Effect of electromagnetic stirring in mold on the macroscopic quality of high carbon steel billet

An industrial plant trial for optimizing the process parameters in a round billet continuous casting mold with electromagnetic stirring （M-EMS） was performed, in which the influences of stirring parameters with M-EMS on the solidification macrostructure of high carbon steel were investigated. The results show that the billet quality is not well controlled under the condition of working current and frequency with EMS, in which the subsurface crack of grade 1.0-2.0 ups to 38.09%, the central pipe of grade 1.0-1.5 reaches to 14.28%, and the central porosity of grade 1.5 is 14.29%. The parameters of current 260 A and frequency 8 Hz as the final optimum scheme has a remarkable effect for improving the macroscopic quality of billet, in which the subsurface crack, central pipe and skin blowhole are all disappeared, and the central porosity and carbon segregation are also well improved.

Apparent Morphologies and Nature of Packet Martensite in High Carbon Steels

The apparent morphologies of packet martensite in eight high carbon steels were researched by using optical microscope, scanning electron microscope, and transmission electron microscope. It was found that the apparent morphologies, substructures, and habit plane of packet martensite in high carbon steels are entirely different from that in low carbon steels; the substructures of packet martensite in high carbon steels possess fully twinned structure, while the substructures of individual coarse martensite plates in these steels bear both fully and partially twinned structures. The formation reason for apparent morphologies, substructures and two habit planes （i. e, { 111 }, and { 225}r） of high carbon martensite were discussed in detail.

Effect of quenching-partitioning treatment on the microstructure, mechanical and abrasive properties of high carbon steel

The present work employed the X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, electron backscattered diffraction, and electron probe microanalysis techniques to identify the microstructural evolution and mechanical and abrasive behavior of high carbon steel during quenching-partitioning treatment with an aim to enhance the toughness and wear resistance of high carbon steel.Results showed that, with the increase in partitioning temperature from 250 to 400℃, the amount of retained austenite(RA) decreased resulting from the carbide precipitation effect after longer partitioning times.Moreover, the stability of RA generally increased because of the enhanced degree of carbon enrichment in RA.Given the factors affecting the toughness of high carbon steel, the stability of RA associated with size, carbon content, and morphology plays a significant role in determining the toughness of high carbon steel.The analysis of the wear resistance of samples with different mechanical properties shows that hardness is the primary factor affecting the wear resistance of high carbon steel, and the toughness is the secondary one.

New Spheroidizing Technique of Ultra-High Carbon Steel With Aluminum Addition

A new spheroidizing process of ultra-high carbon steel （UHCS） containing C 1.55%, Cr 1.45%, and Al 1.5% in mass percent has been proposed. The effect of processing parameters on the microstructure was analyzed. The UHCS produced by this new process has a microstructure with recrystallized ferrite matrix and fine and uniform carbide particles. After this spheroidizing, the UHCS exhibits good mechanical properties at ambient temperature, for example σb= 1 100 MPa, σs =915 MPa, δ=8% and high ratio of σs/σb.

WELDING BETWEEN HIGH MANGANESE STEEL AND HIGH CARBON STEEL

Manuscript received 30 July 1999 Abstract The shielded metal arc welding (SMAW) of a manganese steel part as a crossing of railway track to a carbon steel part as the rails of the railroad is the welding of dissimilar steel. It are was known that it is not possible to the the rail of railroad directly to the cross- ing of railway track made from a steel containing about 14% of manganese (wt. ) because of so many differences between the two kinds of steels such as composition, microstructure,mechanical properties and weldability.A method was used to solve the problem by presetting an intermediate layer on each side of the joint and other special procedures were used.The result of test indicated that a good weld joint was obtained.

