Continuous Cooling Transformation Behavior and Kinetic Models of Transformations for an Ultra-Low Carbon Bainitic Steel

The aim was to investigate transformation behavior and transformation kinetics of an ultra-low carbon bai- nitic steel during continuous cooling. Continuous cooling transformation （CCT） curves of tested steel were measured by thermal dilatometer and metallographic structures at room temperature were observed by optical microscope. Then transformation kinetic equation of austenite to ferrite as well as austenite to bainite was established by analyzing the relationship of lnln]-l/（1--f）] and lnt in the kinetic equation on the basis of processed experimental data. Finally, the measured and calculated kinetic behaviors of the steel during continuous cooling were compared and growth pat- terns of transformed ferrite and bainite were analyzed. Results showed that calculated result was in reasonable agree- ment with the experimental data. It could be concluded that the growth modes of transformed ferrite and bainite were mainly one dimension as the Avrami exponents were between 1 and 2.

A hybrid machine learning model for predicting continuous cooling transformation diagrams in welding heat-affected zone of low alloy steels

Continuous cooling transformation diagrams in synthetic weld heat-affected zone(SH-CCT diagrams)show the phase transition temperature and hardness at different cooling rates,which is an important basis for formulating the welding process or predicting the performance of welding heat-affected zone.However,the experimental determination of SH-CCT diagrams is a time-consuming and costly process,which does not conform to the development trend of new materials.In addition,the prediction of SHCCT diagrams using metallurgical models remains a challenge due to the complexity of alloying elements and welding processes.So,in this study,a hybrid machine learning model consisting of multilayer perceptron classifier,k-Nearest Neighbors and random forest is established to predict the phase transformation temperature and hardness of low alloy steel using chemical composition and cooling rate.Then the SH-CCT diagrams of 6 kinds of steels are calculated by the hybrid machine learning model.The results show that the accuracy of the classification model is up to 100%,the predicted values of the regression models are in good agreement with the experimental results,with high correlation coefficient and low error value.Moreover,the mathematical expressions of hardness in welding heat-affected zone of low alloy steel are calculated by symbolic regression,which can quantitatively express the relationship between alloy composition,cooling time and hardness.This study demonstrates the great potential of the material informatics in the field of welding technology.

Microstructural Transformation and Precipitation of an Ultra-high Strength Steel under Continuous Cooling

We investigated phase transition and precipitation of ultra-high strength steel（UHSS）in a new ＂short process＂ with controlled rolling and controlled cooling.Thermalexpansion test combined with metallographic observation was used to research the continuous cooling transformation（CCT）curve.Moreover,the microstructuraltransformation and precipitation law was revealed by morphologicalobservation and alloying elements by electron probe micro-analyzer（EPMA）.Transmission electron microscopy（TEM）was utilized to analyze the composition and grain orientation of microstructure.The study showed that the measured criticaltransformation temperatures of Ac1 and Ac3 were 746 and 868 ℃,respectively.The CCT curve indicated that the undercooled austenite was transformed into proeutectoid ferrite and bainite with HV 520 in a broad range of cooling rate 0.1^（-1） ℃·s^（-1）.When subjected to a cooling rate of 1 ℃·s^（-1）,the undercooled austenite was divided into small-sized blocks by formed martensite.With further increase of cooling rate,micro-hardness increased dramatically,the microstructure of specimen was mainly lathe bainite（LB）,granular bainite（GB）,lath martensite（LM）and residualaustenite.By diffraction test analysis,it was identified that there was K-S orientation relationship between martensite and austenite for {110}_α//{111}_γ,{111}_α//{101}_γ.EPMA clearly showed that carbon diffused adequately due to staying for a long time at high temperature with a lower cooling rate of 2 ℃·s-1.Phase transition drive force was lower and the residualaustenite existed in the block form of Martensite austenite island（M-A）.With the increase of cooling rate to 10 ℃·s^（-1）,the block residualaustenite reduced,the carbon content of residualaustenite increased and α phase around the residualaustenite formed into a low carbon bainite form.

