Effects of Nb on the microstructure and mechanical properties of 38MnB5 steel

The effects of the microalloying element niobium(Nb) on the microstructure and mechanical properties of the hot stamped steel 38 Mn B5 were investigated. The impact of Nb addition on the microstructure was studied through scanning electron microscopy(SEM), transmission electron microscopy(TEM), and X-ray diffraction(XRD). The experimental results indicated that the microstructures of the steel containing Nb were finer than those of the steel without Nb. Moreover, Nb mainly presented as a second-phase particle in 38MnB5 steel, and the particles included Nb carbonitrides. In addition, the tensile strength and elongation of the hot rolled and hot stamped steels were also measured, and they demonstrated that the appropriate addition of Nb was beneficial to the mechanical properties of 38 MnB5. Under the same conditions, the tensile strength of 38 MnB5 Nb was higher than that of 38 MnB5, which increased from 2011 to 2179 MPa. The yield strength also increased from 1316 to 1476 MPa, and the elongation increased from 5.92% to 6.64%. Overall, Nb had a positive effect on the performance of the hot stamped steel.

Microstructure and properties of rheo-HPDC Al-8Si alloy prepared by air-cooled stirring rod process

A new and effective semisolid slurry preparation process with air-cooled stirring rod(ACSR)is reported,in which the compressed air is constantly injected into the inner cavity of a stirring rod to cool the melt.The slurry of a newly developed high thermal conductivity Al?8Si alloy was prepared,and thin-wall heat dissipation shells were produced by the ACSR process combined with a HPDC machine.The effects of the air flow on the morphology ofα1-Al particles,mechanical properties and thermal conductivity of rheo-HPDC samples were studied.The results show that the excellent slurry of the alloy could be obtained with the air flow exceeding3L/s.Rheo-HPDC samples that were produced with the air flow of5L/s had the maximum UTS,YS,elongation,hardness and thermal conductivity of261MPa,124MPa,4.9%,HV99and153W/(m·K),respectively.Rheo-HPDC samples show improved properties compared to those formed by HPDC,and the increasing rates of UTS,YS,elongation,hardness and thermal conductivity were20%,15%,88%,13%and10%,respectively.

Influence of Residual Stress on Shape of Heavy-gauge,High-strength Steel Caused by Cooling Process after Hot Rolling

The cooling process following hot rolling has a significant effect on the shape quality of a hot-rolled strip.The temperature and stress fields in the cooling process for a 14 mm thick strip with yield strength of 500 MPa grade were analyzed by the finite element method and actual test data,and the relationship between residual stress and shape defects was described.Subsequently,the small-crown rolling process and the coil slow cooling process were investigated.The results indicate that these processes improved the shape quality of the final product significantly.

3D Thermo-mechanical Coupled Simulation of Whole Rolling Process for 60kg/m Heavy Rail

3D thermo-meehanical coupled simulation of whole rolling process for 60 kg/m heavy rail was accomplished by FEM method. The finite element model, physical parameters of U75V and parameter setting of simulation were introduced in detail. The whole rolling process of 60 kg/m heavy rail was divided into 27 time cells to simulate respectively, and the model rebuilding and temperature inheritance method in intermediate pass were proceeded. Then, based on simulation results, the workpiece deformation result, metal flow, stress and strain of 60 kg/m heavy rail for typical passes were obtained. The temperature variation curves of whole rolling process for section key points of 60 kg/m heavy rail were plotted, and the temperature falling law of whole rolling process for 60 kg/m heavy rail was studied. In addition, temperature distribution of 60 kg/m heavy rail after whole rolling process was analyzed, and the results showed that temperature was highest at center of rail head and lowest at fringe of rail base. Moreover, the simulation results and measured results of rolling force for 60 kg/m heavy rail were compared, and the regularity was in good agreement.