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.

Prior austenite grain boundary recognition in martensite microstructure based on deep learning

Grain size determination is essential in producing and testing iron and steel materials.Grain size determination of martensitic steels usually requires etching with picric acid to reveal the prior austenite grain boundaries.However,picric acid is toxic and explosive and belongs to hazardous chemicals,which makes it difficult for laboratories and testing institutions to obtain.A new experimental method was developed to use Nital etchant instead of picric acid.The deep learning method was used to recognize the prior austenite grain boundaries in the etched martensite microstructure,and the grain size could be determined according to the recognition result.Firstly,the polished martensite specimen was etched twice with Nital etchant and picric acid,respectively,and the same position was observed using an optical microscope.The images of the martensitic structure and its prior austenite grain boundary label were obtained,and a data set was constructed.Secondly,based on this data set,a convolutional neural network model with a semantic segmentation function was trained,and the accuracy rate of the test set was 87.53%.Finally,according to the recognition results of the model,the grain size rating can be automatically determined or provide a reference for experimenters,and the difference between the automatic determination results and the measured results is about 0.5 level.

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 Mo content on nano-scaled particles,prior austenite grains and impact toughness of CGHAZ in offshore engineering steels

The effect of Mo on nano-scaled particles,prior austenite grains and impact toughness of coarse-grained heat-affected zone(CGHAZ)in offshore engineering steels with Ca deoxidation was studied.The heat-affected zone(HAZ)toughness of Mo16 steel is obviously higher than that of Mo8 steel at all the heat inputs of 50,100,150 and 200 kJ/cm,with HAZ toughness of both steels decreased with increasing the welding heat input.When the Mo content is increased from 0.08 to 0.16%,the size of nano-scaled particles in HAZ is decreased from 18 to 15 nm,and their number density is increased from 0.7 to 0.9μm^(−2).Thus,the Zener pinning force is increased,and the prior austenite grain size(PAGS)is decreased,leading to the improved HAZ toughness.Microstructural characterizations show that the nano-scaled particles in both steels are Ti(C,N)with the solute elements of Nb and Mo.The calculated critical particle size of TiN is 10.2 and 8.4 nm in Mo8 and Mo16 steels at 1350℃,and the particles larger than the critical size are stable during the welding process.From the Zener pinning force calculation,Ti(C,N)particles play the more important role in the pinning effect on the prior austenite grain growth.Based on the regression analysis by the MATLAB results,the predicted values of PAGS at different heat inputs are well fitted with the experimental data.

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.

Effect of heat treatments on Charpy impact properties of 15Cr12MoVWN ferritic/martensitic steel

The Charpy impact properties of 15Cr12MoVWN ferritic/martensitic steel for sodium-cooled reactors with variation in heat treatment factors and parameters are reported.The results show that the ductile-to-brittle transition temperature(DBTT)increased and the upper shelf energy(USE)decreased with increase in normalizing temperature.However,the variation tendency of DBTT and USE was the opposite with increase in tempering temperature.The tempering temperature showed a greater influence on USE than the normalizing temperature,and normalizing and tempering temperatures had the equally significant effects on DBTT,but the cooling method was not a significant factor for DBTT and USE.The prior austenite grain and M_(23)C_(6) size were the main influences on DBTT,and the dislocation density was the main factor affecting the variation of USE.The heat-treatment regime recommended for 15Cr12MoVWN steel was composed of normalizing at 1000-1050℃ for 0.5 h followed by water quenching or air cooling and tempering at 760℃ for 1.5 h.