FATIGUE FRACTURE BEHAVIOR OF LOW CARBON MARTENSITE AND MARTENSITE/BAINITE DUPLEX STRUCTURE IN STEEL 20CrMnMo

Fatigue crack propagation rate,da/dN,and threshold stress intensity range,ΔK_(th),of steel 20CrMnMo containing low carbon martensite or low carbon martensite/bainite(LCM/B) duplex structure,obtained by oil quenching and austempered at 360℃,have been measured using specimens under four-point bending.Observation was also made of the crack path and fracture morphology with relation to microstructure.The formation of LCM/B duplex structure,which caused by 20% lower bainite after short-time isothermal treatment,may re- markably increase ΔK_(th)and considerably decrease da/dN.The effect of microstructure on da/dN and ΔK_(th)was discussed with the emphasis on the crack propagation path.

Effect of Substructure on Toughness of Lath Martensite/Bainite Mixed Structure in Low-Carbon Steels

The quantitative analysis of substructure in the martensite/bainite mixed structure, which is obtained from low-carbon NiCrMoV steels under different cooling conditions, was made by means of optical microscope （OM）, scanning electron microscope （SEM）, electron backscatter diffraction （EBSD）, and transmission electron microscope （TEM）, in order to research the effect on toughness. The test results indicate that the toughness of the steel is en- hanced with the decrease in the packet and block size under the condition of the same prior austenite grain size mixed with different ratios of martensite and bainite while the lath width is about 0.38μm. The calculation shows that both the packet and block boundaries have the same hindering effect on crack extension. Furthermore, the effect of the block width on impact energy is much larger than that of the packet. Therefore, the block can be used as microstruc- tural substructure to affect the toughness in low-carbon martensite steels, suggesting that the block size is ＂the effective grain size＂ for controlling toughness.

Ultra-high cycle fatigue behavior of high strength steel with carbide-free bainite/martensite complex microstructure

The ultra-high cycle fatigue behavior of a novel high strength steel with carbide-free bainite/martensite （CFB/M） complex microstructure was studied. The ultra-high cycle fatigue properties were measured by ultrasonic fatigue testing equipment at a frequency of 20 kHz. It is found that there is no horizontal part in the S-N curve and fatigue fracture occurs when the life of specimens exceeds 10^7 cycles. In addition, the origination of fatigue cracks tends to transfer from the surface to interior of specimens as the fatigue cycle exceeds 10^7, and the fatigue crack originations of many specimens are not induced by inclusions, but by some kind of ＂soft structure＂. It is shown that the studied high strength steel performs good ultra-high cycle fatigue properties. The ultra-high fatigue mechanism was discussed and it is suggested that specific CFB/M complex microstructure of the studied steel contributes to its superior properties.

EFFECT OF SILICON ON PRODUCING DUCTILE IRON WITH COMPLEX STRUCTURE OF BAINITE AND MARTENSITE

This paper deals with an important role of silicon in producing ductile iron with quenched complex structure of bainite and martensite. The samples are cast in permanent mold and quenched in solution of sodium silicate. The result of thc experiments shows that the austenizing temperature should rise with increasing silicon content, otherwise much undissolved ferrite is present in the matrix after quenching. However the undissolvec ferrite can be decreased greatly or even eliminated by adding appropriate amount of ooron. On this condition, the amount of bainite gets increasing and the amount of residual austenite decreasing with the silicon cortent increasing. An approach has also been made to the mechanism of the effect of silicon on the transformation of bainite in ductile iron. The T.T.T. curves measured show that the increase of sllicon content causes the curve to shift to the left. This is quite different from the fact in steel.

EFFECTS OF RETAINED AUSTENITE ON DUPLEX MICROSTRUCTURE OF MARTENSITE AND LOWER BAINITE

The morphology and amount of the retained austenite in the duplex microstructure of martensite and tower bainite of a tow,alloy cold die steel(it is called GD steel for short) with high strength and high toughness have been investigated.The thermal and mechanical stabilities of the retained austenite were analyzed.Furthermore the effects of retained austenite on the mechanical properties of the steel were studied.The results show that the morphology and amount of retained austenite vary with silicon content in the steel.Retained austenite with high stability was responsible for the simultaneous increase in strength and toughness of the steel.The duplex microstructure of martensite and abnormal lower bainite of the steel with the maximum silicon content exhibits a relatively good strength-toughness combination.

