Microstructure and mechanical properties of low-carbon Q & P steel pretreated with intercritical annealing

The success of obtaining both high strength and high formability in low-carbon quenched and partitioned( Q & P) steels depends on their microstructural constituents. In this regard,the effect of annealing temperature on the volume fraction and distribution of carbon in retained austenite in a low-carbon Q & P steel was studied. The microstructures of Q & P steels subjected to different annealing temperatures were studied in detail by electron microscopy,electron microprobe,and X-ray diffraction techniques. The results suggest that intercritical annealing is beneficial in increasing the volume fraction of retained austenite,which is a consequence of the distribution of alloying elements during intercritical annealing. Moreover,the mechanical properties of intercritically annealed Q & P steel,especially its ductility,are significantly enhanced.

Effect of Fast Cooling Rate on the Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of Low-Carbon High-Strength Steel Annealed in the Intercritical Region

The effect of fast cooling rate on the microstructure and mechanical properties of low-carbon high-strength steel annealed in the intercritical region was investigated using a Gleeble 1500 thermomechanical simulator and a continuous annealing thermomeehanical simulator. The results showed that the microstructure consisted of ferrite and bainite as the main phases with a small amount of retained austenite and martensite islands at cooling rate of 5 and 50 ℃/s, respectively. Fast cooling after continuous annealing affected all constituents of the microstructure. The mechanical properties were improved considerably. Ultimate tensile strength （U-TS） increased and total elongation （TEL） decreased with increasing cooling rate in all specimens. The specimen 1 at a cooling rate of 5 ℃/s exhibited the maximum TEL and UTSxTEL （20% and 27 200 MPa%, respectively） because of the competition between weakening by presence of the retained austenite plus the carbon indigence by carbide precipitation, and strengthening by martensitic islands and precipitation. The maximum UTS and YS （1 450 and 951 MPa, respectively） were obtained for specimen 2 at a cooling rate of 50 ℃/s. This is attributed to the effect of dispersion strengthening of finer martensite islands and the effect of precipitation strengthening of carbide precipitates.

Microstructure and Tensile Properties of a Nb–Mo Microalloyed 6.5Mn Alloy Processed by Intercritical Annealing and Quenching and Partitioning

The transformation behavior, microstructural evolution and mechanical properties were compared in a coldrolled Nb–Mo microalloyed 6.5Mn alloy after intercritical annealing（IA） and quenching and partitioning（Q ＆ P）,respectively. The thermodynamic calculation and theoretical analysis were used to determine the optimal heat treatment parameters. The Q ＆ P samples exhibited relatively higher strength with relatively low ductility, mainly due to the hard martensite matrix, which resulted in continuous yielding behavior upon loading, whereas the IA samples showed the significantly improved ductility, which benefited from the more sufficient transformation-induced plasticity（TRIP） effects and the softer ultrafine ferrite matrix. The dependence of yield point elongation（YPE） of IA samples on grain size demonstrated that the YPE value was in the reverse proportional relationship to the average grain size, which agreed well with theoretical analysis.

Mn Diffusion at Early Stage of Intercritical Annealing of 5Mn Steel

Mn distribution and austenite morphology at the early stage of intercritical annealing of 5Mn steel were investigated. It was experimentally demonstrated that a newly formed 20 nm-thick austenite was formed without the partitioning of Mn. The elemental analysis confirmed that the growth of austenite should be controlled by the diffusion of C prior to the diffusion of Mn at a low heating rate. The austenite growth started under negligible-partitioning local equilibrium mode and then switched to partitioning local equilibrium mode. Mn segregation at the γ/α interface suggested that the collector plate mechanism was the essential way of Mn partitioning at the early stage of austenite growth.

MECHANICAL PROPERTIES IN AN INTERCRITICALLY HEAT-TREATED BAINITE-TRANSFORMED 2%Si STEEL

A significant amount of austenite can be retained by rapid cooling following intercritical annealing and holding at the bainite transformation range in steel with comparatively low carbon and silicon contents. Retained austenite is blocky and very fine and moderately stabilized due to C enrichment. The elongation and the strength-ductility balance of the steel can be enhanced considerably due to strain-induced martensite transformation and transformation-induced plasticity (TRIP) of retained austenite.

