Review on the plastic instability of medium -Mn steels for identifying the formation mechanisms of Lüders and Portevin -Le Chatelier bands

Plastic instability,including both the discontinuous yielding and stress serrations,has been frequently observed during the tensile deformation of medium-Mn steels(MMnS)and has been intensively studied in recent years.Unfortunately,research results are controversial,and no consensus has been achieved regarding the topic.Here,we first summarize all the possible factors that affect the yielding and flow stress serrations in MMnS,including the morphology and stability of austenite,the feature of the phase interface,and the deformation parameters.Then,we propose a universal mechanism to explain the conflicting experimental results.We conclude that the discontinuous yielding can be attributed to the lack of mobile dislocation before deformation and the rapid dislocation multiplication at the beginning of plastic deformation.Meanwhile,the results show that the stress serrations are formed due to the pinning and depinning between dislocations and interstitial atoms in austenite.Strain-induced martensitic transformation,influenced by the mechanical stability of austenite grain and deformation parameters,should not be the intrinsic cause of plastic instability.However,it can intensify or weaken the discontinuous yielding and the stress serrations by affecting the mobility and density of dislocations,as well as the interaction between the interstitial atoms and dislocations in austenite grains.

EFFECT OF CHEMICAL COMPOSITION ON RETAINED AUSTENITE IN TRIP STEEL

The systematic chemical compositions including common C, Si, Mn, Al, and micro-alloying elements of Ti and Nb were designed for high volume fraction of retained austenite as much as possible. The thermo-cycle experiments were conducted by using Gleeble 2000 thermo-dynamic test machine for finding the appropriate composition. The experimental results showed that chemical composition had a significant effect on retained austenite, and the appropriate compositions were determined for commercial production of TRIP steels.

Effects of Si on the stability of retained austenite and temper embrittlement of ultrahigh strength steels

Effects of silicon （Si） content on the stability of retained austenite and temper embrittlement of ultrahigh strength steels were investigated using X-ray diffraction （XRD）,transmission electron microscopy （TEM）,and other experimental methods.The results show that Si can suppress temper embrittlement,improve temper resistance,and hinder the decomposition of retained austenite.Reversed austenite appears gradually with the increase of Si content during tempering.Si has a significant effect on enhancing carbon （C） partitioning and improving the stability of retained austenite.Si and C atoms are mutually exclusive in lath bainite,while they attract each other in austenite.ε-carbides are found in 1.8wt% Si steel tempered at 250℃,and they get coarsened obviously when tempered at 400℃,leading to temper embrittlement.Not ε-carbides but acicular or lath carbides lead to temper embrittlement in 0.4wt% Si steel,which can be inferred as cementites and composite compounds.Temper embrittlement is closely related to the decomposition of retained austenite and the formation of reversed austenite.

Effect of lower bainite/martensite/retained austenite triplex microstructure on the mechanical properties of a low-carbon steel with quenching and partitioning process

We present a study concerning Fe-0. 176C-1.31Si-1.58Mn-0.26Al-0.3Cr （wt%） steel subjected to a quenching and partitioning （Q＆P） process. The results of scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, and tensile tests demon- strate that the microstructures primarily consist of lath martensite, retained austenite, lower bainite （LB）, and a small amount of tempered martensite; moreover, few twin austenite grains were observed. In the microstrucmre, three types of retained austenite with different sizes and morphologies were observed： blocky retained austenite （-300 nm in width）, film-like retained austenite （80-120 nm in width）, and ul- tra-fine film-like retained austenite （30-40 nm in width）. Because of the effect of the retained austenite/martensite/LB triplex microstructure, the specimens prepared using different quenching temperatures exhibit high ultimate tensile strength and yield strength. Furthermore, the strength effect of LB can partially counteract the decreasing strength effect of martensite. The formation of LB substantially reduces the amount of retained austenite. Analyses of the retained austenite and the amount of blocky retained austenite indicated that the carbon content is critical to the total elongation of Q＆P steel.

EFFECTS OF CARBON CONTENT AND ROLLING PROCESSING ON RETAINED AUSTENITE FOR HOT-ROLLED TRIP STEELS

The effects of finishing rolling temperature and coiling temperature on retained austen-ite were studied for hot-rolled transformation induced plasticity (TRIP) steels with different carbon content. The experimental results showed that an appropriate volume fraction of retained austenite from 6% to 11% could be obtained according to the different carbon content less than 0.20% by controlled finishing rolling and coiling for the hot-rolled TRIP steels. It can be concluded that carbon content has a significant effect on the fraction of retained austenite and coiling processing plays stronger role on retaining austenite than fishing rolling processing.

