Application of the gradient-based watershed algorithm in M/A constituent identification

This paper reports the quantitative study of martensite/austenite(M/A)constituents in high-grade heavy steel plates using the gradient-based watershed algorithm.Compared with several other image segmentation algorithms,the gradient-based watershed algorithm can effectively remove noises in images with various qualities and identify M/A constituents.The results prove that the gradient-based watershed algorithm is an effective method that can be used to digitize microstructures and integrate the data into Process Intelligent Data Application System(PIDAS).

Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of Nb-B bearing Low Carbon Steel Plate: Ultrafast Cooling versus Accelerated Cooling

The microstructure and mechanical properties of low carbon bainite high strength steel plate were studied via different cooling paths at the pilot scale. There was a significant increase in mechanical properties, and notably, the yield strength, tensile strength, and toughness at-40 ℃ for the tested steel processed by ultra-fast cooling were 126 MPa, 98 MPa and 69 J, respectively, in relation to steel processed by accelerated cooling. The ultra-fast cooling rate not only refined the microstructure, precipitates, and martensiteaustenite（M/A） islands, but also contributed to the refinement of microstructure in thick plates. The large size M/A constituents formed at lower cooling rate experienced stress concentration and were potential sites for crack initiation, which led to deterioration of low-temperature impact toughness. In contrast, the acicular ferrite and lath bainite with high fraction of high-angle grain boundaries were formed in steel processed by ultra-fast cooling, which retarded cleavage crack propagation.

Effect of TMCP Parameters on the Microstructure and Properties of Q460qNH Steel

The effects of TMCP parameters, consisting of finish cooling temperature and start rolling temperature in non-recrystallization region, on the final microstructure and mechanical properties of Q460 qNH steel were studied by tensile, Charpy impact tests and optical microscopy. The TMCP parameters for Q460 qNH steel were optimized by laboratory experiments. The results show that the yield strength and tensile strength increase with the finish cooling temperature, and the microstructure of Q460 qNH steel consists of ferrite and granular bainite.

Effect of Thermomechanical Controlled Processing Parameters on Microstructure and Properties of Q460q Steel

With tensile test, impact test, and optical microscopy, the effect of thermomechanical controlled processing （TMCP） parameters on the microstructure and properties of Q460 steel was studied and analyzed. The TMCP parameters for Q460q steel were optimized by laboratory experiments, and then, industrial trial was carried out. The result indicated that the microstructure and properties of the Q460q steel in industrial trial were in agreement with the results obtained in laboratory experiments and could meet the national standard of Q460q steel.

Effects of continuous cooling rate on morphology of granular bainite in pipeline steels

The morphology and characteristics of granular bainite (GB) in pipeline steels at different continuous cooling rates were investigated by scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy and electron back-scattered diffraction (EBSD). The results show that the morphology of ferrite matrix in GB turned from the lath sheaf structure into the nearly equiaxed large grain with the cooling rate decreasing from high (60℃/s) to low (5-10℃/s). At the medium cooling rate (20-40℃/s), GB consisted of the irregular ferrite matrix, the granular martensite/austenite (M/A) constituents and abundant substructures inside. The formation of the irregular ferrite and substructure was attributed to the high-temperature recovery which occurred at relatively high-temperature stage before phase transformation. The granular morphology of M/A constitu-ents was formed from the carbon-rich triple junctions which were produced by the multidirectional substructure interfaces converged with each other. Particularly, some martensite in M/A constituents was misoriented from the adjacent ferrite by very small misorientation angle, which could be characterized by the mean band contrast function of EBSD qualitatively or semiquantitatively.

Effect of cooling time t8/5 on microstructure and toughness of Nb-Ti- Mo microalloyed C-Mn steel

In order to further optimize welding process of Nb-Ti-Mo microalloyed steel, welding thermal cycles on coarse-grained heat-affected zone （CGHAZ） of welded joints were simulated using Gleeble 1500. The microstructure and low-temperature impact fracture were investigated using a scanning electron microscope and a pendulum impact machine, respectively. Moreover, the relationship between cooling time ts/5 and the microstructure of CGHAZ was discussed, and the effect of microstructure on impact toughness was also studied. As cooling time increased, martensite fraction decreased from 97.8% （3 s） to 3.0% （60 s）. The fraction of martensite/austenite （M/A） constituent increased from 2.2% （3 s） to 39.0% （60 s）, its shape changed from granular to strip, and the maximum length increased from 2.4 μm （3 s） to 7.0 μm （60 s）. As cooling time increased, the prior austenite grain size increased from 34.0 μm （3 s） to 49.0 gm （60 s）, the impact absorption energy reduced from 101.8 J （5 s） to 7.2 J （60 s）, and the fracture mechanism changed from quasi-cleavage fracture to cleavage fracture. The decreased toughness of CGHAZ was due to the reduction of lath martensite-content, coarsening of original austenite grain, and increase and coarsening of M/A constituent. The heat input was controlled under 7 kJ cm-1 during actual welding for these steels.