Study on the Interaction between Rare Earth and Carbon in High Carbon Steel

A certain quantity of RE is dissolved in high-carbon steel. The dissolved RE not only segregates on grain boundary, but also exists in grains. It exists in cementite much more than in ferrite. RE makes the carbides spheroidal and fine, and the carbides distribute uniformly. RE also changes the morphology of pearlite. By means of the analysis of Auger energy spectrum, we find that RE, which is dissolved in cementite, changes the composition and structure of cementite. In the case of higher content of RE and carbon, RE carbide can be formed.

Microstructural morphology of the semi-solid high carbon steel T12 before and after rheo-rolling

The semi-solid high carbon steel T12 was rolled in a closed box groove under a certain condition by the rheo-rolling equipment, and the microstructural morphology of the semi-solid T12 before and after deformation was investigated by optical mi- croscope to analyze and summarize the microstructure evolution law of T12 deformed in semi-solid state. The experiment results show that the grain shape before deformation of the semi-solid T12 steel displays globule or ellipse by the electromagnetic stirring, the distribution of solid and liquid phases is homogeneous. But the microstructure of semi-solid product after rheo-rolling exhibits macrosegregation that the distribution of liquid and solid phases changes, the liquid phases divorce from the solid phases. In the transverse section, most of the solid phases get together in the center of the specimen, the liquid phases flow to the surface or the edge of the specimen, and the grains occur plastic deformation while reduction increased. In longitudinal section, the middle micro- structure of the specimen is more homogeneous than that at the head or tail, the head microstructure is similar to the tail and the size of the grains is not homogeneous.

RE-Carbide in High Carbon Steel

In order to determine the morphology of RE in high carbon steel, it was studied by means of electrolytic extraction and X-ray diffraction analysis. Meanwhile, as a new experimental technique, the gas chromatography analysis ha;i been used to investigate the necessary condition for the formation of RE-carbide and its chemical property. The results show that the RE-carbide could be formed with which the mischmetal content was about 0. 036 wt% in heavy rail steel, and the ternary compound Fe2Ce2C3 was also identified in which the cerium content exceeded 0.25 wt%. The RE-carbide and Fe2Ce2C3 were both moisture-sensitive.

Enrichment characteristic of carbon atoms in solid-liquid zone of high carbon steel under different directional solidification rates

To reveal the formation mechanism and main influencing factors of C-segregation in high carbon steel under different solidification rates(40,80,160,200 and 320μm·s^(-1)),the enrichment characteristics of carbon atoms in the solid-liquid zone of Fe-0.61%C steel were studied using a zone melting liquid metal cooling apparatus and electron probe microanalysis.The relationships among micro-segregation of carbon atoms,solid-liquid interface morphology and solidification rate were fully discussed.The results show that large dendrite spacing and a slow-moving dendritic interface create less resistance and more time for the migration of interdendritic carbon atoms to liquid zone.This results in the continuous enrichment of carbon atoms in liquid zone,further expands the solid-liquid temperature range,prolongs the solidification time of molten steel,and causes the formation of carbon micro-segregation at the solidification end as the solidification rate is 40μm·s^(-1).Conversely,abundant and elongated secondary dendrite arms with small spacing seriously impede the diffusion of interdendritic carbon-rich molten steel to liquid zone.As a result,there is only obvious dendrite segregation,but little difference in the carbon content along the solidification direction as solidification rate exceeds 200μm·s^(-1).

Effect of Continuous Cooling Conditions on Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of High Carbon Steel Rod

The effect of cooling rate and austenitizing condition on the mechanical properties of high carbon steel (SWRH82B) has beeninvestigated. Specimens were made of high carbon steel rod and heat-treated by Gleeble-2000 to produce a wide variation in prior austenite size. Different cooling rates were carried out, and then pearlite interlaminar spacing and mechanical properties were measured andtested respectively. According to the results, it could be found that under the continuous cooling with the increase of cooling rate, tensilestrength greatly increases and reduction in area exhibits a slightly increase for an equivalent value of prior austenite grain size. Whenprior austenite size increases, reduction in area decreases, and tensile strength increases slightly for an equivalent value of pearlite interlaminar spacing. It is concluded that prior austenite size primarily controls ductility and pearlite interlaminar spacing controls tensilestrength. Mathematical formulae are given for these relations.

