction of retained austenite was investigated by dilatometry, XRD and magnetic saturation. The fraction of retained austenite was strongly dependent on the annealing temperature. The tensile properties were also found to be strongly influenced by the annealing temperature with poorer mechanical properties being observed at higher annealing temperatures. It was found that the stabilization of the retained austenite was both a composition and size-effect, made possible by the grain refinement due to the reversely transformed martensite.

Abstract: In this study, the effects of isothermal bainite treatment (IBT) holding time on the microstructure of transformation induced plasticity (TRIP) seamless steel tube were studied via optical microscopy, TEM and XRD. Its mechanical properties and hydroformability were evaluated by tensile test and flaring test, respectively. The results revealed that the volume fraction of retained austenite (RA) increased at first then decreased with IBT holding time for a particular set of intercritical annealing (IA) temperature, IA holding time and IBT temperature. It was also demonstrated that high tensile strength of 618MPa, total elongation of 35.5%, n-value of 0.23 and better hydroformability could be successfully produced in this TRIP steel tube at IA temperature of 800°C, holding for 10 min, and IBT of 410°C for 4 min holding time.

Abstract: The effect of grain size on the flow stress in TWinning Induced Plasticity (TWIP) steel was investigated via the X-ray diffraction (XRD) measurements of dislocation density. The results indicated that the hardening behavior of fine grained samples (mean grain sizes in the range of 2.1-3.8μm) can be described as typical dislocation interactions. However in coarse grained samples (mean grain sizes in the range of 4.7-38.5μm) where extensive mechanical twinning occurs, another strengthening mechanism is required. Consequently, the effect of grain size on the flow stress parameters of the proposed equation was considered and it was found that in the fine grained samples, the Holloman analysis can describe the hardening behavior. However, in coarse grained samples, a second hardening term due to the strengthening effect of mechanical twin boundaries needs to be added to the Holloman equation.

Abstract: Achieving fine and uniform grains is the most effective way to enhance strength and toughness, which are required properties for pipeline steels. Steels microalloyed with Nb can exhibit a mixed grain structure, which can deteriorate low temperature toughness. In this work the effects of the thermomechanical processing parameters on the prior austenite grain structure before ferrite transformation have been investigated.

Abstract: A new approach to obtain high strength of non-oriented electrical steel by addition of phosphorus is proposed. The method includes B-additions which suppress grain boundary P segregation, strengthen the grain boundary cohesion and enhance the P solid solution hardening. Two 3% Si steels, a B-free 0.1%P steel and a 20 ppm B-added 0.1%P steel were analyzed. The microstructures were studied by EBSD. The B-addition resulted in a pronounced rotated cube component, {100}<011>, after a hot-band annealing treatment. A -fiber texture was developed in the B-free steel. The B-addition caused a retardation of the recrystallization, allowing for the growth of grains with a lower stored energy, such as rotated cube oriented grains. The steels were further cold rolled and recrystallization annealed to observe a similar effect after large cold reductions. The present contribution focuses on the potential of this concept to obtain high strength 3% Si steels with low core losses.

Abstract: This paper examines the effect of initial microstructure after hot rolling on the final microstructure and mechanical properties for Cu bearing Extra Low Carbon(ELC) Steel Sheets. For this purpose, two ELC steels having different initial microstructures due to different onset time of cooling after pilot hot rolling (0.4 and 1.2 second) were selected. Mechanical properties and microstructures were analyzed as well using uni-axial tensile test, electron back-scattered diffraction (EBSD) technique following pilot rolling and continuous annealing. It has been found that the reduction of onset time of cooling gives rise to the grain refinement in hot rolled sheets. The average grain sizes of hot rolled sheetss at the onset time of 0.4 and 1.2 second are 16.7μm and 20.8 μm, respectively. In addition, the planar anisotropy of the Cu bearing ELC steel sheets has improved with reducing onset time of cooling after hot rolling. However, other mechanical properties such as strength and elongation of annealed steel are similar to both cooling condition.

Abstract: The dilatation curves of continuous cooling transformation at different cooling rates were determined for U75V rail steel by THERMECMASTOR-Z thermal simulator, and continuous cooling transformation curve was obtained. The influence of cooling rate on microstructure and hardness was studied. The softening behavior after isothermal deformation in the austenite region 850-1000°C but before the second pass was also studied by double-pass compression tests. The results show that the product of austenite decomposition was pearlite when the cooling rate was lower than 10°C. Troostite and martensite were gained at the cooling rate of 10°C•s-1. Only martensite was obtained when the cooling rate was in the range of 10-50°C•s-1. The hardness of the steel increased with the increase of cooling rate. Under the condition of 30% deformation and 3s-1 deformation rate, the relaxation time for completing recrystallization was shorter than 100s when the deformation temperature was higher than 1000°C. When the deformation temperature was lower than 880°C, full recrystallization was difficult to achieve even if the relaxation time was extended.

Abstract: Cold drawn low carbon steel wires are widely used in several engineering applications where a proper combination of strength and ductility is of the paramount importance. In the present paper, the multi-pass angular accumulative drawing (AAD) is proposed as a new forming process where the high strain accumulation is used as a way to achieve much higher microstructure refinement level compared to the conventional wire drawing process. This process is characterized by a complex strain path history, being an effect of wire diameter reduction, bending, tension and torsion, what directly affects the microstructure changes in the final product. This process also evolves high inhomogeneity of microstructure, that if properly controlled, can lead to further properties improvement - what can be especially beneficial for alloys that are not characterized by complex compositions. In the present paper, special emphasis is given on the inhomogeneity of both deformation and microstructure and resulted mechanical properties. After drawing and annealing (at 500oC) mechanical properties measurements and microstructure analysis on the longitudinal sections of the wires were performed to assess the differences existing with respect to the conventional wire drawing process.

Abstract: The effects of annealing temperature and silicon content on mechanical properties on cold drawn pearlitic steel wires were investigated. Cold drawn steel wires, containing Si, 0.99 ~ 1.4%, were annealed at the temperature of 200 ~ 450°C with different annealing time. The variation of microstructural evolution with annealing temperature was not affected by silicon content. For steels containing high silicon content above 1.0%, the increase of silicon content did not cause the changes of peak temperature showing age hardening and age softening, except for the increase of tensile strength due to solid solution hardening.

Abstract: Manufacturing process using servo press machines have been highlighted in car manufacturers and other industries in Japan. It is necessary to establish an appropriate press working conditions for manufacturing highly accurate products with great extra value. Our aim is to investigate into effects of variable BHF (blank holding force) on press formability, comparing to using a conventional press machine. In this study, FEM analyses of deep drawing process using a variable BHF system has been conducted to demonstrate the effectiveness of a servo die cushion on formability. According to experimental results obtained with a servo die cushion, it is found that maximum load subjected to dies was reduced by 11.8 %, when using a servo press with a servo die cushion comparing to a conventional press.