Application of advanced experimental techniques for the microstructural characterization of nanobainitic steels

A 0.79C-1.5Si-1.98Mn-0.98Cr-0.24Mo-1.06Al-1.58Co (wt%) steel was isothermally heat treated at 350°C bainitic transformation temperature for 1 day to form fully bainitic structure with nano-layers of bainitic ferrite and retained austenite, while a 0.26C-1.96Si-2Mn-0.31Mo (wt%) steel was subjected to a successive isothermal heat treatment at 700°C for 300 min followed by 350°C for 120 min to form a hybrid microstructure consisting of ductile ferrite and fine scale bainite. The dislocation density and morphology of bainitic ferrite, and retained austenite characteristics such as size, and volume fraction were studied using Transmission Electron Microscopy. It was found that bainitic ferrite has high dislocation density for both steels. The retained austenite characteristics and bainite morphology were affected by composition of steels. Atom Probe Tomography (APT) has the high spatial resolution required for accurate determination of the carbon content of the bainitic ferrite and retained austenite, the solute distribution between these phases and calculation of the local composition of fine clusters and particles that allows to provide detailed insight into the bainite transformation of the steels. The carbon content of bainitic ferrite in both steels was found to be higher compared to the para-equilibrium level of carbon in ferrite. APT also revealed the presence of fine C-rich clusters and Fe-C carbides in bainitic ferrite of both steels.

Effect of composition and processing parameters on the formation of nano-bainite in advanced high strength steels

The nano-bainitic microstructures were compared in a 0.79C-1.5Si-1.98Mn-0.24Mo-1.06Al (wt%) steel after isothermal heat-treatment and a Fe-0.2C-1.5Mn-1.2Si-0.3M0-0.6Al-0.02Nb (wt%) steel after controlled thermo-mechanical processing. The microstructure for both steels consisted of bainite. The microstructural characteristics of bainite, such as the morphology of the nano-bainite and thicknesses of bainitic ferrite and retained austenite layers, as a function of steel composition and processing was studied using transmission electron microscopy (TEM). It was found that the nano-bainitic structure can be formed in the low alloy steel through thermomechanical processing. Atom probe tomography (APT) was employed as a powerful technique to determine local composition distributions in three dimensions with atomic resolution. The important conclusions from the APT research were that the carbon content of bainitic ferrite is higher than expected from paraequilibrium level of carbon in ferrite for both steels and that Fe-C clusters and fine particles are formed in the bainitic ferrite in both steels despite the high level of Si.

Microstructure-property relationship of the high strength low alloy steels during tensile testing at high strain rates

Positive The influence of strain-rate on the room temperature mechanical properties of the Dual-Phase and Transformation Induced Plasticity (TRIP) steels was investigated.The results showed that both the plastic strain, and strength properties increased with increasing strain rates at high strain rates.At strain rates lower than approximateil 1s ~ (-1) the properties no longer have an advantageous proportionality to strain rate and remain strain rate neutral.Possible explanations are offered for trends exhibited, in terms of thermal and athermal considerations, in relation to the respective microstructures of the two steels

Comparison of bending of automotive steels in roll forming and in a V-die

Bending in a V-die has been used to indicate the outcome of bending in cold roll forming, although little direct correlation has been performed. In this work direct comparison of the springback in both processes was performed using six samples of automotive steels in a conventional roll forming line where the transverse springback is measured. A bend of similar radius was formed in a V-die and the springback determined. In general, the springback in V-die forming was greater than in roll forming, in some cases by a factor of 2. The theoretical springback angle was determined for all steels using a simple and approximate analytical equation and compared to the experimental roll forming and bending results. While for the roll forming process good agreement was achieved the theoretical values significantly underestimated springback in the V-bending process.

