Influence of Hot Deformation and Subsequent Austempering on the Mechanical Properties of Hot Rolled Multiphase Steel

Influence of hot deformation and subsequent austempering on the mechanical properties of hot rolled multiphase steel was investigated. Thermo-mechanical control processing （TMCP） was conducted by using a laboratory hot rolling mill, where three different kinds of finishing rolling reduction, and austemperings with various isothermal holding duration were applied. The results have shown that a multiphase microstructure consisting of polygonal ferrite, granular bainite and larger amount of stabilized retained austenite can be obtained by controlled rolling processes. Mechanical properties increase with increasing the amount of deformation because of the stabilization of retained austenite. Ultimate tensile strength （σb）, total elongation （σ） and the product of ultimate tensile strength and total elongation （σb-σ） reach the maximum values （791 MPa, 36% and 28476 MPa%, respectively） at optimal processes.

EFFECT OF AUSTEMPERING ON TRANSFORMATION INDUCED PLASTICITY OF HOT ROLLED MULTIPHASE STEELS

Effect of austempering on the transformation induced plasticity （TRIP） of hot rolled multiphase steel was investigated. Polygonal ferrite, granular bainite, and a large amount of stabilized retained austenite could be obtained in the hot rolled multiphase steel. Strain induced martensite transformation （SIMT） of retained austenite and TRIP effectively occur under straining owing to austempering after hot rolling, and mechanical properties of the present steel remain at a relatively high constant value for austempering at 400℃. The mechanical properties of the steel exhibited a good combination of tensile strength （791MPa） and total elongation （36%） because the stability of retained austenite is optimal when the steel is held for 20min.

Effects of finishing rolling temperatures and reduction on the mechanical properties of hot rolled multiphase steel

Effects of finishing rolling temperatures and reduction on the mechanical properties of hot rolled multiphase steel were investigated. Thermo-mechanical control processing (TMCP) was conducted by using a laboratory hot rolling mill, in which three different kinds of finishing rolling temperatures and reduction and various austempering times were applied. The results showed that polygonal ferrite, granular bainite and larger amount of stabilized retained austenite can be obtained by controlled rolling processes, and that the strain-induced transformation to martensite from the retained austenite can occur gradually when the steel is deformed during tensile test. Mechanical properties increase with decreasing finishing rolling temperature and increasing amount of deformation. The most TRIP (transformation induced plasticity) effect, and ultimate tensile strength (UTS), total elongation (TEL) and the product of ultimate tensile strength and total elongation (UTS×TEL) are obtained at 20 min.

Evaluation of factors affecting the edge formability of two hot rolled multiphase steels

In this study, the effect of various factors on the hole expansion ratio and hence on the edge formability of two hot rolled multiphase steels, one with a ferrite–martensite microstructure and the other with a ferrite-bainite microstructure, was investigated through systematic microstructural and mechanical characterization. The study revealed that the microstructure of the steels, which determines their strain hardening capacity and fracture resistance, is the principal factor controlling edge formability. The influence of other factors such as tensile strength, ductility, anisotropy, and thickness, though present, are secondary. A critical evaluation of the available empirical models for hole expansion ratio prediction is also presented.

Thermomechanical controlled processing of hot-rolled multiphase steel containing Nb

Influence of thermo-mechanical controlled processing(TMCP),including two-stage rolling with laminar cooling,air cooling and ultra-fast cooling,on the microstructure and mechanical properties of three kinds of Nb-microalloeyed steels was investigated by hot-rolling experiment.Effect of chemistry compositions and microstructure on mechanical properties and the relationship between the multiphase microstructure' s formation with TMCP were analyzed.The results showed that the mixed microstructure containing ferrite,bainite,martensite and a small amount of retained austenite can be obtained by thermo-mechanical controlled processing.Size, quantity and distribution of the constituents(ferrite grain,bainite packet and M-A islands) significantly affect the mechanical properties of three kinds of Nb-microalloyed steels.Under the condition of similar TMCP parameters, there is a gradually decreasing tendency in tensile strength from high silicon Nb steel,high silicon Nb-Ti steel to low silicon Nb-Ti steel,and an opposite tendency in total elongation and product of tensile strength and ductility. Total elongation and product of tensile strength and ductility reach the maximum values(41%and 25256 MPa% respectively) for low silicon Nb-Ti steel.

