Influence of Holding Time After Deformation on Bainite Transformation in Niobium Microalloyed Steel

Using Gleeble-1500 system, the influence of holding time on bainite transformation in deformed niobium microalloyed steel during continuous cooling was analyzed, and the carbides in upper bainite were also systematically researched. The results show that the occurrence of the static recrystallization decreases the amount of bainite with an increase in the holding time and the emergence of retained austenite （RA） with the longer holding time. Two types of carbides were observed in upper bainite with regard to their precipitation sites. They either existed between the bainite ferrite laths or co-existed with RA. The formation mechanism of two kinds of carbides was analyzed by combining TEM micrographs with the model.

Thermal fatigue behavior of niobium microalloyed H13 steel

AISI H13 hot work tool steel is widely used for hot forging, hot-extrusion and die-casting because of its high temperature strength, impact toughness, heat checking resistance and wear resistance, etc. The thermally induced surface damage, i. e., thermal fatigne,is believed to be controlled by the magnitude of the imposed cyclic strain. The thermal fatigue on the surface of hot working die, which is responsible to the initiation of the cracks, is reported to result in more than 80 % of the failure of dies.

A Strategy of Avoiding Delayed Fracture in Ultrahigh Strength Automotive Steels by Nb Microalloying

Recently the automotive industry has been confronted with the phenomenon of delayed fracture.This phenomenon was not relevant in earlier years since the strength level of the steels was generally below a critical level.However,delayed fracture is not necessarily related to an absolute strength value but rather to microstructural features as well as pre-existing micro-damage in the material that are likely to occur in ultrahigh strength steels.Niobium microalloying in combination with appropriate processing can effectively help to improve the resistance against delayed fracturing in such steels.The paper outlines a strategy how to achieve this based on microstructural control and hydrogen trapping.

Dynamic and Static Recrystallization Behavior of Low Carbon High Niobium Microalloyed Steel

The recrystallization behavior of a low carbon high niobium microalloyed steel was investigated using continuous and interrupted hot compression tests. The results showed that the initiation of dynamic recrystallization （DRX） could be detected from inflection in the plot of the strain hardening rate against stress regardless of the stress peak appearance. According to the Zener-Hollomon parameter equation, the activity energy of DRX （Qad） was ob tained and a new modified expression calculating Qdef was proposed in consideration of the chemical composition of experimental steel. Applying the 2% offset method, the static softening fraction was determined. The graphic representation of the softening fraction vs interruption time gave the information about the non-static reerystallization temperature （about 1 000℃ ） and the relationship of precipitation time temperature. Static recrystallization kinetics followed the Avrami＇s law at high deformation temperature, and different values of the exponent m were given to illustrate the effect of niobium element on static recrystallization at different deformation temperatures.

Niobium in Microalloyed Steels Unchallenged for Its Main Applications

During the past five decades niobium has emerged as the most important microalloying element in high strength steels.The first theories to explain its role were presented in the seminal publications of Woodhead,Morrison and Gray.Today niobium microalloyed steels are unchallenged for their main applications.Some examples include linepipe for gas transportation,automotive steels used in body-in-white and structural parts,shipbuilding,steel towers and steel structures in civil construction that exhibit better fire resistance and seismic load performance.Modern technology for steelmaking helped emphasize the superior overall properties that can be attained with the use of niobium.Gas linepipe is the best example of cleaner steel with carbon levels below 0.05% manufactured economically.Modern niobium microalloyed steels present the optimal balance of strength,toughness,weldability and formability.This paper describes the evolution of the technology associated with niobium in microalloyed steels,technology that secured its status as the efficient solution to solving today’s challenges:safety,energy efficiency and environmental concerns.The paper also presents evidence that enhances the case that there is a secure,stable,long-term supply of the ferroniobium used to manufacture these steels.

Carbide Evolution in High Molybdenum Nb-microalloyed H13 Steel during Annealing Process

Based on the Thermo-Calc thermodynamic software, the type of equilibrium precipitated carbides and their contents in high Mo Nb-microalloyed H13 steel （NMH13 steel） were calculated. The composition, morphology, and distribution of carbides after spheroidal annealing of two forged experimental steels were comparatively examined by means of optical microscopy （OM）, scanning electron microscopy （SEM）, electron dispersive spectroscopy （EDS） and transmission electron microscopy （TEM）. VC, M23 C6 and M6C are identified in H13 steel after spheroidizing annealing, while （V,Nb）C, M23C6 , M2C and M6C are observed in NMH13 steel. Moreover, it is found that the ad- dition of Nb significantly enhances the stability of MC phase and the high Mo content accelerates the precipitation of small rod-shape M2C phase in NMH13 steel. The amount of the fine carbides in NMH13 steel obviously increased with M2 C and M6 C precipitated from the ferrite phase, which is in accordance with the results of thermodynamic cal- culations.

Mathematical Model of Microstructure Evolution of X60 Line Pipe Steel During CSP Hot Rolling

An integrated process modelling system for simulating the microstructure evolution of Nb-microalloyed HSLA steel produced in CSP hot rolling process has been developed on the basis of the microstructure simulation and mechanical properties prediction technology. 3-D thermomechanical coupled finite element models for simulating hot strip rolling have been developed and the distribution of equivalent plastic strain through the thickness direction of the rolled material by CSP rolling was obtained. Thus the distribution of temperature, strain and strain rate through the thickness of the steel stocks, as well as the microstructure evolution during hot rolling of X60 line pipe steel strip has been investigated by using the developed integrated process modelling system. In addition, the determination and optimization of controllable process parameters during CSP hot strip rolling for the Nb-microalloyed X60 line pipe steel have been implemented, and control strategies such as adopting larger pass reduction in the first stand, arranging appropriate pass interval times and proper rolling speed, to reduce or eliminate mixed grain microstructure of Nb microalloyed strip in CSP processing have been proposed.

Metallurgical concepts for optimized processing and properties of carburizing steel

Carburized steel grades are widely used in applications where high surface near hardness is required in combination with good core toughness as well as high strength and fatigue resistance. The process of carburizing lower to medium carbon containing steel can generally provide this combination of properties and has been prac- ticed for several decades. Such steel is essential in the vehicle power-train, machines and power generation equipment. However, the increasing performance demands by such applications as well as economical considerations forced steel producers to develop better alloys and fabri- cators to design more efficient manufacturing processes. The present paper describes recent concepts for alloy design optimization of carburizing steel and demonstrates the forthcoming beneficial consequences with regard to manufacturing processes and final properties.