Seismic responses of the steel-strip reinforced soil retaining wall with full-height rigid facing from shaking table test

To investigate the seismic response of the steel-strip reinforced soil retaining wall with fullheight rigid facing in terms of the acceleration in the backfill, dynamic earth pressure in the backfill, the displacements on the facing and the dynamic reinforcement strain distribution under different peak acceleration, a large 1-g shaking table test was performed on a reduced-scale reinforced-earth retaining wall model. It was observed that the acceleration response in non-strip region is greater than that in potential fracture region which is similar with the stability region under small earthquake,while the acceleration response in potential fracture region is greater than that in stability region in middle-upper of the wall under moderately strong earthquakes. The potential failure model of the rigid wall is rotating around the wall toe. It also was discovered that the Fourier spectra produced by the inputting white noises after seismic wave presents double peaks, rather than original single peak, and the frequency of the second peak trends to increase with increasing the PGA(peak ground amplitude) of the excitation which is greater than 0.4 g. Additionally,the non-liner distribution of strip strain along the strips was observed, and the distribution trend was not constant in different row. Soil pressure peak value in stability region is larger than that in potential fracture region. The wall was effective under 0.1 g-0.3 g seismic wave according to the analyses of the facing displacement and relative density. Also, it was discovered that the potential failure surface is corresponds to that in design code, but the area is larger. The results from the study can provide guidance for a more rational design of reinforced earth retaining walls with full-height rigid facing in the earthquake zone.

RESEARCH ON HOT FORMING PROCESS OF A RETAINING RING OF HIGH-NITROGEN STEEL

Mn18Cr18N, the high-nitrogen steel, is the 2nd generation material for manufacturing the retaining ring of firepower generators. In this paper, the hot deformation behavior of the material was investigated by thermo-mechanical modeling tests. And the flow stress curves of the steel were obtained for various combinations of the temperature and strain rate. Based on the results of the tests, the complex forming process of a retaining ring including punching, expanding and extrusion with an enclosure was put forward and simulated by means of numerical simulation method. The results indicate that the process is a novel and force-saved practical technology for manufacturing heavy retaining rings.

Characteristics of Retained Austenite in TRIP Steels with Bainitic Ferrite Matrix

Heat treatment process for producing cold rolled transformation induced plasticity-aided （TRIP-aided） steels with bainitic ferrite matrix was adopted. Characteristics of retained austenite （RA） in such TRIP steels were investigated. SEM and OM determination results showed that the stable austenite retained at room temperature were mainly located between laths and some of them inside the coarse ferrite. The grains were uniformly distributed in heat treated steel matrix and the regularly dispersed RA represented to be triangular morphology. XRD analysis indicated that RA content in matrix was not less than 10%, and TEM testified that RA inside the matrix were formed at the prior austenite boundaries and represented to be single or twin crystals. The ductile fracture originated from the boundaries of martensite islands from RA and ferrite. The cracks propagated along grain boundaries and some passed through the large ferrite grains and induced transgranular fracture.

Effect of retained austenite and nonmetallic inclusions on the thermal/electrical properties and resistance spot welding nuggets of Si-containing TRIP steels

Five advanced high-strength transformation-induced plasticity(TRIP) steels with different chemical compositions were studied to correlate the retained austenite and nonmetallic inclusion content with their physical properties and the characteristics of the resistance spot welding nuggets. Electrical and thermal properties and equilibrium phases of TRIP steels were predicted using the JMatPro? software. Retained austenite and nonmetallic inclusions were quantified by X-ray diffraction and saturation magnetization techniques. The nonmetallic inclusions were characterized by scanning electron microscopy. The results show that the contents of Si, C, Al, and Mn in TRIP steels increase both the retained austenite and the nonmetallic inclusion contents. We found that nonmetallic inclusions affect the thermal and electrical properties of the TRIP steels and that the differences between these properties tend to result in different cooling rates during the welding process. The results are discussed in terms of the electrical and thermal properties determined from the chemical composition and their impact on the resistance spot welding nuggets.

Control of floor heaves with steel pile in gob-side entry retaining

A new approach named as steel pile method is innovatively proposed in this study to control severe floor heaves in gob-side entry retaining. It is required that the steel piles be installed in the floor corners with a certain interval before the influence of the dynamic pressure induced by current panel extraction. Using numerical simulation and theoretical analysis, this study investigated the interaction between the steel piles and the floor rocks during the service life of the steel piles, and revealed the mechanism of the steel piles in controlling floor heaves. The effect of the steel pile parameters on the control of floor heaves was presented and elaborated. It is found that the effectiveness of the steel piles in controlling floor heaves can be enhanced with greater installed dip angle, longer length and smaller interval of the steel piles.Compared with traditional methods, e.g., using floor anchor bolts and floor restoration, the advantages using steel pile were successfully defined in terms of controlling effect and economic benefits. It is hoped that the proposed method can contribute to the development of gob-side entry retaining technique.