Interaction of Hydrogen and Retained Austenite in Bainite/Martensite Dual-Phase High Strength Steel

The hydrogen trapping phenomena in two bainite/martensite dual-phase high strength steels(U20Si and U20DSi)were investigated by electrochemical permeation technique.The hydrogen diffusivity was calculated from data of permeation delay time,and the diffusion coefficient in U20 Si is far less than that in U20 DSi.Moreover,the hydrogen diffusivity decreases as the volume percent of retained austenite increases.The experiment results show that there are different hydrogen trappings and different volume percents of retained austenite in U20 Si and U20 DSi.The retained austenite is precipitated as films.The trap binding energy for the retained austenite and hydrogen is calculated to be 40.4kJ·mol-1.

Kinetics of austenite growth and bainite transformation during reheating and cooling treatments of high strength microalloyed steel produced by sub-rapid solidification

First,strip cast samples of high strength microalloyed steel with sub-rapid solidification characteristics were prepared by simulated strip casting technique.Next,the isothermal growth of austenite grain during the reheating treatment of strip casts was observed in situ through confocal laser scanning microscope(CLSM).The results indicated that the time exponent of grains growth suddenly rise when the isothermal temperature higher than 1000℃.And the activation energy for austenite grain growth were calculated to be 538.0 kJ/mol in the high temperature region(above 1000℃)and 693.2 kJ/mol in the low temperature region(below 1000℃),respectively.Then,the kinetics model of austenite isothermal growth was established,which can predict the austenite grain size during isothermal hold very well.Besides,high density of second phase particles with small size was found during the isothermal hold at the low temperature region,leading to the refinement of austenite grain.After isothermal hold at different temperature for 1800 s,the bainite transformation in microalloyed steel strip was also observed in situ during the continuous cooling process.And growth rates of bainite plates with different nucleation positions and different prior austenite grain size(PAGS)were calculated.It was indicated that the growth rate of the bainite plate is not only related to the nucleation position but also to the PAGS.

Precise control of bainite micro-morphology and the effects on the mechanical properties of ultrahigh-strength complex-phase sheet steel

Bainite, the main microstructure of ultrahigh-strength complex-phase(CP) sheet steel, usually exhibits various micro-morphologies when subjected to different austempering treatments.In the current study, conventional austempering treatment at the bainite nose temperature resulted in two bainite types with distinct micro-morphologies: polygonal blocky bainite and acicular bainite, which resulted in large fluctuations in the mechanical properties of CP steel, particularly yield strength and hole expansion ratio.Therefore, the precise control of bainite micro-morphology was studied and applied to separate the two bainite types through austempering optimization.The two bainite types of different micro-morphologies had different effects on the mechanical properties of CP steel: the acicular bainite favored hole expansion and flangeability but deteriorated ductility, while the polygonal blocky bainite favored ductility but deteriorated hole expansion and flangeability.Accordingly, two types of ultrahigh-strength CP steels of different mechanical properties can be stably manufactured through the precise control of bainitic micro-morphology to satisfy the specific demands of vehicle components in terms of the mechanical properties of CP steels.

Predicting the Volume Fraction of Martensite in Welded Mild Steel Joint Reinforced with Titanium Alloy Powder

Welded mild steel is used in different applications in engineering. To strengthen the joint, the weld can be reinforced by adding titanium alloy powder to the joint. This results in the formation of incomplete martensite in a welded joint. The incomplete martensite affects mechanical properties. Therefore, this study aims to predict the volume fraction of martensite in reinforced butt welded joints to understand complex phenomena during microstructure formation. To do so, a combination of the finite element method to predict temperature history, and the Koistinen and Marburger equation, were used to predict the volume fraction of martensite. The martensite start temperature was calculated using chemical elements obtained from the dilution-based mixture rule. The curve shape of martensite evolution was observed to be relatively linear due to the small quantity of martensite volume fraction. The simulated result correlated with experimental work documented in the literature. The model can be used in other powder addition techniques where the martensite can be observed in the final microstructure.