Phase transformation of TRIP-aided multiphase steel during continuous cooling

The phase transformation characteristics of a high-strength TRIP-aided multiphase cold-rolled steel during continuous heating at different cooling rates were studied by means of dilatometry,and the critical temperatures were also determined.The samples were fully austenitized at 1 050 ℃ and then cooled at different cooling rates ranging from 0.5 ℃/s to 100 ℃/s.The continuous cooling transformation （CCT） curves were obtained for the experimental steel.The experimental results showed that a high cooling rate depressed the formation of ferrite and pearlite and promoted the formation of balnite and martensite,leading to a higher hardness.A large amount of martensite in high-strength TRIP-aided multiphase cold-rolled steel can be obtained at cooling rates in excess of 50 ℃/s.The experimental results provide guidelines for cooling control and heat treatment in real steel production.

Improving flangeability of multiphase steel by increasing microstructural homogeneity

Multiphase microstructure significantly increases the strength,usually at the expense of flangeability because of lacking microstructure homogeneity.To further improve the strength-flangeability of multiphase steel,the microstructural homogeneity was advanced by adjusting the hard martensite/austenite(M/A)islands.The strength-flangeability was measured via uniaxial tensile tests and hole expansion tests.Their microstructures were characterized using a scanning electron microscope equipped with an electron backscatter diffraction detector and a transmission electron microscope.Nanoindentation tests were supplementally used to quantitatively reveal the microstructural homogeneity of the steels.Results show that the adjusted multiphase steel achieves an excellent ultimate tensile strength(~800 MPa)and flangeability(~135%hole expansion ratio).A promising homogeneous multiphase microstructure was obtained by controlling undercooled austenite transformed at about 600℃.This microstructure consists of soft polygonal ferrite,blocky bainitic ferrite,and hard M/A islands.The volume fraction of M/A islands is around 5%,and the average size is less than l pm.Detailed nanoindentation analysis indicated that the participation of M/A islands impressively influenced the microstructural homogeneity.Weakened strain partition and better mechanical compatibility were present in the adjusted multiphase steel since the plasticity initiation started late,which resulted in a positive flangeability.Moreover,avoiding M/A islands distributed in the chain along the rolling direction on the matrix hindered the possibility of voids coalescing into cracks and stabilized the flanging performance.

Microstructure and mechanical properties of a cast TRIP-assisted multiphase stainless steel

Stainless steels are used in a wide range of complex environments due to their excellent corrosion resistance.Multiphase stainless steels can offer an excellent combination of strength,toughness and corrosion resistance due to the coexistence of different microstructures.The microstructure and mechanical properties of a novel cast multiphase stainless steel,composed of martensite,ferrite,and austenite,were investigated following appropriate heat treatment processes:solution treatment at 1,050℃ for 0.5 h followed by water quenching to room temperature,and aging treatment at 500℃ for 4 h followed by water quenching to room temperature.Results show reversed austenite is formed by diffusion of Ni element during aging process,and the enrichment of Ni atoms directly determines the mechanical stability of austenite.The austenite with a lower Ni content undergoes a martensitic transformation during plastic deformation.The tensile strength of the specimen exceeds 1,100 MPa and the elongation exceeds 24%after solid solution,and further increases to 1,247 MPa and 25%after aging treatment.This enhancement is due to the TRIP effect of austenite and the precipitation of the nanoscale G-phase pinning dislocations in ferrite and martensite.

Effect of Cooling Patterns on Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of Hot-Rolled Nb Microalloyed Multiphase Steel Plates

The effect of the run-out table cooling patterns on the microstructure and mechanical properties of Nb microalloyed steel plates was investigated by hot rolling experiment. The results showed that the mixed microstrueture containing ferrite, bainite and significant amounts of retained austenite can be obtained through three kinds of cooling patterns on the run-out table under the same hot rolling condition. Three kinds of cooling patterns possess different austenite transformation kinetics, which leads to variations in microconstituent characteristics. The yield strength increases, the tensile strength decreases and the total elongation tends to increase as the cooling patterns Ⅰ , Ⅱ and Ⅲ were applied respectively. The yield strength, the total elongation and the product of tensile strength and ductility reach the maximum values （547 MPa, 37. 2% and 28 384 MPa% respectively） for the steel plate processed by cooling pattern Ⅲ.

