Graphitization of Spray-formed Ultrahigh Carbon Steels Containing Si during Hot Rolling

The graphitization behavior of ultrahigh carbon steels containing Si in hot rolling processes was investigated. The graphite stringers went mostly through the small pores and generally paralleled to the rolling direction. The influence of alloy elements on graphitization was estimated based on thermodynamics, which showed that Si content was important for graphitization. Graphite stringers nucleated at small pores and grew with carbon diffusion during hot rolling. Alloy contents, pores and hot deformation at γ+Fe3C phase range were the key factors for the formation of graphite. The probable effect of deformation on graphite formation during hot rolling was discussed in this paper.

Modelling of Phase Transformation of Plain Carbon Steels during Continuous Cooling

A model based on Avrami equation and Scheil's additivity rule was proposed to simulate the phase transformation in plain carbon steels during continuous cooling in hot strip mill. In this model, a wide range of composition, cooling rate, primary austenite grain size and retained strain has been taken into account. It can be used to calculate the phase fraction transformed at different temperatures during continuous cooling. The phase equilibrium and transformation starting temperature can be determined by using Thermo-Calc and DICTRA. The simulated results containing the transformation at starting and finishing temperatures, Ae1, Ae3 and the maximum volume fraction for Q235B, were obtained. The calculated phase volume fractions are in good agreement with .the experimental results.

Oxidation Resistance of the Aluminide Coating Formed on Carbon Steels

Low and medium carbon steels were aluminized by the pack aluminizing technique using halideactivated pure-Al and Fe-Al packs. The effect of mixture composition, aluminizing temperatureand time and C content of the steel substrate on the structure and thickness of the aluminidelayer, and on the oxidation resistance was investigated. The optimum oxidation resistance canbe achieved with a low carbon steel substrate when the intermetallic phases Fe3Al and FeAlform the surface of the aluminide layer. In this case, the Al concentration at the surface of thealuminide coating is at least ≥15 wt pct. Formation of high Al concentration phases (FeAl3 andFe2Al5) during aluminizing should be avoided as they tend to embrittle the aluminide layer andreduce its oxidation resistance.

Texture of Rotary-Friction-Welded from Dissimilar Medium Carbon Steels

The purpose of the present study was to investigate the texture in dissimilar medium carbon steels welded by rotary friction technique. The Electron Backscatter Diffraction (EBSD) technique was the main technique used to investigate the effect of welding on grain size and grain crystallographic orientation in the welded joint. Moreover, the effect of isothermal heat treatment at 600°C on welded joint has been studied knowing that this annealing allows to decrease the residual stresses. EBSD results revealed different subzones in welded joint. The texture in the weld is essentially composed of three components: Goss {110} <001>, Rotated Cube {100} <110>, and Rotated Goss {110} <110> orientation. The heat treatments applied on welded material had a slight effect on texture and grain size.

Oxide and Sulfide Dispersive Precipitation and Effects on Microstructure and Properties of Low Carbon Steels

Electron microscopic investigation on low carbon steel strips produced by the CSP process has been carried out. Large number of oxide dispersive precipitates have been observed in the ferrite matrix of the steel strips. Dimension of them is about 10~20 nm. Electron diffraction study showed that the structure of these precipitates consists with cubic system spinel structure. Their lattice parameter is about 0.83 nm. The results implied that they should be complex oxides of Fe, Al et al. Small sulfide particles with 100-300 nm in size have also been observed. Remarkable strengthening and grain refinement effects can be obtained by the precipitations. The oxygen and sulfur in steels could play beneficial role under certain conditions.

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.

Aspects of microstructure in low carbon steels produced by the CSP process

The solidification structure, microstructure evolution during rolling andprecipitates with nanometers in dimension of the low carbon steels produced by CSP process with thinslabs have been studied in recent years. Important differences in microstructure and mechanicalproperties between the CSP products and the conventional one were observed. These differences mayarise from the much rapider solidification rate and cooling rate after casting of the thin slabs.Some aspects of the microstructure for the low carbon steels of the CSP thin slabs are summarizedand compared with the conventional one.

Austenite Recrystallization and Controlled Rolling of Low Carbon Steels

The dynamic recrystallization and static recrystallization in a low carbon steel were investigated through single-pass and double-pass experiments. The results indicate that as the deformation temperature increases and the strain rate decreases, the shape of the stress-strain curve is changed from dynamic recovery shape to dynamic recrystallization shape. The austenite could not recrystallize within a few seconds after deformation at temperature below 900 ℃. According to the change in microstructure during deformation, the controlled rolling of low carbon steel can be divided into four stages： dynamic recrystallization, dynamic recovery, strain-induced ferrite transformation, and rolling in two-phase region. According to the microstructure after deformation, the controlled rolling of low carbon steel can be divided into five regions： non-recrystallized austenite, partly-recrystallized austenite, fully-recrystallized austenite, austenite to ferrite transformation, and dual phase.

