Dynamic Recrystallization Behaviour of Nb-Ti Microalloyed Steels

The dynamic recrystallization （DRX） behavior of Nb-Ti microalloyed steels was investigated by isothermal single compression tests in the temperature range of 900-1 150 ℃ at constant strain rates of 0.1-5 s^-1. DRX was retarded effectively at low temperature due to the onset of dynamic precipitation of Nb and Ti carbonitrides, resulting in higher values of the peak strain. An expression was developed for the activation energy of deformation as a function of the contents of Nb and Ti in solution as well as other alloying elements. A new value of corrective factor was determined and applied to quantify the retardation produced by increase in the amount of Nb and Ti dissolved at the reheating temperature. The ratio of critical strain to peak strain decreases with increasing equivalent Nb content. In addition, the effects of Ti content and deformation conditions on DRX kinetics and steady state grain size were determined. Finally, the kinetics of dynamic precipitation was determined and effect of dynamic precipitation on the onset of DRX was clarified based on the comparison between precipitate pinning force and recrystallization driving force.

Effect of Ti content on the yield strength of Nb-Ti microalloyed steels

The hot rolling experiment investigates into the relationship between the microstructures and the mechanical properties of Nb-Ti microalloyed steels with various Ti contents. The results indicate that the effect of the bainite fraction of Nb-Ti microalloyed steels on the yield strength of the steels is not related to Ti content, while the slope of the Hall- Petch relationship decreases with the increase of Ti content. Accordingly, the Misra model for the yield strength of Nb-Ti microalloyed steels is modified, and the factors which cause the change in the slope of Hall-Petch relationship are discussed.

Influence of cooling rates on the precipitation behavior and microstructure of Nb-Ti microalloyed steel

Influence of different cooling rates on the microstructure and the precipitation behavior of Nb-Ti microalloyed steel was investigated by CSLM, OM, SEM and EDS. The results show that the precipitation process of carbonitrides can be in-situ observed by CSLM, and with the increase of the cooling rate, the distribution of precipitates changes from along the austenitic grain boundaries to within the grains. With the increase of the cooling rate, the proeutectoid ferritic film becomes smaller and smaller and then disappears, and the original austenitic grains become finer and finer. In order to obtain non-film like proeutectoid ferrites or non-chain like precipitates along the austenitic grain boundaries and finer austenitic grains,the cooling rate should be at least 5℃/s.

Effect of Strain Rate on the Ferrite Grain Refinement in a Low Carbon Nb-Ti Microalloyed Steel during Low Temperature Deformation

Grain refinement is one of the effective methods to develop new generation low carbon microalloyed steels possessing excellent combination of mechanical properties. The microstructural evolution and ferrite grain refinement at the deformation temperature of 865℃, above Ar3, with different strain rates were investigated using single pass isothermal hot compression experiments for a low carbon Nb-Ti microalloyed steel. The physical processes that occurred during deformation were discussed by observing the optical microstructure and analyzing the true stress-true strain responses. At strain rates of 0.001 and 0.01s^-1, there is no evidence of work hardening behavior during hot deformation and strain-induced transformation （SIT） leads to dynamic flow softening in flow curves. Optical microscopy observation shows that ultrafine and equiaxed ferrite with grain sizes of 2μm can be obtained by applying deformation with strain rate of 0.1 s^-1 due to SIT just after deformation. Furthermore, increasing the strain rate from 0.001 to 0.1 s^-1 reduces both the grain size of the equiaxed ferrite and the amount of deformed ferrite.

Effects of Quenching Process on Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of Low Carbon Nb-Ti Microalloyed Steel

The low carbon Nb-Ti mieroalloyed tested steel was prepared by the process of vacuum induction furnace smelting, forging and hot rolling. The new steel aims to meet the demand of high strength, high toughness and high plasticity for building facilities. The effects of quenching process on microstructure and mechanical properties of tested steel were investigated. The results showed that prior austenite grain size, phase type and precipitation behavior of （ Nb, Ti） （ C, N） play important roles in mechanical properties of the steel. Through modified appropriately, the model of austenite grain growth during heating and holding is d^5.7778 = 5. 6478^5.7778 ＋ 7.04 × 10^22t^1.6136 exp（- 427. 15 ×10^3 /（RT））. The grain growth activation energy is Qg = 427. 15 kJ. During quenching, the microscopic structures are mainly martensite and lath bainite which contains lots of lath substructure and dislocations. The content of phases, fine and coarsening （ Nb, Ti ） （ C, N ） precipitated changes during different quenching temperatures and holding time. Finally compared with the hardness value, the best quenching process can be obtained that heating temperature and holding time are 900 ℃ and 50 mins, respectively.