Test and application of 60 kg·m^(−1) bainite rails for heavy-haul railway

Purpose-In order to develop high-strength,high-toughness and high-wear-resistance rails suitable for the development and application of heavy-haul railways.Design/methodology/approach-Based on the trial production of 60 kg·m^(−1) bainite rails,the Zeiss inverted optical microscope,transmission electron microscope and static hydraulic universal tester were used to test the microstructure and property of rail base metal and welded joints.Meanwhile,a trial laying of rails,wing rails of frogs and switch rails for turnouts was performed to systematically analyze their strength,toughness and wear resistance.Findings-The results show that the base metal of 60 kg·m^(−1) bainite rail is of a uniform microstructure,with a carbide-free bainite matrix,a few of stable residual austenite and M/A islands,and it features high hardness,good wear resistance and good strength-toughness balance.The welded joint is of a uniform microstructure and has good properties.Originality/value-A bainite rail,laid in a curve section of heavy-haul railway is able to serve for 48 months with a gross traffic tonnage of nearly 600 million tons,whose service life is more than one time longer than that of pearlite rail;the service life of the wing rail of frog and the switch rail for turnout with 60 kg·m^(−1) bainite rails is 3-4 times longer than that with U75V rails,and no serious damage occurs.The bainite rails also have strong peeling and spalling resistance.

Pre-existing orthorhombic embryos-induced hexagonal-orthorhombic martensitic transformation in MnNiSi_(1-x)(CoNiGe)_x alloy

The thermal-elastic martensitic transformation from high-temperature Ni_(2)In-type hexagonal structure to low-temperature TiNiSi-type orthorhombic structure has been widely studied in MnMX(M=Ni or Co,and X=Ge or Si)alloys.However,the answer to how the orthorhombic martensite nucleates and grows within the hexagonal parent is still unclear.In this work,the hexagonal-orthorhombic martensitic transformation in a Co and Ge co-substituted MnNiSi is investigated.One can find some orthorhombic laths embedded in the hexagonal parent at a temperature above the martensitic transformation start temperature(M_(s)).With the the sample cooing to M_(s),the laths turn broader,indicating that the martensitic transformation starts from these pre-existing orthorhombic laths.Microstructure observation suggests that these pre-existing orthorhombic laths do not originate from the hexagonal-orthorhombic martensitic transformation because of the difference between atomic occupations of doping elements in the hexagonal parent and those in the preexisting orthorhombic laths.The phenomenological crystallographic theory and experimental investigations prove that the pre-existing orthorhombic lath and generated orthorhombic martensite have the same crystallography relationship to the hexagonal parent.Therefore,the orthorhombic martensite can take these pre-existing laths as embryos and grow up.This work implies that the martensitic transformation in MnNiSi_(1-x)(CoNiGe)_(x) alloy is initiated by orthorhombic embryos.

Description of martensitic transformation kinetics in Fe-C-X(X = Ni,Cr,Mn,Si) system by a modified model

Controlling the content of athermal martensite and retained austenite is important to improving the mechanical properties of high-strength steels,but a mechanism for the accurate description of martensitic transformation during the cooling process must be addressed.At present,frequently used semi-empirical kinetics models suffer from huge errors at the beginning of transformation,and most of them fail to exhibit the sigmoidal shape characteristic of transformation curves.To describe the martensitic transformation process accurately,based on the Magee model,we introduced the changes in the nucleation activation energy of martensite with temperature,which led to the varying nucleation rates of this model during martensitic transformation.According to the calculation results,the relative error of the modified model for the martensitic transformation kinetics curves of Fe-C-X(X = Ni,Cr,Mn,Si) alloys reached 9.5% compared with those measured via the thermal expansion method.The relative error was approximately reduced by two-thirds compared with that of the Magee model.The incorporation of nucleation activation energy into the kinetics model contributes to the improvement of its precision.

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.