Effect of heat treatment on microstructure and mechanical properties of Ti-containing low alloy martensitic wear-resistant steel

Effects of quenching temperature and cooling conditions(water cooling and 10%NaCl cooling)on microstructure and mechanical properties of a 0.2%Ti low alloy martensitic wear-resistant steel used for die casting ejector plate were investigated.The results show that lath martensite can be obtained after austenitizing in the range of 860-980℃and then water cooling.With an increase in austenitizing temperature,the precipitate content gradually decreases.The precipitates are mainly composed of TiC and Ti4C2S2,and their total content is between 1.15wt.%and 1.64wt.%.The precipitate phase concentration by water-cooling is higher than that by10%NaCl cooling due to the lower cooling rate of water cooling.As the austeniting temperature increases,the hardness and tensile strength of both water cooled and 10%NaCl cooled steels firstly increase and then decrease.The experimental steel exhibits the best comprehensive mechanical properties after being austenitized at 900℃,cooled by 10%NaCl,and then tempered at 200℃.Its hardness,ultimate tensile strength,and wear rate reach551.4 HBW,1,438.2 MPa,and 0.48×10^(-2)mg·m^(-1),respectively.

TRIP Steel Retained Austenite Transformation under Cyclic V-bending Deformation

To investigate the transformation behavior of TRIP steel retained austenite under cyclic load, cyclic V-bending deformation of low carbon Si-Mn TRIP600 was studied by experiment and finite element in this paper. The results showed that, under cyclic V-bending deformation, retained austenite in TRIP steel transformed into martensite gradually with the increasing of bending times, and for the symmetrical characteristic, upper surface and lower surface presented the same transformation tendency. From the first to the fourth V-bending deformatiort, retained austenite volume fraction decreased nearly linearly and then attained saturation step by step. Compressive stress state was helpful for martensite transformation than tension stress state with V-bending deformation, and strain magnitude was the determining factor for retaining anstenite martensitic transformation. With the increasing of bending times effective stress increased and the relationship between maximum effective stress and bending times was nearly linear. Effective stress and effective strain distribution were non-uniform, the maximum effective stress and effective strain were present in the center of the samples. The relationships between retained austenite and V-bending times, and retained austenite with effective strain were set up as Eqs.（1）-（5）. The relationship was typical quadric function, decreased linearly for the initial deformation and attained saturation finally.

Quantitative Mossbauer Study on Retained Austenite and Carbide in High Speed Steel

The retained austenite in high speed steel of two different heat treatment regimes was quantitatively,determined by transmission Mssbauer spectroscopy (TMS),backscattering X-ray geometry,Mossbauer spectroscopy (BXMS) and X-ray diffraction technique.The results meas- ured by these methods were in agreement with each other.It was demonstrated that the concentration of carbides in high speed steel could be measured by transmission Mossbauer spectroscopy or Mossbau- er spectroscopy in backscattering X-ray geometry accurately.

Interaction of Hydrogen and Retained Austenite in Bainite/Martensite Dual-Phase High Strength Steel

The hydrogen trapping phenomena in two bainite/martensite dual-phase high strength steels(U20Si and U20DSi)were investigated by electrochemical permeation technique.The hydrogen diffusivity was calculated from data of permeation delay time,and the diffusion coefficient in U20 Si is far less than that in U20 DSi.Moreover,the hydrogen diffusivity decreases as the volume percent of retained austenite increases.The experiment results show that there are different hydrogen trappings and different volume percents of retained austenite in U20 Si and U20 DSi.The retained austenite is precipitated as films.The trap binding energy for the retained austenite and hydrogen is calculated to be 40.4kJ·mol-1.

Physical Simulation of Thermally Induced Martensite Formation from Retained Austenite in TRIP Steels

The present work analyses the total free energy of the material during the martensitic transformation. A general expression for the martensite fraction as a function of temperature is derived, assuming that the nonchemical free energyis proportional to the volume of martensite. This expression indicates that the temperature-dependent martensitefraction can be predicted once the characteristic transformation temperatures and the relation between the chemicalfree energy and temperature of the martensite and austenite are known. An advantage of this development is thatthe proposed equation is valid for all types of relations between the chemical free energy and temperature. Thissimulation is successfully applied to the martensitic transformation upon further cooling of retained austenite in alow-alloyed TRIP steel, in which the relation between chemical free energy and temperature is quadratic and thefraction is determined from a thermo-magnetic measurement.