Cooling rate effects on the structure and transformation behavior of Cu-Zn-Al shape memory alloys

Different fragments of a hot-rolled and homogenized Cu–Zn–Al shape memory alloy（SMA） were subjected to thermal cycling by means of a differential scanning calorimetric（DSC） device. During thermal cycling, heating was performed at the same constant rate of increasing temperature while cooling was carried out at different rates of decreasing temperature. For each cooling rate, the temperature decreased in the same thermal interval. During each cooling stage, an exothermic peak（maximum） was observed on the DSC thermogram. This peak was associated with forward martensitic transformation. The DSC thermograms were analyzed with PROTEUS software： the critical martensitic transformation start（Ms） and finish（Mf） temperatures were determined by means of integral and tangent methods, and the dissipated heat was evaluated by the area between the corresponding maximum plot and a sigmoid baseline. The effects of the increase in cooling rate, assessed from a calorimetric viewpoint, consisted in the augmentation of the exothermic peak and the delay of direct martensitic transformation. The latter had the tendency to move to lower critical transformation temperatures. The martensite plates changed in morphology by becoming more oriented and by an augmenting in surface relief, which corresponded with the increase in cooling rate as observed by scanning electron microscopy（SEM） and atomic force microscopy（AFM）.

Computer Model of Phase Transformation From Hot-Deformed Austenite in Niobium Microalloyed Steels

Based on thermodynamics and kinetics, a new mathematical model was developed to calculate the CCT diagrams and the transformation kinetics in low carbon niobium steels, in which the effect of deformation on the degree of supercooling was taken into account. The undercooling caused by deformation is the major reason for the increase of the starting transition temperature during continuous cooling. The critical cooling rate of bainite formation is within 2--5 ℃s for the studied niobium steels and deformation is suitable for the occurrence of pearlite. The ferrite volume fraction increases with the increase of the austenite boundary area, and decreases with the increase of the cooling rate. The calculated CCT diagrams and the volume fraction of each phase are in good agreement with the measurements.

Role of Solute Rare Earth in Altering Phase Transformations during Continuous Cooling of a Low Alloy Cr–Mo–V Steel

Effects of solute rare earth(RE)on continuous cooling transformation of a low-alloy Cr–Mo–V bainitic steel are investigated in detail by dilatometry,optical microscopy(OM),scanning electron microscopy(SEM)and transmission electron microscopy(TEM).Microstructures appeared in thermal dilatometric samples of both low-alloy Cr–Mo–V(RE)steels are composed of quasi-polygonal ferrite(QPF),degenerate pearlite(DP),granular bainite(GB),lath bainite(LB),and martensite(M)depending on cooling rate.When cooling rate is lower than 2°C/s,the addition of RE suppresses QPF transformation,and thereby inducing a broader transformation region of GB.When cooling rate ranges from 2 to 100°C/s,the addition of RE decreases the start temperature of bainitic transformation distinctly,which results in finer bainitic ferrite grain size and higher dislocation density.The addition of RE can enhance the hardness of the low alloy Cr–Mo–V steel by affecting the aforementioned diffusional and/or partly displacive transformation.However,when cooling rate increases up to 150°C/s,two steels have the same hardness value of about 435 HV due to only martensite obtained by displacive transformation.

Phase Transformation under Continuous Cooling Conditions in Medium Carbon Microalloyed Steels

Several 35CrMo4 and 38MnV7 steels with different additions of Ti and V were manufactured by electroslag remelting. The influence of the alloying and microalloying elements on phase transformation at different cooling rates was studied and the continuous cooling transformation diagrams were plotted. In order to optimize the heat treatment and improve the mechanical properties, the range of cooling rates leading to a fully bainitic microstructure （without ferrite, pearlite and especially without martensite） was determined. Bainite and martensite transformation start temperatures （Bs, Ms） were also established and compared with the values predicted by empirical equations. The important role of precipitates （especially V carbonitride particles） on final microstructure and mechanical properties was assessed.

Continuous Cooling Bainite Transformation Characteristics of a Low Carbon Microalloyed Steel under the Simulated Welding Thermal Cycle Process

Continuous cooling transformation of a low carbon microalloyed steel was investigated after it was subjected to the simulation welding thermal cycle process and the interrupted cooling test. Microstructure observation was performed by optical microscopy and transmission electron microscopy. On the basis of the dilatometric data and microstructure observation, the continuous cooling transformation （CCT） diagram was determined, which showed that the main microstructure changes from a mixture of lath martensite and bainitic ferrite to full granular bainite with the increase in the cooling time t8/5 from 10 to 600 s, accompanied with a decrease in the microhardness. The interrupted cooling test confirmed that the bainitic ferrite can form attached to grain boundaries at the beginning of transformation even if the final microstructure contains a mixture of granular bainite and bainitic ferrite.

