Materials Science Forum Vols. 706-709

Abstract: The present study is a first step of a project to obtain thermo-mechanically processed fine-grained increased Mn content TRIP steels with large fractions of retained austenite. Two 0.17C-3Mn-1.6Al-0.2Si-0.2Mo steels with and without Nb microaddition were produced in a vacuum induction furnace. The influence of Nb microaddition on a macrostructure, a grain size and hot-working behavior were examined. The steels are characterized by a slight macrosegregation of Al in the as-cast state, minimized for a Nb-microalloyed steel. After hot forging refined bainitic-martensitic structures with large fractions of γ phase obtained. The steel microalloyed with Nb has finer granules of retained austenite at comparable fractions of this phase. The force-energetic parameters of hot-working were determined in an uniaxial hot-compression test at temperatures of 1150 and 950°C and strain rates from 0.1 to 10s^-1. The Gleeble 3800 thermomechanical simulator was used. The hot-working behaviour of the investigated steels is challenging because of higher flow stresses and ε_max strains compared to conventional TRIP steels with lower Mn contents.

Abstract: In ferritic stainless steels, the amount of Cr is moderately controlled to have good corrosion resistance in applied environment. However, it also affects the yield strength of ferritic stainless steels through solid solution strengthening and grain refinement strengthening. Until now, some researches have been performed using commercial stainless steels but the obtained results contain the effect of solute interstitials (C and N). In this paper, the influence of Cr on the above both strengthening mechanism was discussed by using interstitial free ferritic stainless steel in which carbon and nitrogen are completely fixed as Ti(C,N). A previous paper has reported that the addition of chromium gives different influences to the Hall-Petch coefficient depending on the amount of Cr. However, our research has reveals the fact that the change of Hall-Petch coefficient is not due to the effect of chromium but due to small amount of carbon which exists as an impurity in ferritic stainless steels. It was concluded that chromium itself does not give any influence to the Hall-Petch coefficient of ferritic iron.

Abstract: The current work investigates the microstructure evolution and softening processes that take place during annealing of an austenitic Ni-30Fe model alloy subjected to hot deformation in the dynamic recrystallization (DRX) regime. The substructure of the deformed matrix grains largely comprised organized microband arrays, though that of the DRX grains consisted of more random, complex subgrain/cell arrangements. This substructure disparity was also reflected by the distinct difference in the mechanism of post-deformation softening taking place during annealing of the deformed matrix and DRX grains. In the former, the recrystallization process took place through nucleation and growth of new grains fully replacing the deformed structure, as expected for the classical static recrystallization (SRX). The corresponding texture was essentially random, in contrast to that of the DRX grains dominated by low Taylor factor components. The microbands originally present within the deformed matrix grains displayed some tendency to disintegrate during annealing, nonetheless, they remained largely preserved even at prolonged holding times. During annealing of the fully DRX microstructure, a novel softening mechanism was revealed. The initial post-dynamic softening stage involved rapid growth of the dynamically formed nuclei and migration of the mobile boundaries in correspondence with the well-established metadynamic recrystallization (MDRX) mechanism. However, in contrast to the deformed matrix, SRX was not observed and the sub-boundaries within DRX grains rapidly disintegrated through dislocation climb and dislocation annihilation, which led to the formation of dislocation-free grains already at short holding times. Consequently, the DRX texture initially became slightly weakened and then remained largely preserved throughout the annealing process.

Abstract: The many practical difficulties and longer lead time with heat treatment of mould steels after machining have led to increased demand for steels in prehardened condition, typically ~ 40HRC. At this hardness the steel possesses an optimal combination of high strength and machinability. The steels used for moulds require a wide range of demanding properties, among which high enough strength and toughness are the primary necessities in order to resist any deformation and dimensional change in mould during use. Uddeholm Impax HH which resembles the modified AISI P20 has been widely used for moulding of plastics and die-casting of low melting temperature metals. The common hardening process for Impax HH is conventional quenching and tempering. Hence, investigating the effect of hardening parameters on the required properties upon this steel grade is beneficial in improving it for better performance as a prehardened mould steel. In the present work, the effect of changes in austenitization temperature and consequently the prior austenite grain and martensite packet sizes on the tensile properties and impact toughness of Uddeholm Impax HH at the hardness of ~40HRC is studied. The results have shown reduction in impact toughness but no considerable change in yield and ultimate tensile strength upon increasing the austenitization temperature.

Abstract: The quality of pig iron from the point of view of the customer, that is steel plant, is one of main factors affecting the quality and cost of steel production. Chemical composition and temperature of pig iron is among the parameters taking into consideration. The constancy of these parameters can result in steelmaking process on optimal level. The paper presents quantitative and quantitative analysis of pig iron produced in one of Polish steelworks. Analysis of the basic quality parameters of pig iron: the content of basic elements will be made. In the analysis statistical methods and quality tools will be applied.

