Grain boundary engineering for enhancing intergranular damage resistance of ferritic/martensitic steel P92

Ferritic/martensitic(F/M)steel is widely used as a structural material in thermal and nuclear power plants.However,it is susceptible to intergranular damage,which is a critical issue,under service conditions.In this study,to improve the resistance to intergranular damage of F/M steel,a thermomechanical process(TMP)was employed to achieve a grain boundary engineering(GBE)microstructure in F/M steel P92.The TMP,including cold-rolling thickness reduction of 6%,9%,and 12%,followed by austenitization at 1323 K for 40 min and tempering at 1053 K for 45 min,was applied to the as-received(AR)P92 steel.The prior austenite grain(PAG)size,prior austenite grain boundary character distribution(GBCD),and connectivity of prior austenite grain boundaries(PAGBs)were investigated.Compared to the AR specimen,the PAG size did not change significantly.The fraction of coincident site lattice boundaries(CSLBs,3≤Σ≤29)and Σ3^(n) boundaries along PAGBs decreased with increasing reduction ratio because the recrystallization fraction increased with increasing reduction ratio.The PAGB connectivity of the 6%deformed specimen slightly deteriorated compared with that of the AR specimen.Moreover,potentiodynamic polarization studies revealed that the intergranular damage resistance of the studied steel could be improved by increasing the fraction of CSLBs along the PAGBs,indicating that the TMP,which involves low deformation,could enhance the intergranular damage resistance.

Isothermal Growth Kinetics of Ultra-fine Austenite Grains in a Nb-V-Ti Microalloyed Steel

Ultra-fine austenite grains with size of i-3 μm were prepared in a Nb-V-Ti steel through repetitive treatment of rapid heating and quenching. A model for the growth kinetics of these ultra-fine austenite grains was successfully created through successive 2 processes, and the activation energy Q for growth was estimated to be about 693.2 kJ/mol, which directly shows the inhibition effect of microalloy elements on the growth of ultra-fine austenite grains.

The effect of V-Nb on the growth of austenite grains in 17CrNiMo6 gear steel

This study researches the effect of V-Nb on the growth of austenite grains in 17CrNiMo6 carburized gear steel. Results show that the carbonitride in V and Nb acts as second-phase particles in the steel, which can be used to block the migration of grain boundaries and the thinning of the austenite grains. This causes the crystals in the V-Nb microalloy 17CrNiMo6 steel to coarsen and the temperature to rise, thus reducing the cost of the carbonization that follows processing on the gears.

Growth behavior of ultrafine austenite grains in microalloyed steel

Ultrafine austenite gains （UFAGs） with size of 1-5 μm were prepared through repetitive treatment, four times, of rapid heating and quenching, and the growth behaviors of these UFACs during both the reheating and cooling stages were investigated. The results indicated that UFAGs without pinning particles appeared with significant coarsening when the reheating temperature reached 1000 ℃. Although coarsening still occurred in the cooling stage, the growth was obscured during the isothermal holding process at temperatures between 900 ℃ and At3.

Influence of prior austenite grain size on the critical strain for completion of DEFT through hot compression test

A low carbon steel was used to determine the critical strain εc for completion of deformation enhanced ferrite transformation （DEFT） through a series of hot compression tests. In addition, the influence of prior austenite grain size （PAGS） on the critical strain was systematically investigated. Experimental results showed that the critical strain is affected by PAGS. When γ→α transformation completes, the smaller the PAGS is, the smaller the critical strain is. The ferrite grains obtained through DEFT can be refined to about 3 μm when the DEFT is completed.

Analysis of Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of Ultrafine Grained Low Carbon Steel

A novel design scheme of hot stamping, quenching and partitioning process was conducted in a quenchable boron steel to obtain the nanometric duplex microstructure comprising ultrafine retained austenite and martensite. It is shown that the materials possess excellent mechanical properties and the ductility can be further improved without compromising the strength. The newly treated steel shows excellent mechanical properties and the total elongation of the steel increases from 6.6% to 14.8% compared with that of hot stamped and quenched steel. Therefore, this kind of steel has become another group of advanced high-strength steels. The microstructure which is mainly responsible for such excellent mechanical properties was investigated.

A NEURAL NETWORK-BASED MODEL FOR PREDICTION OF HOT-ROLLED AUSTENITE GRAIN SIZE AND FLOW STRESS IN MICROALLOY STEEL

For the great significance of the prediction of control parameters selected for hot-rolling and the evaluation of hot-rolling quality for the analysis of prod uction problems and production management, the selection of hot-rolling control parameters was studied for microalloy steel by following the neural network principle. An experimental scheme was first worked out for acquisition of sample data, in which a gleeble-1500 thermal simolator was used to obtain rolling temperature, strain, stain rate, and stress-strain curves. And consequently the aust enite grain sizes was obtained through microscopic observation. The experimental data was then processed through regression. By using the training network of BP algorithm, the mapping relationship between the hotrooling control parameters (rolling temperature, stain, and strain rate) and the microstructural paramete rs (austenite grain in size and flow stress) of microalloy steel was function appro ached for the establishment of a neural network-based model of the austeuite grain size and flow stress of microalloy steel. From the results of estimation made with the neural network based model, the hot-rolling control parameters can be effectively predicted.

