High performance steels:Initiative and practice

In order to meet the progressive requirement for the performance improvement of steel,the author proposed a novel microstructure featured with multi-phase,meta-stable and multi-scale(so-called as M 3).And then,the new technologies could be developed to process three prototype steels with high performance:the third generation high strength low alloy(HSLA) steels with improved toughness and/or ductility(AKV(40℃)≥200 J and/or A≥20% when Rp0.2 in 800-1000 MPa),the third generation advanced high strength steels(AHSS)(Rm×A≥30 GPa% when Rm from 1000 MPa to 1500 MPa) for automobiles with improved ductility and low cost,and heat resistant martensitic steels with improved creep strength(10000650≥90 MPa).It can be expected that the new technology developed will remarkably improve the safety and reliability of steel products in service for infrastructures,automobiles and fossil power station in the future.

Application potential of high performance steels for weight reduction and efficiency increase in commercial vehicles

The fast-growing economy and the gradually established highway system have boosted the road trans- portation for both passenger and cargo over the last decade in China. From 2000 to 2010 Chinese GDP increased by around 10.15% annually and the sales of medium and heavy trucks by around 18.87% （sales increased from 0.2 million in 2000 to 1.3 million in 2010） according to the National Bureau of Statistics of People＇s Republic of China. Today commercial vehicles consume almost the same amount of fuel as pas- senger cars in China although the number of commercial vehicles is only about one fourth of passenger cars. It is estimated that around 50% of imported fuel to China each year will be consumed by vehicle transportation. This si- tuation will worsen fuel shortage problems in the long run and at the same time it is partially responsible for the ever- worsening air pollution in China. Due to the widespread overloading in China, lightweight development in commer- cial vehicles has fallen far behind that of passenger cars with the consequences that Chinese commercial vehicles consume in average about 20% more fuel, especially the heavy trucks, compared to European models. Under these circumstances it is essential to reduce the vehicle fuel consumption and in- crease the transport efficiency. The key solution thereby is to implement lightweight design in commercial vehicles as it has been successfully practiced over the last decade in the passenger cars. This paper summarizes highlights given in presentations during the ＂International seminar on the ap- plication of high strength steels in light weight commercial vehicles＂ with the focus on the development and application of Nb alloyed high performance steels made for lightweight commercial vehicles.

Effects of Offline Relaxation Quenching on Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of a Newly Designed High Performance Steel

The newly designed high performance tested steel was prepared by the process of vacuum induction furnace smelting and forging. According to the ideas of online relaxation and quenching intercritieal quenching-tempering （Q- L-T） process, effects of offline relaxation process on microstructure and mechanical properties of the tested steel were investigated. Offline results process was simulated using the MMS-300 thermal simulation testing apparatus and heat treating furnace. The results show that the microstructures are composed of bainite and martensite when the specimens are quenched in the austenite region. Once the specimens are ai〉cooled into the dual phase region, ferrite and granular bainite start to form. In the relaxation process, fine Nb（C, N） carbonitrides are precipitated first and then grow and coarsen. The microstructure is affected by process and determines mechanical properties. The Vickers hardness and yield strength （YS） first rise then fall when the relaxation temperature drops in austenite region, and then decline dramatically in dual phase region. When the relaxation time is 20 s, the tensile strength reaches the peak （1034 MPa）, and at that time YS is 872 MPa, elongation is 17.7% and Charpy V-notch impact energy is 171 J at -20℃. When the relaxation time increases to 100 s, the yield and tensile strengths are 750 and 934 MPa respectively, elon- gation is 18.6% and Charpy V-notch impact energy is 165 J at -20℃.

Research and Practice of Production Technology for High Performance Low Alloy Steels in WISCO

The product system of high strength low alloy steels (HSLA) produced by Wuhan Iron and Steel (Group) Corporation (WISCO) was presented.A series of high performance structural steels have been developed for important construction projects around the world in different areas,such as bridge,pressure vessel,pipe line,shipbuilding,architecture,machinery and railway wagons.In order to promote the development of large heat input welding steel,high grade thick pipeline steel and long span bridge steel,a lot of advanced production technologies have been achieved through intensive investigation,such as the control of high purity,high homogenization and free defects in steel slabs,the rules of high melting point particle formation and distribution in micro and nano scale during steel production,and the TMCP technology for ultra low carbon bainite steel for medium and heavy plates.WISCO will carry on research and application of economic and weather-resistant steels and promote the developing and producing technologies of HSLA steel.

Evaluation on Fatigue Performance and Fracture Mechanism of Laser Welded TWIP Steel Joint Based on Evolution of Microstructure and Micromechanical Properties

The fatigue performance and fracture mechanism of laser welded twinning induced plasticity（TWIP）steel joint were investigated experimentally based on the evolution of microstructure and micromechanical properties.The optical microscopy was used to analyze the evolution of microstructure.The variation of composition and phase structure of fusion zone were detected by energy dispersive X-ray and X-ray diffraction spectrometers.The micromechanical behaviors of the various zones were characterized using nanoindentation.The static tensile test and high cycle fatigue test were performed to evaluate the mechanical properties of welded joint and base metal.The microstructures,tensile properties and fatigue strength of base metal as well as welded metal were analyzed.The fatigue fracture surfaces of base metal and welded joint were observed by means of scanning electron microscopy,in order to identify fatigue crack initiation sites and propagation mechanisms.Moreover,the fatigue fracture characteristics and mechanisms for the laser welded TWIP steel joints were analyzed.