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.

Effect of silicon and prior deformation of austenite on isothermal transformation in low carbon steels

Isothermal transformation （TTT） behavior of the low carbon steels with two Si contents （0.50 wt pct and 1.35 wt pct） was investigated with and without the prior deformation. The results show that Si and the prior deformation of the austenite have significant effects on the transformation of the ferrite and bainite. The addition of Si refines the ferrite grains, accelerates the polygonal ferrite transformation and the formation of M/A constituents, leading to the improvement of the strength. The ferrite grains formed under the prior deformation of the austenite become more homogeneous and refined. However, the influence of deformation on the tensile strength of both steels is dependent on the isothermal temperatures. Thermodynamic calculation indicates that Si and prior deformation reduce the incubation time of both ferrite and bainite transformation, but the effect is weakened by the decrease of the isothermal temperatures.

THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN PITTING SUSCEPTIBILITY AND INCLUSIONS IN CARBON STEELS IN ARTIFICIAL SEAWATER

The pittings of five carbon steels have been studied by using anodic polarization test and microscope observation. The results show that pitting susceptibilities are related to the types and shapes of inclusions which are the sites of pitting initiation. The pitting initiating at inclusion needs a potential which is defined as pitting potential and the pitting potential is determined by the type and shape of inclusion. The influence of oxygen content in steel on pitting potential is also discussed.

Effect of Mo on mechanical properties of modified ultrahigh carbon steels after heat-treatment

Abstract： Microstructure and mechanical properties of modified ultrahigh carbon （1.6%C） steels with different Mo additions （0, 0.3%, 0.5%, and 0.8%, mass fraction） were studied in their as-cast and quenched then tempered conditions by optical microscopy, scanning electronic microscopy, X-ray diffraction and hardness and toughness tests, respectively. The results show that the continuous eutectic carbide network structure has been broken down and changed to partial isolated and finer particles embedded in matrix of as-cast alloy by modification. Carbides in both quenched and tempered specimens have been refined effectively after the addition of Mo. Specimen containing 0.5% Mo shows the finest microstructures with carbides dispersed homogeneously in martensite matrix and demonstrates highest impact toughness of 18.4 J/cm2 and hardness of 50 HRC.

Effects of Zr on acicular ferrite formation in HAZ of Ti-bearing low carbon steels with high heat input of weld thermal simulations

To research the effect of Zr addition on inhibiting austenite grain growth of Ti-bearing low carbon steels, two steels with different Zr contents were prepared using a laboratory vacuum induction furnace. The performance of HAZ under weld thermal simulations was investigated. The impact toughness, microstmcture and the second-phase particle performance of HAZ under weld thermal simulations were investigated. The HAZ toughness was improved from 13 J to 87 J by addition of 0.010 % Zr into the steel, with the fracture mechanism changing from cleavage fracture to toughness fracture, which was mainly attributed to the second-phase particles that were potent to nucleate acicular ferrite in HAZ during welding. It was concluded that the second-phase particles TiOx ＋ MnS, ZrO2 ＋ MIlS or TiO/＋ ZrO2 ＋ MnS were nucleated on ZrO2 or TiOx （x = 1.5,2）. This method can be applied to grain refinement by promoting the acicular ferrite formation and growth during large-scale welding, as in the cases of thick steel plates requiring higher heat inputs during welding.

Effect of Mg Addition on the Ferrite Grain Boundaries Misorientation in HAZ of Low Carbon Steels

The relation between the Mg treatment and ferrite grain boundaries misorientation was investigated. The orientation imaging microscopy technique based on electron backscattered diffraction technique （EBSD） was used in this work. （t was found that the addition of 0.005 wt% Mg to the steel could evidently increase the ratio of acicular ferrite crystals appearing at large angles boundaries to each other, which was attributed to the nucleation of the second-phase particles by the Mg treatment. The FBSD techniques provide a power- ful method to characterize and quantify the ferrite grain boundaries misorientation, in order to relate it to toughness.

Effects of cooling rate and Al on MnS formation in medium-carbon non-quenched and tempered steels

The effect of Al on the morphology of MnS in medium-carbon non-quenched and tempered steel was investigated at three different cooling rates of 0.24, 0.43, and 200°C·s^-1. The formation mechanisms of three types of MnS were elucidated based on phase diagram information combined with crystal growth models. The morphology of MnS is governed by the precipitation mode and the growth conditions. A monotectic reaction and subsequent fast solidification lead to globular Type I MnS. Type II MnS inclusions with different morphological characteristics form as a result of a eutectic reaction followed by the growth in the Fe matrix. Type III MnS presents a divorced eutectic morphology. At the cooling rate of 0.24°C·s^-1, the precipitation of dispersed Type III MnS is significantly enhanced by the addition of 0.044wt% acid-soluble Al（Als）, while Type II MnS clusters prefer to form in steels with either 0.034wt% or 0.052wt% Als. At the relatively higher cooling rates of 200°C·s^-1 and 0.43°C·s^-1, the formation of Type I and Type II MnS inclusions is promoted, and the influence of Al is negligible. The results of this work are expected to be employed in practice to improve the mechanical properties of non-quenched and tempered steels.