Study on rolling process optimization of high carbon steel wire

The existing problems in the manufacture of SWRH82B high carbon steel wire were discussed by sampling and testing the microstructure and properties of the steel from the workshop. To solve the problems, the experimental parameters for thermal simulation were optimized, and the thermal simulating experiments were carded out on a Gleeblel500 thermal simulator. The process parameters for the manufacture were optimized after analysis of the data, and the productive experiments were performed after the water box in front of the no-twist blocks was reconstructed, to control the temperature of the loop layer. The results from the productive experiments showed that the cooling rate of 10-15℃/s was reasonable before phase transformation, about 5℃/s during phase transformation, and 600-620℃ was the suitable starting temperature for phase transformation. The ultimate strength of the Ф11.0 mm wire was increased to 1150-1170 MPa with an increase of 20-30 MPa, the percentage reduction of section was to 34%-36% with an increase of 1%-3% by testing the finished products after reconstruction.

Effect of an Organic Inhibitor on the Electrical Properties of High Carbon Steel in Simulated Acid Environment

The effect of 1-Phenyl-3-Methyl Pyrazol-5-one (HPMP) on the electrical properties of high carbon steel in Hydrochloric acid (HCI), Trioxonitrate (v) acid (HNO3) and Perchloric acid (HCIO4) was studied by weight loss method. The acidic medium caused a complete degradation of the electrical properties of the coated and uncoated high carbon steel. However, the attack was more on the uncoated coupons, which showed that HPHP is an effective corrosion inhibitor. HNO3 had the most severe effect on the metal. The coupons coated with HPMP generally had higher values of resistance (0.0155 Ω) and conductivity (6.20 mho/m) in HCI environment than the uncoated coupons (0.0043 Ω) and (1.72 mho/m). Similar results were obtained for HNO3 and HCIO4 environments. These values are lower than the values obtained for as-received coupons: -0.0466 and 8.64 mho/m respectively.

Oxide Scale Growth on High Carbon Steel at High Temperatures

The structure and formation process of oxidation on high carbon steel were investigated with the aid of X-ray diffraction （XRD）, scanning electron microscope （SEM） and Laser Raman spectroscopy （LRS）. The oxide scale formed comprised a three-layer structure, similar to that formed on pure iron and low-carbon steel. For the high carbon steel, however, the scale was essentially a two-layered because of the low proportion of hematite （Fe2O3） formed. The scale thickness increased with the temperature and time of oxidation. The rate of scale thickening rapidly increased above 900 ℃, at which the rate was particularly fast in the first 20 s of oxidation. The proportion of wüstite （Fe1-yO） increased with time and temperature of oxidation, while the magnetite （Fe3O4） remained constant at about 2 μm.

Effect of Ti on Austenite Grain Growth Behavior in High Carbon Steels

Austenite grain growth behavior of two high carbon steels was observed using Confocal l.aser Scanning Mi croscope （CLSM）. Apparent austenite grain sizes for different holding time under a series of temperatures were measured by employing linear intercept method. Experimental results showed that Ti bearing steel exhibited a much sluggish growth rate compared with Ti free counterpart, which was attributed to the pinning effect of Ti（C,N） nan oparticles with the size of 20 to 40 nm on austenite grain boundaries. Based on the research conducted by using Transmission Electron Microscope （TEM） observation and Thermo Calc calculation, Ti（C, N） was confirmed to be the dominant phase at elevated temperature. Some models were introduced to predict the grain sizes of both steels. By comparison, the results predicted by the modified Gladman equation are found to be closest to the experimental resuits, which could be employed to predict accurately the austenite grain growth of high carbon steels.