Effect of Thermomechanical Processing on Mechanical Properties of Hot Rolled Multiphase Steel

The effect of thermomechanical processing（TMP）on the mechanical properties of hot rolled multiphase steel was investigated.TMP was conducted using a laboratory hot rolling mill,in which three different kinds of finish rolling deformation degrees and temperatures were applied.The results indicate that polygonal ferrite,granular bainite,and a considerable amount of stabilized retained austenite can be obtained by TMP.The stability of the retained austenite increases with decreasing finish rolling temperature and increasing finish rolling deformation degrees.Ultimate tensile strength（σb）,total elongation（δ）,and the product of ultimate tensile strength by total elongation（σb·δ）for 50% reduction at finish rolling temperature of 700 ℃ reach maximum values [791 MPa,36% and 28 476（MPa·%）,respectively].

Effects of Warm Deformation on Mechanical Properties of TRIP Aided Fe-C-Mn-Si Multiphase Steel

Warm deformation tests were performed using a kind of tubby heater. The microstructures and mechanical properties of an Fe-C-Mn-Si multiphase steel resulting from different warm deformation temperatures were investiga- ted by using LOM （light optical microscopy）, SEM and XRD. The results indicated that the microstructure contai- ning polygonal ferrite, granular bainite and a significant amount of the stable retained austenite can be obtained through hot deformation and subsequent austempering. Warm deformation temperature affects the mechanical prop- erties of the hot rolled TRIP steels. Ultimate tensile strength balance reached maximum （881 MPa） when the speci- men was deformed at 250 ~C, and the total elongation and strength-ductility reached maximum （38% and 28 614 MPa ~ ~, respectively） at deforming temperature of 100 ~C. Martensite could nucleate when austenite was deformed above M~, because mechanical driving force compensates the decrease of chemical driving force. The TRIP effect occurs in the Fe-C-Mn-Si multiphase steel at deforming temperature ranging from 15 to 350 ~C. The results of the effects of warm deformation on the mechanical properties of the Fe-C-Mn-Si multiphase steel can provide theoretical basis for the ap- plications and the warm working of the hot rolled TRIP sheet steels in industrial manufacturing.

Design of microstructure for damage tolerance in high strength steels

With the extensively wide application of advanced high strength steels(AHSS) in various fields for the excellent mechanical properties,the industrial interest on the damage of AHSS is increasing in the recent years.For these modern steels,due to the complex microstructure and the relevant deformation mechanisms,the damage concept needs to be reexamined.In this paper,the definition,length scale and different mechanisms of damage are introduced.Both experimental evaluation of damage and the numerical damage models are briefly viewed and compared.The approaches to improve the damage tolerance are given in the framework of damage tolerance design principle.

Current Challenges and Opportunities Toward Understanding Hydrogen Embrittlement Mechanisms in Advanced High-Strength Steels: A Review

Hydrogen embrittlement(HE)is one of the most dangerous yet most elusive embrittlement problems in metallic materials.Advanced high-strength steels(AHSS)are particularly prone to HE,as evidenced by the serious degradation of their load-bearing capacity with the presence of typically only a few parts-per-million H.This strongly impedes their further development and application and could set an abrupt halt for the weight reduction strategies pursued globally in the automotive industry.It is thus important to understand the HE mechanisms in this material class,in order to develop effective H-resistant strategies.Here,we review the related research in this field,with the purpose to highlight the recent progress,and more importantly,the current challenges toward understanding the fundamental HE mechanisms in modern AHSS.The review starts with a brief introduction of current HE models,followed by an overview of the state-of-the-art micromechanical testing techniques dedicated for HE study.Finally,the reported HE phenomena in different types of AHSS are critically reviewed.Focuses are particularly placed on two representative multiphase steels,i.e.,ferrite–martensite dual-phase steels and ferrite–austenite medium-Mn steels,with the aim to highlight the multiple dimensions of complexity of HE mechanisms in complex AHSS.Based on this,open scientific questions and the critical challenges in this field are discussed to guide future research efforts.