Effect of Niobium on Transformations From Austenite to Ferrite in Low Carbon Steels

Niobium has an important effect on the transformation behaviour,grain size refinement and precipitation strengthening during hot rolling and subsequent cooling in low carbon steels,with even a low content of niobium having a strong effect on the transformation rate from austenite to ferrite.However,the effects of niobium on transformation behaviour have not been fully characterised and understood to date.This paper examines in detail austenite grain growth as a function of austenitisation time in high strength low alloy (HSLA) steels with three different niobium contents,together with the effect of niobium on the isothermal transformation kinetics from austenite to ferrite as a function of temperature.It is shown that austenite has the slowest grain growth rate in the steel with the highest niobium content.When austenite grain sizes are consistent,the steel with the highest niobium content was found to have the slowest transformation rate from austenite to ferrite.

A strategy assisted machine learning to process multi-objective optimization for improving mechanical properties of carbon steels

Improvement in individual mechanical properties of carbon steels,such as strength or ductility,can no longer keep up with the increasingly demanding service environment.Therefore,it is of practical significance to improve two or more mechanical properties accurately and efficiently.In this work,five machine learning algorithms are first employed to establish prediction models for different mechanical properties(tensile strength,fracture strength,Charpy absorbed energy,hardness,fatigue strength,and elongation)based on the collected carbon steels data.Then,a set of mutually exclusive properties(tensile strength and elongation)and the key descriptors of the corresponding properties are identified by feature engineering,and the importance of the key materials descriptors is analyzed.The prediction models based on key descriptors for tensile strength and elongation also demonstrate good accuracy.All the key descriptors are considered as input features for the comprehensive performance(CP)calculated from the product of tensile strength and elongation.Finally,we develop a machine learning prediction model for CP and successfully apply the efficient global optimization algorithm to optimize two mutually exclusive mechanical properties.This work provides a new multi-objective optimization strategy that is expected to be used for the development of new steels with excellent comprehensive performance.

Microstructure Evolution at Different Cooling Rates of Low Carbon Microalloyed Steels

In low carbon microalloyed steels （C 〈 0.1%）, the content of V, Nb and Ti affects the phases transformation kinetic during cooling in the rolling process. The final microstructure determines the required mechanical properties such as high formability, high toughness and adequate strength. For this reason it is relevant to identify and determine the volume fraction of the ferrite, bainite and martensite present in the structure. The microalloying elements： V, Nb and Ti promote carbides precipitation during cooling. The precipitates control the grain size refinement during hot rolling process and the mechanical properties of the steel. In this sense it is necessary to increase the knowledge on the microstructure evolution at different cooling rates. In this paper, the results obtained on two low carbon microalloyed steels （with C contents between 0.11%-0.06%） are reported. An integrated methodology including dilatometry in combination with microscopy techniques was applied. By EBSD （Electron Backscatter Diffraction） technique and microhardness measurements, the structural study was completed. Through a thermodynamic simulation using Fact Sage the type of precipitates in the studied steels structure at the temperature range between 950 ℃ and 450 ℃, were predicted. The information on the evolution of the steel structure at rolling process conditions is relevant to consider changes in processing conditions.

Effect of Mg Addition on Inhibiting Austenite Grain Growth in Heat Affected Zones of Ti-Bearing Low Carbon Steels

To study the effect of Mg addition on inhibiting weld heat affected zones （HAZ） austenite grain growth of Ti-bearing low carbon steels, two steels with and without Mg treated were prepared using a laboratory vacuum. The welding testing was simulated by Gleeble 3500 thermomechanical simulator. The performance of HAZ was investiga ted that the toughness was improved from 3.3 to 185 J by adding 0. 005%Mg （in mass percent） to the steel, and the fracture mechanism changed from cleavage fracture to toughness fracture. Through in-situ observation by a confocal scanning laser microscope, a significant result was found that the austenite grain of the steel with Mg treated was still keeping fine-grained structure after holding at 1 400℃ and lasting for 300 s. This inhibition of austenite grain growth was mainly attributed to the formation of pinning particles after the addition of Mg. The obtained results pro pose a potential method for improving HAZ toughness of structure steels.