Cu Partitioning Behavior and Its Effect on Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of 0.12C-1.33Mn-0.55Cu Q&P Steel

Cu, as an austenitic stable element, is added to steel in order to suppress the adverse effects of high content of C and Mn on welding. Based on C partitioning, Cu and Mn partitioning can further improve the stability of retained austenite in the intercritical annealing process. A sample of low carbon steel containing Cu was treated by the intercritical annealing, then quenching process（I＆Q）. Subsequently, another sample was treated by the intercritical annealing, subsequent austenitizing, then quenching and partitioning process（I＆Q＆P）. The effects of element partitioning behavior in intercritical region on the microstructure and mechanical properties of the steel were studied. The results showed that after the I＆Q process ferrite and martensite could be obtained, with C, Cu and Mn enriched in the martensite. When intercritically heated at 800 ℃, Cu and Mn were partitioned from ferrite to austenite, which was enhanced gradually as the heating time was increased. This partitioning effect was the most obvious when the sample was heated at 800 ℃ for 40 min. At the early stage of α→γ transformation, the formation of γ was controlled by the partitioning of carbon, while at the later stage, it was mainly affected by the partitioning of Cu and Mn. After the I＆Q＆P process, the partitioning effect of Cu and Mn element could be retained. C was assembled in retained austenite during the quenching and partitioning process. The strength and elongation of I＆Q＆P steel was increased by 5 305 MPa% compared with that subjected to Q＆P process. The volume fraction of retained autensite was increased from 8.5% to 11.2%. Hence, the content of retained austenite could be improved significantly by Mn and Cu partitioning, which increased the elongation of steel.

Effects of Holding Temperature for Austempering on Mechanical Properties of Si-Mn TRIP Steel

A new type of high strength steel containing a significant amount of stable retained austenite was obtained by austempering immediately after intercritical annealing.This sort of low carbon steel only contains alloying elements of silicon and manganese rather than nickel and chromium.Its mechanical properties were enhanced considerably due to strain-induced martensite transformation and transformation-induced plasticity(TRIP)of retained austenite when it was strained at temperatures between Msand Md,because retained austenite was moderately stabilized due to carbon enrichment by austempering.Austempering was carried out at different temperatures and 400 ℃ was found to be optimal.Tensile strength,total elongation and strength-ductility balance reached the maximum values and the product of tensile strength and total elongation exceeded 30 135 MPa % when the TRIP steel was held at 400 ℃ and strained at 350 ℃.

Effect of Silicon and Manganese on Mechanical Properties of Low-Carbon Plain TRIP Steel

A great deal of stabilized retained austenite can be obtained by means of austempering immediately after intercritical annealing in the low-carbon plain steel sheets which only contain alloying elements of silicon and manganese. Transformation from retained austenite to martensite may be induced by strain at a temperature ranging from 50 ℃ to 400 ℃ during tension testing. Transformation-induced plasticity (TRIP) may occur. Alloying of silicon improves the stability of retained austenite. Mechanical properties of the present TRIP steels containing manganese increase with increasing silicon amount when the amount of silicon is less than two percent.

临界退火结合回火处理Fe_(69.4)Mn_(10)Co_(10)Cr_(10)N_(0.6)多主元合金的组织与性能

采用接近Ac3温度的临界退火及不同温度的低温回火处理制备一系列Fe_(69.4)Mn_(10)Co_(10)Cr_(10)N_(0.6)多主元合金。研究结果表明:经临界退火的合金由均匀分布的亚微米级超细铁素体和奥氏体晶粒以及奥氏体晶粒中的淬火马氏体板条组成。临界退火合金经不同温度的回火处理后,铁素体和奥氏体晶粒尺寸显著增加到微米级,合金的室温屈服强度和抗拉强度同时增加,塑性基本维持不变。这归因于:一方面,在回火过程中,Mn和N元素的配分增加了合金中奥氏体的稳定性;另一方面,回火后软区铁素体和硬区马氏体之间的异质界面增多,使得材料在拉伸变形过程中具有更显著的异质形变诱导强化和硬化效应。其中,经300℃回火处理合金的屈服和抗拉强度分别达到690 MPa和1400 MPa左右,同时保持了17%的均匀伸长率和26%的断裂伸长率。

Influence of annealing temperatures on microstructure evolution and mechanical properties in a low-carbon steel