Effect of silicon and prior deformation of austenite on isothermal transformation in low carbon steels

Isothermal transformation (TTT) behavior of the low carbon steels with two Si contents (0.50 wt pct and 1.35 wt pct) was investigated with and without the prior deformation. The results show that Si and the prior deformation of the austenite have significant effiects on the transformation of the ferrite and bainite. The addition of Si refines the ferrite grains, accelerates the polygonal ferrite transformation and the formation of M/A constituents, leading to the improvement of the strength. The ferrite grains formed under the prior deformation of the austenite become more homogeneous and refined. However, the influence of deformation on the tensile strength of both steels is dependent on the isothermal temperatures. Thermodynamic calculation indicates that Si and prior deformation reduce the incubation time of both ferrite and bainite transformation, but the effiect is weakened by the decrease of the isothermal temperatures.

Deformation and fracture characteristics of ferrite/bainite dual-phase steels

The deformation and fracture characteristics of a low carbon Si–Mn steel with ferrite/bainite dual–phase structure were investigated by thermo–mechanical controlled process (TMCP). The results showed that the curves of the instantaneous work–hardening factor n* value versus true strain ε are made up with three stages during uniform plastic deformation: n* value is relatively higher at stage I, decreases slowly with ε in stage II, and then decreases quickly with ε in stage III. Compared tothe equiaxed ferrite/bainite dual–phase steel, the quasi–polygonal ferrite/bainite dual–phase steel shows higher tensile strength and n*value in the low strain region. The voids or micro–cracks formed not only at ferrite–bainite interfaces but also within ferrite grains in the necked region, which can improve the property of resistance to crack propagation by reducing local stress concentration of the crack tips.

Microstructures and properties of ferrite/bainite dual-phase steels with high hole-expanding ratio

The effects of Si and Mn contents on microstructure, mechanical properties and formability of low carbon Si-Mn steels were studied, and the crack propagation of ferrite/bainite dual-phase steel was also investigated. The results showed that the increase in Si content increases the volume fraction of equiaxed ferrite. However, the increase in Mn content increases both strength and ductility, but decreases elongation and hole-expanding ratio. The crack of ferrite/bainite dual-phase steel is formed by the mode of microvoid coalescence. When a microcrack meets the bainite, it mostly propagates along the phase interface between ferrite and bainite and by cutting off ferrite grains. The hot-rolled ferrite/bainite dual-phase steel, which has a hole-expanding ratio of 95% and good property combination, could be produced by designing proper contents of Si and Mn as well as parameters of TMCP.

Dynamic strain-induced ferrite transformation during hot compression of low carbon Si-Mn steels

The dynamic strain-induced transformation (DSIT) of austenite to ferrite was investigated under different undercooling conditions using three low carbon Si-Mn steels. The undercooling of austenite (ΔT) was controlled by varying the cooling rate between austenitization and deformation temperatures. Uniform DSIT ferrite grains (∼2.3 μm) were produced at a relatively high deformation temperature above 840°C using a low carbon high Si steel (0.077C-0.97Mn-1.35Si, mass%) in connection with a larger ΔT. The critical conditions for DSIT were determined based on the flow stress-strain curves measured during hot compression tests. Influence of deformation temperature on DSIT of low carbon Si-added steel was also discussed.

Strain hardening behavior of high performance FBDP, TRIP and TWIP steels

Based on n-value differential equation and microstructural observation, strain hardening behaviors of FBDP, TRIP, and TWIP steels during uniaxial tension were investigated. TRIP steel exhibits both superior strength and ductility than FBDP steel, and TWIP steel displays much higher total and uniform elongations in comparison to FBDP and TRIP steels. The instantaneous n values of FBDP and TRIP steels increase at small strains, reach a maximum value, smoothly decrease at higher strains, and then rapidly drop up to the specimen rupture. The strain hardening of TRIP steel persists at higher strains where that of FBDP steel begins to diminish. TWIP steel exhibits gradually increased instantaneous n values over the whole uniform plastic deformation, implying that TWIP steel shows a much larger strain hardening capability than FBDP and TRIP steels.

