Effect of continuous annealing parameters on the mechanical properties and microstructures of a cold rolled dual phase steel

A cold rolled dual phase (DP) steel with the C-Si-Mn alloy system was trial-produced in the laboratory,utilizing a Glee-ble-3800 thermal simulator. The effects of continuous annealing parameters on the mechanical properties and microstructures of the DP steel were investigated by mechanical testing and microstructure observation. The results show that soaking between 760 and 820°C for more than 80 s,rapid cooling at the rate of more than 30°C/s from the quenching temperature between 620 and 680°C,and overaging lower than 300°C are beneficial for the mechanical properties of DP steels. An appropriate proportion of the two phases is one of the key factors for the favorable properties of DP steels. If the volume fraction of martensite and,thereby,free dislocations are deficient,the tensile strength and n value of DP steels will decrease,whereas,the yield strength will increase. But if the volume fraction of martensite is excessive to make it become a dominant phase,the yield and tensile strength will increase,whereas,the elongation will decrease obviously. When rapid cooling rate is not fast enough,pearlite or cementite will appear,which will degrade the mechanical properties. Even though martensite is sufficient,if it is decomposed in high temperature tempering,the properties will be unsatisfied.

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.

Stress-strain partitioning analysis of constituent phases in dual phase steel based on the modified law of mixture

A more accurate estimation of stress-strain relationships for martensite and ferrite was developed, and the modified law of mixture was used to investigate the stress-strain partitioning of constituent phases in dual phase (DP) steels with two different martensite volume fractions. The results show that there exist great differences in the stress-strain contribution of martensite and ferrite to DP steel. The stress-strain partitioning coefficient is not constant in the whole strain range, but decreases with increasing the true strain of DP steel. The softening effect caused by the dilution of carbon concentration in martensite with the increase of martensite volume fraction has great influence on the strain contribution of martensite. The strain ratio of ferrite to martensite almost linearly increases with increasing the true strain of DP steel when the martensite volume fraction is 22%, because martensite always keeps elastic. But the strain ratio of ferrite to martensite varies indistinctively with the further increase in true strain of DP steel above 0.034 when the martensite volume fraction is 50%, because plastic deformation happens in martensite. The stress ratio of martensite to ferrite decreases monotonously with increasing the true strain of DP steel whether the martensite volume fraction is 22% or 50%.

Research and development of 780 MPa cold rolling TRIP-aided steel

As an industry-university cooperative project, an experimental research was conducted to develop a new cold-rolled transformation-induced plasticity (TRIP) steel with a tensile strength of 780 MPa and an elongation of 25% under the conditions that some processing parameters were preestablished according to the actual conditions of factory production lines. The optimal heat treatment conditions for obtaining excellent strength-ductility balance, specifically in intercritical annealing temperature and isothermal treatment temperature, were investigated by means of thermal simulation tests. Ultimately the desirable mechanical properties were attained successfully, and the microstructure and retained austenite stability were studied by optical microscopy (OM) and electron back-scattered diffraction (EBSD). It has been discovered that the sizes of retained austenite grains are generally proportional to the sizes of carbon-clear space (ferrite and bainite) around them, and there is marked selectivity in their transition sequences under stress-strain.

Effect of dew point on hot-dip galvanizing behavior of a high-manganese TWIP steel for automotive application

The effect of dew points(-50,-l0 and+10℃)on the galvanizing properties of a high-manganese twinning-inducedplasticity(TWIP)steel was studied.Scanning electron microscopy(SEM),glow discharge optical emission spectrometry(GDOES)and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy(XPS)were used for microscopic observation and qualitative analysis of the interfacial layer between the steel surface and the zinc layer after hot-dip galvanizing.SEM analysis results show thatthree diffcrent morphologies of metallic oxides are formed on the interfacial layer under the different dew points.GDOES results show that Al is present in the molten zinc,reacting with Fe on the steel surface to form Fe2Al5,which can increasethe galvanizing properties.XPS results show that the valence states of Mn in the interfacial alloy layer are Mn'*and Mn*+,and the valence stales of Fe are Fe^0,Fe^2+and Fe^3+.The experimental results show that the hot-dip galvanizing performanceis the best at-10℃ and the formation of Mn and Fe intermetallic oxides has a bad effect on hot-dip galvanizing behaviorof the high-manganese TWIP steel.The types of the formed surface oxides(MnO,Mn3O4,Mn2O3,FeO3,and Fe2MnO4)onthe surface of the steel sheet are confirmed.It can obtain the best hot-dip galvanizing performance of the high-manganese TWIP steel by controlling the dew point from-10 to-5℃.

Effect of welding speed on microstructure and mechanical properties of laser-welded transformation induced plasticity(TRIP)steels

The weldability of 0.28C-2.0Mn-0.93Al-0.97Si(wt.%)transformation induced plasticity(TRIP)steels was investigated using a 2.5 kW CO2 laser at the welding speeds of 2,2.5 and 3 m/min.The welded joints were characterized in terms of hardness,tensile properties and microstructure.High-quality welded joints of TRIP steels with the carbon equivalent of 0.7 were obtained.Lower loss of ductility,nearly unvaried hardness of the fusion zone(FZ)and tensile strength equal to the base metal were observed with increasing welding speed.Lath martensite and lower bainite formed in FZ and the microstructure of FZ varied little with welding speed.Weld thermal simulations of heat-afected zone(HAZ)were carried out using a quenching dilatometer,and the microstructures of dilatometric samples revealed the carbon diffusion-controlled transformations in HAZ.The microstructure distribution of HAZ could be influenced by the welding speed due to the significant temperature gradient over the narrow HAZ.