Quenching and partitioning (Q&P) heat treatments with different annealing temperatures and fixed initial quenching tem-peratures were applied to cold-rolled low-carbon steel with the initial microstructure of ferrite and pearlite, aiming to gain the same amount of austenite (preset value) before the partitioning stage. The chemical compositions of the material have been specially designed, containing 1.6 wt.% silicon and 0.8 wt.% aluminum to avoid the precipitation of carbides. The micro-structure evolution of the investigated steel was characterized using a dilatometer, an optical microscope, a scanning electron microscope (SEM), an X-ray diffractometer, an electron backscattered diffraction and transmission electron microscope. Consequently, the microstructure of all samples looks quite similar. At the same time, according to SEM micrographs and dilatometer data, there are competitive reactions in Q&P process, such as the precipitation of carbides, the transformation of bainite and the formation of secondary martensite. Thus, the measured austenite is less than the preset values. Mechanical properties of the material were detected by uniaxial tensile tests. The results indicate that the ultimate tensile strength of the four groups of samples is similar, but the total elongation has a significant downward tendency with the increase in annealing temperatures. After annealing at 840 ℃, the steel possesses great ultimate tensile strength of about 1200 MPa and optimum total elongation of about 20.37% with favorable products of strength and elongation of about 24.35 GPa%.

中碳钢球化退火行为和力学性能的研究

采用常规双相区球化退火和亚温球化退火工艺研究了常规轧制(CR)和控轧控冷(CRC)的中碳钢SWRCH35K的球化退火行为和力学性能。结果表明,与传统的双相区球化退火相比,亚温球化退火时碳化物球化进程明显加快,球化率高,且碳化物比较细小,具有良好的塑性和冷成形性,采用亚温球化退火处理可明显地缩短球化退火时间。控轧控冷的中碳钢线材尽管具有比较粗大的珠光体组织,但因有相当部分的珠光体发生退化,其球化退火进程要明显快于细珠光体组织。

两相区退火对不同硅含量TRIP钢残留奥氏体和力学性能的影响

研究了硅含量分别为 1 5wt%和 1 0wt %的冷轧低碳硅锰TRIP钢两相区退火温度对残留奥氏体量和力学性能的影响。结果表明 ,随两相区退火温度的升高 ,两种钢的残留奥氏体量和残留奥氏体中的含碳量以及其屈服强度和抗拉强度都上升。当硅含量降至 1 0 %时 ,对钢的残留奥氏体量没有影响 ,但是降低了残留奥氏体中的碳含量 ,同时降低了钢的抗拉强度。两种钢的最大强塑积值相近 ,约为 2 2 0 0 0MPa %。

两相区退火温度对高强冷轧DP980显微组织力学性能和断裂行为的影响

研究了两相区退火温度对高强冷轧DP 980显微组织和力学性能的影响,并通过断口形貌分析以及拉伸前后的照片对比,分析了高强冷轧DP 980变形和断裂特性。结果表明,两相区退火温度通过影响双相钢中马氏体的碳含量、马氏体和铁素体的晶粒尺寸来影响其力学性能。实验所获得双相钢均为微孔聚集型的韧性断裂。

预奥氏体化对中Mn TRIP钢组织及力学性能的影响

为了提高钢的综合力学性能,用盐浴法对中Mn TRIP钢进行了热处理.采用SEM、TEM、XRD和拉伸测试研究了预奥氏体化处理对中Mn TRIP钢显微组织及力学性能的影响.实验结果表明:全马氏体冷轧态组织经两相区退火处理后,会析出大量渗碳体颗粒,随着退火时间延长,渗碳体颗粒逐渐溶解,马氏体组织逐渐转变为奥氏体和铁素体双相片层状组织;而在两相区退火处理前添加两相区预奥氏体化处理后,渗碳体析出被有效抑制,双相片层组织迅速形成;相比于常规两相区退火处理,预奥氏体化处理能够提高组织中残余奥氏体体积分数和综合力学性能.