Influence of cooling rate on phase transformation and precipitation behavior of Ti-bearing steel in continuous cooling process

The influence of cooling rate on microstructural evolution and precipitation behavior in Ti,Ti–Nb and Ti-Mo low-carbon steels during the continuous cooling process was studied by dilatometer method,optical microscopy,and transmission electron microscopy.The results indicated that austenite transformation temperature decreased with the increasing cooling rate in three steels.The addition of Nb and Mo promoted bainite and martensite transformation and improved the hardenability of steels.In addition,precipitates formed in deformed austenite and ferrite can be observed simultaneously.Deformation in the austenite non-recrystallization zone can introduce a large number of deformation bands,and then,the precipitates preferentially nucleated in these deformation bands.In the following process,randomly distributed precipitates and interphase precipitates will be formed in ferrite.The precipitates formed in deformed austenite obey Kurdjumov-Sachs orientation relationship with the matrix,while the precipitates formed in ferrite obey Baker-Nutting orientation relationship with the matrix.The addition of Nb and Mo in Ti-bearing steels decreased the precipitates size and increased the number density of precipitates and then improved the precipitation hardening.And the effect of Mo addition is more obvious than that of Nb addition.

Phase and CCT Diagram of an N-Containing 8%Cr Roller Steel

The pseudo-equilibrium phase diagram and continuous cooling transformation diagram of an N-containing 8% Cr roller steel were investigated by using thermodynamic calculation,differential scanning calorimetry, X-ray diffraction, expansion method, and so on. Under equilibrium conditions, the main carbonitrides are MX,M7C3,and M23C6types. The measured Ac1,Ac3,start temperature of martensitic transformation,and M7C3transformation temperatures are 811,855,324,and 1100 ℃,respectively. Bainite appears at cooling rates ranging from 0. 5 to 5 ℃ / s and ferrite forms at grain boundaries at a cooling rate lower than 0. 5 ℃ / s. Finally,the effects of adding N and lowering the C content on workability and mechanical properties of common 8%Cr steel were discussed.

Microstructure and Transformation Characteristics of Acicular Ferrite in High Niobium-Bearing Microalloyed Steel

The transformation behavior and microstructural characteristics of a low carbon high niobium-bearing microalloyed pipeline steel were investigated by deformation dilatometry and microstructure observation. The continuous cooling transformation curves of the test steel were constructed. The results showed that high niobium content and deformation enhanced the formation of acicular ferrite; the microstructures changed from polygonal ferrite, quasi-polygonal ferrite to acicular ferrite with increasing cooling rates from 0.5 to 50 ℃/s and was dominated by acicular ferrite in a broadened cooling rate higher than 5 ℃/s. The chaotic microstructure consisted of non-equiaxed ferrite and interwoven ferrite laths with high density dislocations and subunits. The results of isothermal holding treatment showed that acicular ferrite microstructure was formed at 550-600 ℃ and consisted of highly misoriented plate packets having internal low angle boundaries. With increasing the holding time or temperature,some low misorientation boundaries changed to high misorientation owing to the movement of dislocations and coarsening of grain.

Effect of cooling rate and composition on microstructure and mechanical properties of ultrahigh-strength steels

The influence of cooling rate on the microstructure and mechanical properties of two new ultrahigh-strength steels(UHSSs)with different levels of C,Cr and Ni has been evaluated for the as-cooled and untempered condition.One UHSS had higher contents of C and Cr,while the other one had a higher Ni content.On the basis of dilatation curves,microstructures,macrohardness and microhardness,continuous cooling transformation diagrams were constructed as a guide to heat treatment possibilities.Cooling rates(CRs)of 60,1 and 0.01°C/s were selected for more detailed investigations.Microstructural characterization was made by laser scanning confocal microscopy,field emission scanning electron microscopy combined with electron backscatter diffraction,electron probe microanalysis and X-ray diffraction.Mechanical properties were characterized using macrohardness,tensile and Charpy V-notch impact tests.UHSS with the higher C and Cr contents showed lower transformation temperatures and slower bainite formation kinetics than that with the higher Ni content.Higher cooling rates led to lower volume fractions and carbon contents of retained austenite together with finer prior austenite grain size,as well as effective final grain size and lath size.These changes were accompanied by higher yield and tensile strengths.The best combinations of strength and toughness were obtained with martensitic microstructures and by avoiding the formation of granular bainite accompanied by proeutectoid carbides at low CR.For the cooling rates studied,UHSS with the higher C and Cr contents showed the higher hardness and strength but at the cost of toughness.