Composition Optimization of Nb-Ti Microalloyed High Strength Steel

Four Nb-Ti microalloyed steels were refined and rolled to study the composition optimization of Nb-Ti microalloyed steels. The effects of Nb and Ti on the microstructures, precipitates and properties of Nb-Ti microalloyed steel were investigated. The results showed that an increase in Ti content resulted in the appearance of many fine precipitates leading to a strong precipitation strengthening effect. Hence, the yield strength increased. Besides, the increased strength by the combined increase of Nb and Ti was similar to that observed for the increase in Ti content alone. This increase in strength was attributed widely to the increase in the Ti content alone rather than Nb. Moreover, the increase in Nb content beyond 0.036 wt% exerted no significant effect on the strength of Ti-Nb microalloyed steels, in which more Ti could be added to further improve the strength of steels.

Mg处理Nb-Ti微合金钢中非金属夹杂物演变机理研究

在工业生产条件下,对Nb-Ti微合金钢进行Mg处理试验,分析了Mg处理条件下,微合金钢中非金属夹杂物的演变规律。结果表明,微合金钢经过铝脱氧产物主要为Al_(2)O_(3)夹杂,进行Ca处理后,Al_(2)O_(3)夹杂减少,转变为CaO-Al_(2)O_(3)夹杂,且部分MnS夹杂转变为CaS夹杂;精炼阶段将Ca处理改为Mg处理后,可将铝脱氧产物Al_(2)O_(3)夹杂变性为MgO-Al_(2)O_(3)夹杂。Mg处理前,夹杂物在LF主要是Al_(2)O_(3)夹杂,进行Mg处理和Ti合金化后,钢中主要夹杂物变为MgO-Al_(2)O_(3)夹杂、MgO夹杂和TiN夹杂,最终在铸坯中的夹杂物为MgO-Al_(2)O_(3)外包裹CaS/MnS和(Nb、Ti)N复合夹杂。对Ca处理和Mg处理的夹杂物尺寸进行对比,夹杂物尺寸主要分布在5μm以内,Mg处理形成的2μm以内的夹杂物占比高于Ca处理工艺,表明镁处理可以较好地细化夹杂物,形成大量弥散分布的细小夹杂,有助于提升钢的综合力学性能。

Influence of Finishing Cooling Temperature and Holding Time on Nanometer-size Carbide of Nb-Ti Microalloyed Steel

The nanometer-size carbides formed in ferrite matrix of Nb-Ti microalloyed steel at different finishing cooling temperatures and holding time have been investigated. The characteristics of nanometer-size carbides in ferrite were observed by transmission electron microscopy, and mechanical properties of ferrite were detected by a nano-hardness tester. The results showed that interphase precipitation and diffusion precipitation were observed at different finishing cooling temperatures, and the interphase precipitation was planar and curved. Sheet spacing of inter-phase precipitation increased with the increase of finishing cooling temperature and changed a little when holding for 50--1000 s. Interphase precipitation shows higher nano-hardness at 640℃ compared with diffusion precipitation at 600℃, and the contribution of interphase precipitation to the mechanical properties of ferrite was larger than that of diffusion precipitation.

Effects of Cooling Rates on Microstructures and Mechanical Properties of Nb-Ti Microalloyed Steel

The mechanical peratures and cooling rates properties and microstructure of as-cast Nb-Ti microalloyed steel at different tern- are investigated in this paper. The III brittle zone （700--900~C） is revealed. The reduction of the hot ductility is due to the film-like proeutectoid ferrite or the Nb（C, N） precipitates along the austenitic grain boundaries. In the temperature range of 850 1000~C, with the increase of the cooling rate, the hot ductility decreases. However, in the range of 650--850 ~C, the appearance of large volume fractions of ferrite on austenite grain boundaries minimizes the effect of cooling rate on hot ductility. When the cooling rate is 10 ℃/s, austenite transforms more quickly to ferrite and at a lower temperature a larger amount of ferrite nucleates and precipitates in the grain, which leads to a sharper improvement in the hot ductility at 650 ℃.

Determination of Optimal Recrystallization Annealing Temperature of Nb-Ti Microalloyed High Strength IF Steel

The Nb-Ti microalloyed high strength IF steel sheet was used to study the effect of annealing temperature on the microstructures,mechanical properties and textures.The experimental results show that experimental steel is incomplete recrystallization at 750℃ annealing,but complete recrystallization from 780℃ to 870℃ under experimental conditions.When the annealing temperature was increased,the yield strength and tensile strength would gradually reduce,the plastic strain ratio and yield point elongation would gradually increase.The yield strength,tensile strength,elongation,the plastic strain ratio and the strain hardening exponent were approximate 300MPa,410MPa,36.5%,1.7 and 0.22 respectively under annealing temperature 810℃ to 840℃.When the annealing temperature was increased,the α-textures and γ-textures were gradually weakened,and the α-textures have a trend to {111} texture.Therefore,the suggestion of the optimal recrystallization annealing temperature is about 810℃ to 840℃ in industrial production.