Continuous cooling transformation of deformed austenite in highly hole-expandable steels

The effects of Si and Mn contents on transformation temperature _r3, transformed microstructure and mechanical properties of three kinds of low-carbon steels during continuous cooling were investigated. A _r3 rises by 15-25°C when increasing Si content from 0.50% to 1.35%, and it drops by 30-50°C when increasing Mn content from 0.97% to 1.43%. The effect of Mn on A _r3 is more significant than Si. Si stimulates the precipitation of the high-temperature equiaxed ferrite to suppress the bainite transformation, but Mn not only provides the grain refining of transformed microstructure but also stimulates the forming of bainite. The homogeneous and grain refining diphase ferrite/bainite steel (w(Si)=0.56, w(Mn)=1.43) can be obtained after deformed at 850°C and cooled at the rate 30°C/s, of which the tensile strength is up to 654 MPa.

Effects of Si on microstructural evolution and mechanical properties of hot-rolled ferrite and bainite dual-phase steels

Based on the thermo-mechanical controlled process, the effects of Si on microstructural evolution, tensile properties, impact toughness, and stretch-flangeability of ferrite and bainite dual-phase (FBDP) steels were systematically investigated. The addition of Si from 0 to 0.95% promoted the formation of fine and equiaxed ferrite grains, and high Si (0.95%) also resulted in the formation of blocky martensite islands and retained austenite. Yield and tensile strengths, and uniform and total elongations all increased with increasing Si content. Therefore, the tensile strength and ductility balance was improved by Si addition due to the increasing strain-hardening rate. The fractured morphologies after hole-expansion showed that the excellent stretch-flangeability of FBDP steels was associated with the micro-cracks propagating through in ferrite phase as well as the elongated ferrite grains along the direction perpendicular to the crack. 0.95% Si steel had a similar high combination of tensile strength and impact toughness to 0.55% Si steel, and especially 0.95% Si steel exhibited an excellent combination of tensile strength and stretch-flangeability.

Transformation behavior of low carbon steels containing two different Si contents

Continuous cooling transformation behaviors of low carbon steels with two Si contents (0.50% and 1. 35%) were investigated under undeformed and deformed conditions. Effects of Si contents, deformation, and cooling rates on y transformation start temperature (A,_r3), phase microstructures, and hardness were studied. The results show that, in the case of the deformation with the true strain of 0. 4, the length of bainitic ferrite laths is significantly decreased in low Si steel, whereas, the M/A constituent becomes more uniform in high Si steel. An increase in cooling rates lowers the A,_r3 greatly. The steel with higher level of Si exhibits higher A,_r3, and higher hardness both under undeformed and deformed conditions compared with the steel with a lower Si content. Especially, the influence of Si on A_r3 is dependent on deformation. Such effects are more significant under the undeformed condition. The hardness of both steels increases with the increase of cooling rates, whereas, the deformation involved in both steels reduces the hardness.

Comparative study of ni effect on the corrosion behavior of low alloy steels in FGD and acid rain environments

The alloying effect of a small amount of nickel on low alloy steel for application to flue gas desulfurization(FGD) systems was studied. The structural characteristics of the rust layer were investigated by scanning electron microscopy(SEM). The electrochemical properties were examined by means of potentiostatic polarization test, potentiodynamic polarization test, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy(EIS) in a modified green death solution of 16.9 vol.% H2SO4+0.35 vol.% HC1 at 60°C and an acid rain solution of 6.25 X 10-5 M H2S04+5.5 X 10-3 M NaCl at room temperature. It was found that as the amount of nickel increased, the corrosion rate increased in the modified green death solution, which seemed to result from micro-galvanic corrosion between NiS and alloy matrix. In acid rain solution, the corrosion rate decreased as the amount of nickel increased due to the repulsive force of NiFe204 rust against Cl-ions by electronegativity.