Bar martensite性能与强化途径

按其组织形态马氏体(martensite)组织可以分为条状马氏体(bar martensite)、片状马氏体和蝶状马氏体等。其中条状马氏体又再分为扁条状板条马氏体和薄板状板条马氏体。Wc∠0.2%的钢淬火处理后形成以条状马氏体为主的马氏体混合组织。条状马氏体组织具有强韧结合的综合机械性能。强化工艺为淬火后低温回火。

Bainite Transformation Under Continuous Cooling of Nb-Microalloyed Low Carbon Steel

Utilizing Gleeble-1500 thermomechanical simulator, the influences of hot deformation parameters on continuous cooling bainite transformation in Nb-microalloyed low carbon steel were investigated. The results indicate that bainite starting temperature decreases with raising cooling rate and increases with increasing deformation temperature. Deformation has an accelerative effect on the bainite transformation when the specimens are deformed at 950 ℃. When the deformation temperature increases, the effect of deformation on bainite starting temperature is weakened. The amount of bainite is influenced by strain, cooling rate, and deformation temperature. When the specimens are deformed below 900 ℃, equiaxed ferrites are promoted and the bainite transformation is suppressed.

In situ measured growth rates of bainite plates in an Fe-C-Mn-Si superbainitic steel

The growth rates of bainite plates in an Fe-C-Mn-Si superbainitie steel were investigated by in situ observation. The lengthening rates of ferrite bainite during both cooling and isothermal holding processes were observed and the growth rates of bainite plates nucleating at grain boundaries, within grains and on preformed bainite were measured. It is indicated that the lengthening rates of bainite plates during the cooling and isothermal processes were different, and that the growth rates of bainite plates nucleating at different types of sites also demon- strated diversity. The bainite plates initiating at [vain boundaries during cooling grew the fastest, while the plates nucleating on preformed bainite did the slowest. However, the growth rate of the bainite plates nucleating at grain boundaries during isothermal transformation de- creased the most, whereas the bainite plates initiating within grains grew the fastest. In addition, the growth rate of ferrite bainite in the study supported the diffusion transformation mechanism of bainite from the viewooint of ~rowth rate.

Precipitation behavior and martensite lath coarsening during tempering of T/P92 ferritic heat-resistant steel

Tempering is an important process for T/P92 ferritic heat-resistant steel from the viewpoint of microstructure control, as it facili- tates the formation of final tempered martensite under serving conditions. In this study, we have gained deeper insights on the mechanism underlying the microstructural evolution during tempering treatment, including the precipitation of carbides and the coarsening of martensite laths, as systematically analyzed by optical microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and high-resolution transmission electron mi- croscopy. The chemical composition of the precipitates was analyzed using energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. Results indicate the for- mation of M3C （cementite） precipitates under normalized conditions. However, they tend to dissolve within a short time of tempering, owing to their low thermal stability. This phenomenon was substantiated by X-ray diffraction analysis. Besides, we could observe the precipitation of fine carbonitrides （MX） along the dislocations. The mechanism of carbon diffusion controlled growth of M23C6 can be expressed by the Zener＇s equation. The movement of Y-junctions was determined to be the fundamental mechanism underlying the martensite lath coarsening process. Vickers hardness was estimated to determine their mechanical properties. Based on the comprehensive analysis of both the micro- structural evolution and hardness variation, the process of tempering can be separated into three steps.

Interface Migration between Martensite and Austenite during Quenching and Partitioning (Q&P) Process

An Fe-0.2C-1.5Si-1.67Mn steel was subjected to quenching and partitioning （Q＆P） process, and the interface migration between martensite and austenite at an elevated partitioning temperature was observed. The interface migration is excluded in constrained paraequilibrium （CPE） model. Based on ＂endpoint＂ predicted by CPE model the thermodynamic condition of interface migration is analyzed, that is, the difference in the chemical potential of iron in both ferrite （martenisite） and austenite produces the driving force of the iron atoms to migrate from one phase to the other phase. In addition, the interface migration can change the austenite fraction; as a result, the austenite fraction at partitioning temperature may be higher than that at quenching temperature through the interface migration, but this phenomenon cannot be explained by CPE model.

Effects of Deformation on Bainite Transformation During Continuous Cooling of Low Carbon Steels

Hot deformation experiments were carried out on Gleeble 1500 thermo-mechanical simulator. The bainite transformation after deformation was investigated by optical microstructure analysis. The results indicated that the deformation accelerated the bainite transformation when the deformation was carried out at high temperature and no or little ferrite was precipitated before bainite transformation; when the deformation was carried out at low temperature, the deformation hindered the bainite transformation because a lot of ferrite precipitated before bainite transformation.

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.