深厚冲积层薄基岩条件下沿空留巷支护技术研究

为解决某矿16041工作面原支护方案沿空留巷变形大、破坏严重难题,提出了顶板采用“16#槽钢梁+注浆锚索”、采空区侧采用“36U型钢+注浆锚杆”不对称耦合支护优化方案,基于理论分析研究围岩结构破坏形式,通过单元荷载法计算了留巷顶板与采空区侧围岩应力,最后开展工业性应用,验证优化后方案的合理性。研究表明:优化后支护方案顶板和采空区侧计算单元面荷载分别为351.85 kPa和206.53 kPa;注浆锚索和注浆锚杆承载力分别为263.89 kN和199.08 kN,均小于注浆锚索(锚杆)极限承载力。根据对留巷数据监测,最大顶板下沉量为35.6 mm,较原支护方案减小了1.40倍;采空区侧最大移近量为29.6 mm,与较原支护方案减小了4.13倍;最大注浆锚索承载力为253 kN,与理论计算值误差为4.1%;最大注浆锚杆承载力为174 kN,与理论计算值误差为12.6%。位移量与支护承载力均在工程允许范围内,优化后方案支护效果良好。

回火温度对2%Mn高强钢组织和性能的影响

高强度高塑性是先进高强钢发展的方向,本工作以2%Mn钢为研究对象,通过控制回火温度实现高强度高塑性最佳匹配,并采用SEM、TEM、XRD等技术分析影响2%Mn高强钢组织和力学性能的机制。结果表明:2%Mn高强钢经珠光体区等温退火后组织为铁素体、珠光体、低碳马氏体和残余奥氏体;随着回火温度升高,残余奥氏体体积分数由退火态的6.78%持续降低至425℃回火态的2.55%,回火温度继续升高,残余奥氏体体积分数基本不变,维持在稳定水平;随着回火温度升高,铁素体含量持续增加,位错密度、抗拉强度、屈服强度、硬度持续降低,延伸率先增加后降低;2%Mn钢经425℃回火后,铁素体平均板条宽度为95.1 nm,位错密度为2.6×10^(14)m^(-2),碳化物平均直径为13.9 nm,抗拉强度为1770 MPa,屈服强度为1450 MPa,伸长率为9.84%,强塑积达到最大值17.4 GPa·%。

等温淬火温度对51CrMnV弹簧钢组织及性能的影响

采用光学显微镜(OM)、扫描电镜(SEM)、透射电镜(TEM)、X射线衍射仪(XRD)、电子背散射衍射(EBSD)技术和电子万能试验机等研究了等温淬火温度对51CrMnV弹簧钢组织及力学性能的影响。结果表明:使用高温油淬火介质进行等温淬火处理后,51CrMnV弹簧钢的组织主要为马氏体、贝氏体铁素体、残留奥氏体及碳化物;经过860℃奥氏体化30 min后淬入280℃的高温油中等温处理30 min后,51CrMnV弹簧钢的力学性能较好,其抗拉强度为1641 MPa、总伸长率为15.57%、断面收缩率为33%,且该工艺条件下的拉伸试样断口为韧性断裂,这归因于该工艺条件下试验钢具有亚微米级贝氏体铁素体和弥散分布的碳化物,多相微观组织的协同作用提高了51CrMnV弹簧钢的综合力学性能。

不同淬火加热温度对GCr15钢球显微组织及硬度的影响

对经冷墩光球后的GCr15钢球进行不同淬火加热温度的淬火实验,使用光学显微镜、SEM和激光共聚焦显微镜表征显微组织,X射线衍射和维氏硬度计分别表征残余奥氏体含量和硬度。结果表明,随着淬火加热温度的升高,片状马氏体组织逐渐粗大,未溶碳化物体积分数逐渐减少,碳化物粒径向中间尺寸(0.4~0.8μm)靠拢,原奥氏体晶粒尺寸及残余奥氏体体积分数逐渐增加,硬度现出先增加后下降趋势。

淬火处理对中锰钢组织和性能的影响

中锰钢通过微观组织调控,可实现优异的强度-塑韧性协同增长,是第三代先进高强钢的潜力材料。采用不同淬火工艺来调控Fe-10Mn-0.44C-1.87Al-0.67V中锰钢的微观组织,并结合VC的析出来优化其性能。结果表明:经1020℃淬火+300℃回火后,中锰钢的组织为板条状马氏体+残留奥氏体,形变时残留奥氏体发生相变诱导塑性效应,使其具有优异的塑性。经800℃淬火+250℃回火后,组织为细小的马氏体、细小弥散分布的VC和少量残留奥氏体,通过位错强化、细晶强化和析出强化作用使中锰钢具有最佳的力学性能,屈服强度为1190 MPa,抗拉强度为1473 MPa,伸长率为22%,强塑积为32.4 GPa%。