Effect of Mo content on the thermal stability of Ti-Mo-bearing ferritic steel

The effects of tempering holding time at 700℃on the morphology,mechanical properties,and behavior of nanoparticles in Ti-Mo ferritic steel with different Mo contents were analyzed using scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy.The equilibrium solid solution amounts of Mo,Ti,and C in ferritic steel at various temperatures were calculated,and changes in the sizes of nanoparticles over time at different Mo contents were analyzed.The experimental results and theoretical calculations were in good agreement with each other and showed that the size of nanoparticles in middle Mo content nano-ferrite(MNF)steel changed the least during aging.High Mo contents inhibited the maturation and growth of nanoparticles,but no obvious inhibitory effect was observed when the Mo content exceeded 0.37wt%.The tensile strength and yield strength continuously decreased with the tempering time.Analysis of the strengthening and toughening mechanisms showed that the different mechanical properties among the three different Mo content experiment steels were mainly determined by grain refinement strengthening(the difference range was 30-40 MPa)and precipitation strengthening(the difference range was 78-127 MPa).MNF steel displayed an ideal chemical ratio and the highest thermodynamic stability,whereas low Mo content nano-ferrite(LNF)steel and high Mo content nano-ferrite(HNF)steel displayed relatively similar thermodynamic stabilities.

Influence of original microstructure on the transformation behavior and mechanical properties of ultra-high-strength TRIP-aided steel

The transformation behavior and tensile properties of an ultra-high-strength transformation-induced plasticity （TRIP） steel （0.2C-2.0Si-I.SMn） were investigated by different heat treatments for automobile applications. The results show that F-TRIP steel, a tradi- tional TRIP steel containing as-cold-rolled ferfite and pearlite as the original microstructure, consists of equiaxed grains of intercritical ferrite surrounded by discrete particles of M/RA and B. In contrast, M-TRIP steel, a modified TRiP-aided steel with martensite as the original mi- crostlucture, containing full martensite as the original microstructure is comprised of lath-shaped grains of ferrite separated by lath-shaped martensite/retained austenite and bainite. Most of the austenite in F-TRIP steel is granular, while the austenite in M-TRIP steel is lath-shaped. The volume fraction of the retained austenite as well as its carbon content is lower in F-TRIP steel than in M-TRIP steel, and austenite grains in M-TRIP steel are much finer than those in F-TRIP steel. Therefore, M-TRIP steel was concluded to have a higher austenite stability, re- sulting in a lower transformation rate and consequently contributing to a higher elongation compared to F-TRIP steel. Work hardening be- havior is also discussed for both types of steel.

Effect of Annealing Process on Microstructure and Mechanical Property of 1100 MPa Grade TRIP Steel

To develop super-high strength TRIP steel for automobile application with good combination of strength and plasticity, an ultra high-strength TRIP steel 0.2 %C-2.0% Si-1.8% Mn was investigated at different intercritical annealing temperatures and bainitic isothermal temperatures. Microstructures were observed by scanning electron mi- croscopy, transmission electron microscopy, electron backscatter diffraction, and X-ray diffraction, and mechanical properties were tested under a uniaxial tensile testing machine. It shows that the best comprehensive mechanical properties were obtained for the experimental steel particularly annealed at 820 ℃ and austempered at 410 ℃. Yield strength of the tested steel mainly depends on ferrite, while the high strength of the tested steel is related to mar- tensite which forms through blocky austenite transformation during cooling and subsequent tensile test attributed to the TRIP effect. Hence, it could be concluded that the grain size of the retained austenite and carbon content in re- tained austenite are the main reasons for high elongation of the tested steel.