热处理工艺对高锰含铝TRIP钢残留奥氏体和力学性能的影响

设计了新型低碳、5%锰、含铝TRIP钢,通过扫描电子显微镜(SEM)、X射线衍射仪(XRD)及室温拉伸性能测试研究了不同热处理工艺对试验钢残留奥氏体和力学性能的影响,并借助Therma-Calc热力学软件对试验钢进行了平衡热力学计算。结果表明:1%Al元素的添加,使得试验钢平衡相图中的两相区温度范围扩大并向高温区移动。试验钢在660℃等温5 min后,可以获得15.1%的残留奥氏体,对应的抗拉强度803 MPa,伸长率可以达到24%,即试验钢经过一步简单的短时间两相区退火处理后可以获得数量较多的残留奥氏体和比较理想的力学性能。另外通过在640℃、660℃两个温度进行不同时间的等温退火处理发现,随着两相区等温时间的延长,残留奥氏体的量逐渐增多,最高可以达到20.5%;等温时间越长屈服强度越低,试验钢的加工硬化性能越好。最高强度-塑性匹配出现在640℃等温1 h后,抗拉强度720 MPa,伸长率可以达到30%。

临界区退火对含磷低硅TRIP钢组织性能的影响

在实验条件下对含磷TRIP(transformation-induced plasticity)钢进行临界区退火研究,主要研究了不同退火条件对实验钢组织和力学性能的影响.通过添加P元素降低钢中的Si含量,可改善表面质量,解决镀锌问题,且P价格低廉,成本降低.结果表明:随等温时间增加,贝氏体含量增加,抗拉强度增加;在两种等温温度下,残余奥氏体量都是呈先增加后降低的趋势,780℃等温时在180 s时得到最大的残余奥氏体量22%,800℃等温时在90 s时得到最大的残余奥氏体量20%;780℃等温180 s时获得最佳力学性能,强塑积达22 854 MPa·%,P的加入并未引起力学性能损失,各项力学性能优良.

铜元素和退火温度对TRIP冷轧钢板组织和力学性能的影响

将含铜和不含铜的两种TRIP钢板 (0 2 %C、1 5 %Si、1 5 %Mn)冷轧至 1mm厚 ,然后分别在 75 0℃、76 0℃、770℃、780℃下退火 5min ,最后在 4 5 0℃等温 3min ,获得了不同含量和不同稳定性的残留奥氏体。金相和力学性能试验结果表明 ,铜元素能提高残留奥氏体量和钢板的力学性能 ;退火温度影响残留奥氏体量和力学性能 。

高强韧中锰钢研究现状及发展趋势

汽车轻量化的迫切需求使得具有优异性能和较低成本的汽车先进高强钢之一——中锰钢成为了研究热点。针对中锰钢的相关研究成果,分别从热处理工艺、残留奥氏体稳定性和强塑性机制3个方面进行了详细汇总。包括最新的热处理工艺,合金元素、相尺寸及形貌、取向和基体组织等对残留奥氏体稳定性的影响,层错能与变形强化机制等。最后,展望了中锰钢工业化应用的研究和发展方向。

临界区退火温度对0.02C-7Mn钢拉伸过程中的多相组织演变和力学性能的影响

本实验研究了临界区退火温度对0.02C-7Mn钢拉伸过程中的多相组织演变及力学性能的影响。研究结果表明,随退火温度升高,实验钢的屈服强度和抗拉强度先降后升,而延伸率则先升后降。实验钢在600℃退火后,室温组织由残余奥氏体和退火马氏体双相组成;在620~700℃退火后,室温组织由残余奥氏体、α'-马氏体和ε-马氏体组成。随退火温度升高,实验钢在拉伸过程中分别出现了γ→α'、γ→ε和ε→α'相变。其中,γ→ε相变对延伸性能的影响最为显著,而ε→α'相变对加工硬化性能的影响最为显著。在620℃退火后,实验钢在拉伸过程中共发生了γ→α'、γ→ε和ε→α'三种相变,抗拉强度为776.5MPa,屈服强度为675.0MPa,延伸率为29.5%。

A novel design to enhance the stability of local austenite and the volume fraction of retained austenite in a low-carbon Si Mn Q-P steel

Pre-quenching prior to intercritical annealing quenching and partitioning(Q-P)process was proposed to enhance the volume fraction of retained austenite and the mechanical properties of a low-carbon Si Mn steel.The intercritical austenite exhibited a lath morphology due to the martensitic microstructure maintained prior to intercritical annealing.Consequently,the alloy element enrichment of intercritical austenite,in which the alloy element was aggregated at the austenitic boundaries and further diffused inside,improved the stability of intercritical austenite and decreased the M_(s) of it.As a result,the fraction of retained austenite in steel was increased,which improved the mechanical properties of the experimental Q-P steel.