Effect of deformation parameters on the austenite dynamic recrystallization behavior of a eutectoid pearlite rail steel

Understandings of the effect of hot deformation parameters close to the practical production line on grain refinement are crucial for enhancing both the strength and toughness of future rail steels.In this work,the austenite dynamic recrystallization(DRX)behaviors of a eutectoid pearlite rail steel were studied using a thermo-mechanical simulator with hot deformation parameters frequently employed in rail production lines.The single-pass hot deformation results reveal that the prior austenite grain sizes(PAGSs)for samples with different deformation reductions decrease initially with an increase in deformation temperature.However,once the deformation temperature is beyond a certain threshold,the PAGSs start to increase.It can be attributed to the rise in DRX volume fraction and the increase of DRX grain with deformation temperature,respectively.Three-pass hot deformation results show that the accumulated strain generated in the first and second deformation passes can increase the extent of DRX.In the case of complete DRX,PAGS is predominantly determined by the deformation temperature of the final pass.It suggests a strategic approach during industrial production where part of the deformation reduction in low temperature range can be shifted to the medium temperature range to release rolling mill loads.

Effect of Rare Earth Elements on Austenite Growth Dynamics of Steel 9Cr2Mo

The growth dynamics of austenite grain was investigated in steel 9Cr2 Mo with different rare earth(RE)element addition.The results show that austenite grains of steel 9Cr2 Mo can be refined and their growth can be restrained by adding a certain amount of RE.According to the results,the n and Q were calculated and the mechanism of the refinement of austenite grains was discussed.

Effect of Rare Earth Elements on Growth Dynamics of Austenite in 60CrMnMo Steel

The growth dynamics of austenite grains was investigated in 60CrMnMo steel with different RE elements. The results show that austenite grains of 60CrMnMo steel can be refined and their growth can be restrained by adding a certain amount of RE. From the experimental results, the values of n and Q were evaluated.

Effect of austenitizing temperature on microstructure in 16Mn steel treated by cerium

The change of inclusions and microstructure of 16Mn steel treated by Ce were observed,and the effect of austenitizing temperature on the microstructure was also examined.The results show that the inclusions are transformed from Si-Mn-Al composite oxide and MnS into AlCeO3,Ce2O2S,and MnS composite inclusions after being treated by Ce.Plenty of intragranular ferrites are formed in 16Mn steel containing～0.017wt% Ce.A large amount of intragranular acicular ferrites are formed after being austenitized for 20min at 1473 K.The prior austenite grain size fit for the formation of intragranular acicular ferrites is about 120μm.

Influence of Ti(C,N)precipitates on austenite growth of micro-alloyed steel during continuous casting

Austenite grain size is an important influence factor for ductility of steel at high temperatures during continuous casting. Thermodynamic and kinetics calculations were performed to analyze the characteristics of Ti(C,N) precipitates formed during the continuous casting of micro-alloyed steel. Based on Andersen-Grong equation, a coupling model of second phase precipitation and austenite grain growth has been established, and the influence of second precipitates on austenite grain growth under different cooling rates is discussed. Calculations show that the final sizes of austenite grains are 2.155, 1.244, 0.965, 0.847 and 0.686 mm, respectively, under the cooling rate of 1, 3, 5, 7, and 10 ℃·s^(-1), when ignoring the pinning effect of precipitation on austenite growth. Whereas, if taking the pinning effect into consideration, the grain growth remains stable from 1,350 ℃, the calculated final sizes of austenite grains are 1.46, 1.02, 0.80, 0.67 and 0.57 mm, respectively. The sizes of final Ti(C,N) precipitates are 137, 79, 61, 51 and 43 nm, respectively, with the increase of cooling rate from 1 to 10 ℃·s^(-1). Model validation shows that the austenite size under different cooling rates coincided with the calculation results. Finally, the corresponding measures to strengthen cooling intensity at elevated temperature are proposed to improve the ductility and transverse crack of slab.

Effects of Quenching Process on Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of Low Carbon Nb-Ti Microalloyed Steel

The low carbon Nb-Ti mieroalloyed tested steel was prepared by the process of vacuum induction furnace smelting, forging and hot rolling. The new steel aims to meet the demand of high strength, high toughness and high plasticity for building facilities. The effects of quenching process on microstructure and mechanical properties of tested steel were investigated. The results showed that prior austenite grain size, phase type and precipitation behavior of （ Nb, Ti） （ C, N） play important roles in mechanical properties of the steel. Through modified appropriately, the model of austenite grain growth during heating and holding is d^5.7778 = 5. 6478^5.7778 ＋ 7.04 × 10^22t^1.6136 exp（- 427. 15 ×10^3 /（RT））. The grain growth activation energy is Qg = 427. 15 kJ. During quenching, the microscopic structures are mainly martensite and lath bainite which contains lots of lath substructure and dislocations. The content of phases, fine and coarsening （ Nb, Ti ） （ C, N ） precipitated changes during different quenching temperatures and holding time. Finally compared with the hardness value, the best quenching process can be obtained that heating temperature and holding time are 900 ℃ and 50 mins, respectively.