Abstract: Over the decades, the rolling contact fatigue life of bearing steels has been enhanced mainly by the decrease in total oxygen content in the steels which was accomplished by improving steelmaking processes or facilities. However, it has almost been kept constant in the level of 5 ppm since 1990s and, therefore, it is necessary to find out other methods to enhance the RCFL. It is a well-known fact that the RCFL of bearing steels is maximized with the adequate amount of retained austenite and increasing silicon content results in the increase of the resistance to softening during tempering. In the present study, in order to take advantage of the effects of retained austenite and increasing silicon content, a new through-hardening heat treatment, quenching and partitioning (Q&P), has been chosen in place of the conventional quenching and tempering. One of the distinct differences between tempering and partitioning is no fine carbide precipitation during partitioning, leading to the stabilization of retained austenite due to the diffusion of carbon atoms from martensite, which can be realized by increasing silicon content. On the other hand, the increase of silicon content retarded the spheroidization behavior of cementites, requiring higher annealing temperature to assure the complete spheroidization. A new high carbon chromium bearing steel through-hardened by Q&P process showed superior RCFL characteristics to the conventional steel and process.

Abstract: The industrial development require new materials characterized highest mechanical properties. The conditions of thermo-mechanical treatment proved to highest level of mechanical properties for steels. Another method of making strong materials is to reduce the scale of the microstructure using heat treatment [1]. The paper presents the results of investigation into the effect of time and temperature variations during isothermal annealing on the mechanical properties of high carbon (c.a. 0,8%C) bainitic steel. Chemical composition of that steel (addition Si, Mn, Mo and Cr) obtain high level of tensile strength and good plastic properties. The analyzing of published results of researches of high carbon bainitic steels shown, that transformation of bainite can take between 2 to 60 days within the temperature range 125÷325°C [2,3] Based on results of researches of investigated steel a isothermal annealing in temperature range 200÷300°C were done. The experiments were done for 24, 50 and 100 hours of annealing. After that the mechanical tests were done. A Zwick Z100 testing machine was used for tests. The force and elongation values were recorded. On their basis, the proof stress and tensile strength of the steel tested were determined as a function of annealing temperature. The microstructure were determinated too.

Abstract: The analysis of coke quality and the effect of coke quality on blast furnace process was presented in this paper. The mechanical properties of cokes was determined by the MICUM method, the same coke samples were hot tested in the blast-furnace pre-tuyère chamber model at the Department of the Extraction and Recycling of Metals of the Czestochowa University of Technology to determine their thermo-abrasiveness ξ. Moreover, the permeability of the column of materials in the blast furnace during the use of those cokes was determined. The permeability of the materials column characterizes the “quality” of the materials, including the coke. Separating the coke features in this characteristics is possible with the remaining charge and technological conditions being stabilized. However, the high variability of charge conditions in the blast-furnace under examination distorts the existing permeabilities. Nevertheless, the dependence of the permeability on thermo-abrasiveness was “physically” correct, i.e. it decreased with increasing thermo-abrasiveness ξ, despite the small value of the coefficient of significance of this relationship.

Abstract: Today almost all steel production fields use process models on the basis of analytic and numeric simulations. Planning and implementation of modern production in plants strategies can no longer be imagined without simulations in almost all fields of long and flat steel production. For the plant engineering and construction industry, planning of transformation processes and rolling mills can hardly be imagined without the use of modern simulation technology. The possibilities range from the simulation of material transformation behavior to the whole rolling process, extending to the load effected on units and plants as well as the projection of microstructure and material properties when applying different rolling technologies. Thus simulation models increasingly contribute to support future-oriented process development and material related optimization.

Abstract: Starting from the expression of Dutta and Sellars for the beginning of strain induced precipitation in microalloyed steels, the influence of temperature on t_0.05 parameter has been studied. Although the equation given by these authors reproduces well the typical “C” shape of the curve of precipitation start time P_s, the expression is not reliable for all cases. The precipitation-time-temperature (PTT) diagrams have been plotted thanks to a new experimental study carried out by means of hot torsion tests on approximately twenty microalloyed steels having different contents of Nb, V and Ti. Mathematical analysis of results recommends the modification of some parameters such as supersaturation ratio (K_s) and constant B, which is no longer a constant but a function of K_s when the latter is calculated at the nose temperature (T_N) of curve P_s. The value of parameter B is deduced from the minimum point or nose of the P_s curve, where ∂t_0.05/∂T is equal to zero, and it can be demonstrated that B cannot be a constant. The new expressions for these parameters derive from the latest studies developed by the authors and this work supposes an attempt to improve the model. The expressions are now more consistent and predict with remarkable accuracy the PTT curves.