变形工艺参数对Nb-Ti微合金钢再结晶的影响

通过热压缩实验研究了应变量及加热温度对Nb-Ti微合金钢的再结晶行为及变形后相变产物的影响。结果表明:当加热温度为1100℃时,奥氏体晶粒尺寸不均匀,导致压缩过程中各晶粒的应变累积不均匀,当总应变量为0.380时即发生了动态再结晶;奥氏体加热温度为1050和1000℃时,动态再结晶的临界应变量分别为0.668和0.552;当变形温度为850℃,应变量超过0.552时,试样在道次间隔发生静态再结晶;奥氏体化1100℃保温后压缩样品的冷却相变显微组织为贝氏体和准多边形铁素体,而1050℃和1000℃奥氏体化保温后压缩样品冷却相变后显微组织均为多边形铁素体,1000℃奥氏体化保温后压缩样品冷却相变后多边形铁素体晶粒尺寸更细小(2~5μm)。

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.

Remarkably slow corrosion rate of high-purity Mg microalloyed with 0.05wt% Sc

We report that the corrosion resistance of Mg is significantly improved by adding 0.05wt%Sc.Corrosion rates evaluated from weight loss values after room-temperature immersion in 0.6 M NaCl solution for two weeks were 0.27 and 4.0 mm y^(-1)for the high-purity Mg samples with and without microalloyed 0.05wt%Sc,respectively.The beneficial effect of Sc microalloying on the corrosion resistance of Mg is discussed in connection with Sc-induced microstructural modifications.

Recrystallization and Precipitation Behavior during the Hot Deformation of Nb-Ti Microalloyed Steels

Constant strain rate compression tests at the temperature 900～1100 ℃ and the strain rate 10 -3 ～20 s -1 and the interpass time 300～1000 s of double stage interrupted tests were carried out for a microalloyed steel containing 0.024%Nb, 0.016%Ti, 1.39%Mn and 0.15%C, to investigate its dynamic (DRX), static (SRX) and metadynamic recrystallization (MDRX) and precipitation behavior. Softening curves were determined by the offset method and back extrapolation method. It was found that the SRX and MDRX process have different Avrami exponent n and apparent activation energy Q . For the former n=1, Q =359 kJ/mol, while for the later n = 0.57 , Q =259 kJ/mol. Influences of temperature, prestrain and strain rate on the kinetics of SRX process were discussed and a mathematical model was furtherly constructed. Finally, the precipitation time temperature (PTT) curve was determined by the stress relaxation tests, and the influence of precipitation on the SRX process was also discussed. Direct microstructural evidence for precipitation during and after deformation was obtained by transmission electron microscopy.

Friction and wear behavior and mechanism of low carbon microalloyed steel containing Nb

Dry sliding friction and wear test of Nb containing low carbon microalloyed steel was carried out at room temperature,and the effect of Nb on the wear behavior of the steel,as welll as the mechanism was studied.Scanning electron microscopy(SEM) and energy dispersive spectrometry(EDS) were employed to analyze the morphology and composition of the worn surface,and the structure evolution of the plastic deformation layer.The carbide content and type in the steel were analyzed by the electrolytic extraction device and X-ray diffraction(XRD).The experimental results demonstrate that the addition of 0.2% Nb can refine the grain and generate Nb C to improve the wear resistance of the steel.By enhancing the load and speed of wear experiment,the wear mechanism of the test steel with 0.2% Nb changes from slight oxidation wear to severe adhesion wear and oxidation wear.Compared with the load,the increase in the rotation speed exerts a greater influence on the wear of the test steel.

Microstructure and mechanical properties of an Nb-microalloyed EH47 steel

The loading capacity of ultralarge container ships has reached 24000 TEUs so far,and to ensure the safe operation of these ships,the maxmium thickness of crack arrest steel used in the upper deck areas reaches 100 mm,and crack arrest toughness(K_(ca))needs to be>8000 N/mm^(3)/2.The EH47 steel was employed to study the effect of Nb on the phase transformation of supercooled austenite in the continuous cooling process after rolling and the effect of Nb on microstructure and mechanical properties of the crack arrest steel plate.It was found that the addition of 0.02%Nb can inhibit the ferrite transformation,improve the steel plate strength,and reduce the strength inhomogeneity in the thickness direction.Industrial production of 100 mm-thick EH47 was carried out based on the function of Nb in EH47 steel,and the test results reveal that high-strength EH47 shipbuilding plates with high toughness,excellent fracture and crack arrest toughness,and good welding properties can be produced using Nb-microalloyed composition design and the thermal mechanical control process(TMCP);furthermore,the value of the crack arrest toughness reached 9450.7 N/mm^(3/2) at-10℃.