Recrystallization of High Carbon Steel during High Strain Rate

The recrystallization of high carbon steel during high temperature and high speed rolling has been studied by analyzing the stress-strain curves and the austenite grain size. Isothermal multi-pass hot compression at high strain rate was carried out by Gleeble-200D. The austenite grain size was measured by IBAS image analysis system. The results show that static recrystallization occurred at interpass time under pre-finish rolling, and at the finish rolling stage, due to the brief interpass time, static recrystallization can not be found.

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.

Grain refinement of non-magnetic austenitic steels during asymmetrical hot rolling process

Asymmetrical hot rolling（ASHR） was proposed to acquire productive grain refinement for Fe-20Mn-4Al-0.3C and Fe-18Cr-18Mn-0.5N non-magnetic austenitic steels. The intensive additional shear deformation caused by ASHR promotes the nucleation of recrystallization and grain refining of steel plates. With the speed ratio of 1.2, the austenitic grains were refined to ~5 m on the surface, the recrystallization fraction was enhanced to ~34.7%, and the thickness of fine-grained surface layer increases to ~450m for Fe-20Mn-4Al-0.3 C steel. The Fe-18Cr-18Mn-0.5N steel also exhibited an effective surface grain refinement with an average size of ~3μm, and the recrystallization fraction reached ~76.9% at the speed ratio of 1.15.

Grain Size Effect on the Martensite Formation in a High-Manganese TWIP Steel by the Rietveld Method

The aim of the present work was to study the effect of austenite grain size （AGS） on the martensite formation in a high-manganese twinning-induced plasticity （TWIP） steel. The results of a quantitative microstructural characterization of the steel by the whole X-ray pattern fitting Rietveld software, materials analysis using diffraction （MAUD）, indicated that the volume fraction of αbcc-martensite increases with increasing AGS. However, the value of the stacking fault probability （Psf） does not show a large variation for samples with different values of AGS under water-quenching conditions.

Carbide dissolution and austenite grain growth behavior of a new ultrahigh-strength stainless steel

The isothermal grain growth behavior for a new ultrahigh-strength stainless steel (UHSSS) is investigated in temperature range from 900 to 1150 ℃ and holding time range from 0 to 20 min. In the temperature range from 1000 to 1050 ℃, a bimodal grain size distribution was induced by different austenite grain growth rates which resulted from the weakened pin-ning effect by the partial dissolution of M6C particles along austenite grain boundaries. Further raising heating temperatures, M6C particles almost dissolved and the bimodal grain size distribution phenomenon became weakened, indicating that the austenite grain coarsening temperature of the new UHSSS was close to 1050 ℃. According to the present experimental results, a pragmatic mathematical model based on the Arrhenius equations was developed to predict the austenite grain growth process, which elaborated the influence of heating temperature, holding time and initial grain size on the austenite grain growth. Predictions for the new UHSSS presented a good agreement with experimental results.

Three-dimensional Numerical Simulation and Experimental Analysis of Austenite Grain Growth Behavior in Hot Forging Processes of 300M Steel Large Components

The microstructure models were integrated into finite element（FE）code,and a three-dimensional（3D）FE analysis on the entire hot forging processes of 300 M steel large components was performed to predict the distributions of effective strain,temperature field and austenite grain size.The simulated results show that the finest grains distribute in the maximum effective strain region because large strain induces the occurrence of dynamic recrystallization.However,coarse macro-grains appear in the minimum effective strain region.Then,300 M steel forging test was performed to validate the results of FE simulation,and microstructure observations and quantitative analysis were implemented.The average relative difference between the calculated and experimental austenite grain size is 7.56%,implying that the present microstructure models are reasonable and can be used to analyze the hot forging processes of 300 M steel.

A New Route for Identification of Precipitates on Austenite Grain Boundary in an Nb-V-Ti Microalloyed Steel

The precipitates on austenite grain boundaries in an Nb-V-Ti microalloyed steel have been investigated by transmission electron microscope （TEM） examination of carbon extraction replica. The replica was prepared from specimen etched with saturated picric solution rather than Nital which is conventionally used. Then particles on both grain boundaries and triple point of grain [aoundaries were clearly observed and identified as （Nb,Ti）（C, N） parti- cles. In case of conventional way, it is difficult to determine the location of particles with respect to austenite grain boundaries. The number of particles observed in new way developed was greatly reduced compared with that found in replica prepared by the conventional way, which may be caused by the dissolution of partial precipitates during the etching with longer time and at higher temperature involved in new way. Despite this, the new way developed pro- vides an effective way to determine the precipitate particles on austenite urain boundaries_