Heat Transfer and Central Segregation of Continuously Cast High Carbon Steel Billet

A numerical model of heat transfer was developed to investigate the heat transfer of continuously cast billet with the aid of surface temperature tests by ThermaCAMTM researcher and nail shooting experiments. The effects of secondary cooling practice and casting speed on the solidification process and central segregation of carbon were investigated as well with the actual central segregation tests. The results show that the surface center and billet center temperatures exhibit a different pattern during solidification, and the solidified shell thickness is presented as an ＂S＂ type. With the increase of secondary cooling intensity and the decrease of casting speed, the end points of the solidus line and the liquidus line move forward, and the central segregation level of carbon decreases. The optimal casting condition is suggested for continuously cast high carbon billet with F-EMS （final electromagnetic stirring）.

Microstructure Evolution and Microhardness of Ultrafine-grained High Carbon Steel during Multiple Laser Shock Processing

Surface microstructure and microhardness of （ferrite＋ cementite） microduplex structure of the ultrafine- grained high carbon steel after laser shock processing （LSP） with different impact times were investigated by means of scanning electron microscopy （SEM）, transmission electron microscopy （TEM）, X-ray diffraction （XRD） and microhardness measurements. Equiaxed ferrite grains were refined from 400 to 150 nm, and the cementite lamellae were fully spheroidized, with a decrease of the particle diameter from 150 to 100 nm as the impact times increased. The cementite dissolution was enhanced significantly. Correspondingly, the lattice parameter of α-Fe and microhard- hess increased with the impact times.

Effect of RE oxide on growth dynamics of primary austenite grain in hardfacing layer of medium-high carbon steel

The flux cored wires with different rare earth oxide additions for hardfacing the workpieces of medium-high carbon steel were developed. The microstrucmre of the hardfacing layer was observed using the optical microscopy. The average dimension of primary austenite grains in hardfacing layer was measured by image analyzer. The primary austenite grain growth activation energy and index were calculated according to Sellars＇s mode and Beck formula, respectively. Moreover, the effect of rare earth oxide on the growth dynamics of primary aus- tenite grain was analyzed, and then discussed with the misfit theory. The experimental results showed that, by adding rare earth oxide, the av- erage dimension of primary austenite grains in hardfacing layer of medium-high carbon steel decreased, and it was the smallest when the ad- dition of rare earth oxide was 5.17 wt.%. Meanwhile, at this rare earth oxide addition, the primary austenite grain growth activating energy in hardfacing layer was the largest, while its index was the smallest. The calculated results indicated that the primary austenite grain could be refined because LaAlO3 as heterogeneous nuclei of γ-Fe was the most effective.

Mechanism of Austenite Evolution During Deformation of Ultra-High Carbon Steel

The mechanism of transformation of austenite to cementite and pearlite during the deformation of ultra-high carbon steel was discussed. The results indicate that the pearlite and cementite can be induced by deformation between Acm to Arcm The transformation during deformation is still considered as a diffusion-controlled process. With the increase of time and reduction, the pearlite fraction increased. At the beginning of the transformation, the pearlite was lamelliform. When the rate of reduction was increased to 70%, some of the induced lamellar pearlite was broken up under deformation.

Effects of Rare Earths on the Tempering Transformation Kinetics of High Carbon Steel

Effect of rare earth metals (REM) on tempering process and decomposition kinetics of martensite and retained austenite of high carbon steel were investigated by DSC technique,based on the non-isothermal kinetic theory.The result shows that the addition of REM in high carbon steel increases the decomposition temperatures of martensite and retained austenite,decreases the thennal effect values,elevates the activity energies and changes the transformation mechanism.

The Research of Controlling Inclusions in Middle and High Carbon Steel During TSCR

Based on the characteristics of Thin slab casting and rolling (TSCR) process,using test methods such as SEM,EDS and measuring content of inclusions, the influencing factor of controlling inclusions during producing middle and high carbon steel was studied. The technologies of electric furnace smelting, LF refining and controlling inclusions of tundish were proposed. The inclusions control level of middle and high carbon steel in which the carbon content is 0.3-1.0%, The level reached and even exceeded the level of like product producing with conventional process at home and abroad.