Materials Science Forum Vols. 783-786

Abstract: In recent years, Quenching and Partitioning (Q&P) became an interesting thermal process route for semi-finished high strength low alloyed steel components. Recent publications demonstrate promising mechanical properties with considerable ductility enhancement. To assess the potential of the two-step Q&P heat treatment in seamless tube production, corresponding tests are carried out on 42SiCrB steel (0.42wt% C, 2.0wt% Si, 1.3wt.% Cr, 0.6wt.% Mn, 0.002wt.% B). Feasible Q&P heat treatment process parameters are identified using the Constrained-Carbon-Equilibrium (CCE) model, carbon diffusion calculations and isothermal TTT curves with previous quenching. Furthermore achieved volume fraction of retained austenite is analyzed by XRD experiments.

Abstract: The obtainment of ultrafine grain microstructures, by the application of process parameters which are potentially feasible under industrial conditions, is attractive to develop a new generation of low alloy steel (Ultrafine Grain Steel, UFG) characterized by high strength and toughness, good cold/warm formability, environmentally-friendly process. The ferrite grain size refinement beyond existing levels by means of hot rolling mills, without requiring drastic plant changes, can be achieved by lowering the rolling temperature down to the range A_e3 - A_r3 in the finishing stands. In this temperature range different metallurgical mechanisms may take place. Austenite recrystallization is slower and there is a greater chance of obtaining non-recrystallized deformed austenite (pancake), which after phase transformation will give finer ferrite (Heavy Gamma Deformation). Or, in alternative, Deformation Induced Ferrite Transformation can occur especially in C-Mn steels, promoting the formation of ultrafine ferrite grains (DIFT). Most of the existing studies on UFG steel focus on flat products. In this paper the mechanisms to be exploited for producing UFG long products are identified and examined on different low and medium carbon non-alloyed steels, as the common grades used for fastener applications. In particular, Heavy Gamma Deformation and DIFT are investigated through laboratory tests aimed at determining the process parameters affecting the two mechanisms in different ranges of chemical composition. On the basis of the results found, some basic concepts for industrialization on modern hot rolling mills will be given.

Abstract: We have investigated the formation of dislocation substructures in high-Mn steels by electron channeling contrast imaging in the SEM. The coupling of electron channeling contrast imaging (ECCI) with electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD) provides an efficient and fast approach to characterize dislocation substructures under controlled diffraction conditions with enhanced contrast. The dislocation substructure of high-Mn steels at intermediate strain levels is characterized by cells and cell blocks with strong crystallographic orientation dependence. We observe a significant effect of strain path on dislocation patterning. Microband formation is enabled under shearing conditions. We explain this effect on terms of Schmid’s law.

Abstract: We have investigated the strain-hardening mechanisms across the relevant scales in a Fe-22Mn-0.6C (wt.%) twinning induced plasticity steel by multi-scale microstructure characterization. The approach makes use of electron microscopy techniques such as electron channeling contrast imaging (ECCI) to characterize microstructure features at the micro/nanoscale, and atomic-scale investigations of partitioning behavior across interfaces and solid solution/clustering effects by atom probe tomography (APT). The contribution of most relevant microstructure features to strain hardening is analyzed.

Abstract: A directionally solidified TWIP steel (Fe-25Mn-2.5Al-2.5Si) was prepared by liquid metal cooling technology. The microstructure and mechanical behavior were examined and compared with usually solidified samples. The directionally solidified TWIP steel shows a typical columnar grain structure, and the maximum true stress and true strain along the longitudinal direction of the sample are 1060MPa and 71% respectively. As a comparison, the usually solidified samples shows an equiaxed grain microstructure with the maximum true stress and true strain of only 994MPa and 58%, respectively. Moreover, the two solidification modes also lead to very different strain hardening behavior, particularly in the changes of strain hardening rate with strain. This suggests that the grain boundary plays a key role in the mechanical properties of TWIP steels, and changing the grain boundaries can be effective to improve the comprehensive mechanical properties of TWIP steels.

Abstract: The non-equilibrium microstructure of Fe-C-Mn-Si TRIP steel is designed bythermodynamic and kinetic calculation. The upper limit of bainitic transformation temperature iscalculated and compared to that characterized by CCT curve determination. s M temperature isdetermined based on thermodynamics of martensitic transformation and sublattice model. Thecalculation is conducted via TQ6-patch in Thermo-Calc software. Comparison between thecalculations and experiments reveals the relationship between non-equilibrium phase compositionand heat treatment parameters which can be utilized to achieve the elaborate design of alloy and heattreatment for super TRIP steel.

Abstract: The first step in a heat treating cycle is the austenitizing of the as-received material. Despite its importance, this step has received relatively little attention. In this work, the kinetics of austenite formation during continuous heating tests of steel samples with low and high silicon content was determined as a function of heating rate. The microstructural evolution was characterized through dilatometric analysis of cylindrical samples (7 mm × 20 mm), continuously heated in a protective atmosphere at constant heating rates ranging from 2 to 40 °C/min. The critical temperatures and the transformation kinetics were determined from the derivative of the relative length change as a function of temperature. As the heating rate increases the critical temperatures and the transformation temperature range increase; the addition of silicon produces a more marked effect. The transformation kinetics data were correlated using an Avrami-type equation. The kinetic parameter n is nearly independent of heating rate while the parameter k is a strong function of the heating rate; in both cases, slightly larger values were obtained for the high-silicon steel.

Abstract: Free cutting steels belong to a family associated with hot workability problems. This study has focused on the analysis of microstructural features located near the surface of the billet before and after reheating and how they can affect the nucleation/propagation of damage during initial hot working operations. The work has been done with free cutting steels containing sulfur contents ranging from 0.32 to 0.42%. The relevance of clustering of inclusions, their location at grain boundaries or triple points and the influence of softening mechanisms (as recrystallization) have been considered with the help of several parameters determined by image analysis techniques.

Abstract: Due to the increased complexity of steel microstructures, when considering the application of available Hall-Petch type equations for yield strength prediction, a number of difficulties raises. For example, the correlation between grain size measurements by EBSD technique and optical microscopy (OP) in complex microstructures is required in order to integrate data to the traditional equations developed for OP results and ferrite-pearlite microstructures. Besides, the introduction of some additional terms to the equations to account for precipitation, C in solution and forest dislocation contributions presents some difficulties that need to be overcome to improve prediction accuracy. Different microstructures (ferrite-pearlite, bainite, quenched and Q&T) have been produced by thermal and thermomechanical treatments, followed by microstructural characterisation and mechanical testing. A Hall-Petch coefficient dependent on the boundary misorientation distribution is proposed. This approach allows dealing in a similar way ferritic, bainitic and martensitic microstructures. The Hall-Petch coefficient, thus defined, corresponds to the previously proposed by Pickering for ferrite, while bainitic microstructures give a smaller value. Additionally, the equation used to express the fracture appearance transition temperature of ferritic-pearlitic microstructure has been generalized from the developments made in the calculation of the yield stress.

Abstract: The shape of the diffraction peaks of a single crystal superalloy measured by Three Crystal Diffractometry changes during a creep test. We show that these variations are directly linked to the strain and dislocation density within the γ’ phase.