Analysis on hot deformation and following cooling technology of 25Cr2Ni4MoVA steel

The true stress–true strain curves of 25Cr2Ni4MoVA steel were obtained by uniaxial compression experiments at 850–1200℃ in the strain rate range of 0.001–10.0 s^(−1).And the dynamic continuous cooling transformation curves were obtained at the cooling rate range of 0.5–15.0℃ s^(−1) from the austenitization temperature of 1000℃ to the room temperature by pre-strain of 0.2 as well.The power dissipation map and the dynamic continuous cooling transformation diagram were constructed based on the data provided by these curves.Compared with the optical micrographs of the compressed samples,the full dynamic recrystallization region is located between 1000 and 1200℃ and at the strain rate range from 0.01 to 10.0 s^(−1) with the power dissipation efficiency not less than 0.33.In the full dynamic recrystallization region,the power dissipation efficiency increases and the dynamic recrystallization activation energy decreases with the temperature increasing.With the strain rate decreasing,the power dissipation efficiency increases firstly and then starts to decrease as the strain rate is less than 0.1 s^(−1),and dynamic recrystallization activation energy changes on the contrary.According to the dynamic continuous cooling transformation diagram,slow cooling is a better way for the hot-deformed piece with large size or complex shape to avoid cracking as the temperature of the piece is lower than 400℃,and different cooling ways can be used for the hot-deformed piece with small size and simple shapes to obtain certain microstructure and meet good compressive properties.

Influence of cooling rate on magneto-structural transition and magnetocaloric effect of Ni_(30)Cu)8Co_(12)Mn_(37)Ga_(13) alloy

The influence of heat treatment with different cooling rates on phase transition behaviors and magnetocaloric effect is systematically studied.Difference in atomic order is induced by changing cooling rates,where ordered phase is obtained in the furnace cooled（FC）sample while disordered phase is reserved in the water quenched（WQ）sample.The coupled magneto-structural transition is detected in both samples but the characteristic temperature significantly shifts to lower temperatures with increasing atomic order.Giant magnetic entropy change（ΔS_（mag））derived from magnetic field induced martensitic transformation is confirmed for both samples,and can be remarkably enhanced by the atomic ordering.The largestΔS_（mag） of 20.9J/（kg·K）is obtained at 307.5Kunder 5Tin the FC sample.

Dynamic CCT Diagram of Automobile Beam Steel With High Strength Produced by FTSR Technology

The dynamic continuous cooling transformation（CCT）diagram and phase transformation rules of 510 MPa automobile beam steel,which is produced by a continuous casting of thin slab of FTSR technology in Tangshan Iron and Steel Co.Ltd.,are researched by thermal simulation experiment.The microstructure characteristics of the beam steel under different test conditions are studied by means of optical microscope and scanning electron microscope.The test results show that the critical temperatures of phase transformation Ar3 and Ar1 will all decrease with the increase of the cooling rate.When the cooling rate is lower than 20 ℃·s-1,the ferrite and pearlite phase transformations are the main parts;when the cooling rate is higher than 20 ℃·s-1,the bainite phase appears.Moreover,the microstructures of 510 MPa automobile beam steel produced by FTSR technology are also studied,and the results are basically in accordance with the CCT diagram gained from the test.

Hot Deformation Behavior of V-Microalloyed Steel

Through the expansion curve of continuous cooling transformation at different cooling rates measured by THERMECMASTOR-Z thermal simulator for U75V rail steel,the continuous cooling transformation curve was obtained.The influence on steel microstructure and hardness at different cooling rates was studied.The softening behavior of isothermal deforming in austenite area of 850-1000 ℃ in the interval of passes was also studied by double-pass compression test.The results show that the product of austenite transformation is pearlite when the cooling rate is lower than 10 ℃.When the cooling rate was in the range of 10-50 ℃·s-1,only martensite was received.The hardness of the test steel increases with increasing the cooling rate.Under the condition of deformation of 30% and deformation rate of 3 s-1,the relaxation time for complete recrystallization was shorter than 100 s when deformation temperature was higher than 1000 ℃.When deformation temperature was lower than 880 ℃,complete recrystallization of steel was difficult to achieve even if the relaxation time is extended.