微合金化元素对Mg-15Gd合金显微组织和耐蚀性能的影响

采用半连续铸造法制备出4种具有不同微合金化元素的Mg-15Gd-0.2X(X=Mn、Ni、Zn、Sn)合金,利用OM、SEM、XRD观察合金微观形貌,分析合金显微组织,通过浸泡腐蚀和析氢实验对合金耐蚀性进行测试,研究不同微合金化元素对Mg-15Gd合金微观组织和耐蚀性能的影响。结果表明,微合金化元素的添加明显改善了合金的铸态组织,细化了晶粒和第二相,并使第二相Mg5Gd沿晶界呈网状分布。添加微量合金化元素后,除Mg-15Gd-0.2Ni合金外,合金的耐蚀性均有明显提高,主要与合金晶粒细化、第二相细化并沿晶界呈网状分布,对合金腐蚀有阻挡作用以及合金腐蚀产物膜完整致密、保护性好有关。

微量Ca对ZE22镁合金显微组织及加工硬化行为的影响

为改善ZE系列镁合金延展性及加工性能,以ZE22为基础合金,通过Ca微合金化改善其加工硬化能力。进行EBSD及室温拉伸试验,研究微量Ca对ZE22镁合金显微组织及加工硬化行为的影响。结果表明:微量Ca的加入可细化晶粒,使平均晶粒尺寸为6.38~8.44μm,并引起基面织构弱化,织构极强度从22.3降至19.2,提高了基面滑移系的施密特因子。微观分析发现,加工硬化的弱化是晶粒尺寸和织构双重作用的结果。微量Ca的加入使合金加工硬化能力和应变率敏感系数降低,ZEG220合金的强塑性匹配更佳。研究结果为微合金化调控镁合金的加工硬化能力提供了理论基础和指导。

晶粒形态对Ti-Mo钢耐蚀性能的影响

采用周期浸润腐蚀实验机、光学显微镜(OM)、扫描电镜(SEM)和电子背散射衍射(EBSD)技术等研究了晶粒形态对Ti-Mo微合金钢耐蚀性能的影响规律。结果表明:Ti-Mo微合金钢经600~750℃等温热处理后的显微组织为单相铁素体,耐蚀性能受晶粒尺寸、大角度晶界比例、再结晶程度的影响;晶界和变形组织作为阳极,晶粒作为阴极,不均匀的电化学腐蚀使实验钢的腐蚀电流升高,促进了电偶腐蚀的发生,这是影响Ti-Mo微合金钢腐蚀行为的主要机制;在不损害力学性能的前提下,可通过采取适当增大晶粒尺寸、降低大角度晶界比例、提高再结晶程度的措施,提高Ti-Mo钢的耐蚀性能;在本实验条件下,当等温温度为600℃时,Ti-Mo钢的晶粒尺寸为9.66μm、大角度晶界比例为80.3%、平均错配角为1.99°、腐蚀质量损失率为1.98 g/(m^(2)·h),其耐蚀性能较高。

不同孕育剂随流孕育对微合金化球墨铸铁组织和性能的影响

为探究硫氧孕育剂随流孕育对微合金化球墨铸铁组织和性能的影响,在相同铸造条件下,用树脂砂型分别浇注75Si Fe孕育剂和硫氧孕育剂随流孕育处理的球墨铸铁试样。通过组织观察、室温拉伸试验、布氏硬度试验等分析了两种不同孕育剂随流孕育对微合金化球墨铸铁的显微组织、力学性能和拉伸断口的影响,探寻硫氧孕育剂随流孕育与球墨铸铁组织和性能的联系。结果表明:两种试样均由大量的珠光体、少量的铁素体、大量的石墨球组成,其中用75Si Fe孕育剂进行随流孕育,石墨球易畸变,圆整度不好,石墨球数量少,尺寸较大,平均球化率为84%,平均石墨球数为137个/mm^(2);而用硫氧孕育剂进行随流孕育,石墨形态改善明显,石墨球径更细小,分布更均匀,石墨球数量大幅增加,平均球化率为91%,平均石墨球数为297个/mm^(2)。硫氧孕育剂试样的抗拉强度和断后伸长率均高于75Si Fe孕育剂,分别为874 MPa和6.4%。硫氧孕育剂随流孕育球墨铸铁试样断裂模式为伴有少量塑性变形的准解理断裂。综合认为,用硫氧孕育剂随流孕育可获得较高的综合力学性能。