EFFECT OF Zr ADDITION TO Ti-KILLED STEEL ON INCLUSION FORMATION AND MICROSTRUCTURAL EVOLUTION IN WELDING INDUCED COARSE-GRAINED HEAT AFFECTED ZONE

Effects of Zirconium on the chemical component and size distribution of Ti-bearing inclusions, favored the grain refinement of the welding reduced, coarse-grained heat affected zone （CGHAZ） with enhanced impact toughness in Ti-killed steels, which were examined based on experimental observations and thermodynamic calculations. It indicated that the chemical constituents of inclusions gradually varied from the TiO oxide to the Ti-O＋Zr-O compound oxide and a single phase of the ZrO2 oxide, as the Zr content increased from zero to 0.0100%. A trace of Zr （0.0030%-0.0080%, depending on the oxygen content in liquid steel） provided a large amount of nucleating core for Ti oxide because of the larger specific density of ZrO2 oxide, and produced a small size distribution of the inclusions favorable for acicular ferrite transformation with a high nucleation rate in the CGHAZ, and a high volume fraction of acicular ferrite was obtained in the CGHAZ, with enhanced impact toughness. Otherwise, a high content of Zr （-0.0100%） produced a single phase Zr02, which was impotent to nucleate acicular ferrite, and a microstructure composed of ferrite side plate and grain boundary ferrite developed in the CGHAZ. The experimental results were confirmed by thermodynamic calculations.

In situ observation of austenite grain growth behavior in the simulated coarse-grained heat-affected zone of Ti-microalloyed steels

The austenite grain growth behavior in a simulated coarse-grained heat-affected zone during thermal cycling was investigated via in situ observation. Austenite grains nucleated at ferrite grain boundaries and then grew in different directions through movement of grain boundaries into the ferrite phase. Subsequently, the adjacent austenite grains impinged against each other during the α→γtransformation. After the α→γ transformation, austenite grains coarsened via the coalescence of small grains and via boundary migration between grains. The growth process of austenite grains was a continuous process during heating, isothermal holding, and cooling in simulated thermal cycling. Abundant finely dispersed nanoscale TiN particles in a steel specimen containing 0.012wt% Ti effectively retarded the grain boundary migration, which resulted in refined austenite grains. When the Ti concentration in the steel was increased, the number of TiN particles de- creased and their size coarsened. The big particles were not effective in pinning the austenite grain boundary movement and resulted in coarse austenite grains.

Influence of the secondary welding thermal cycle on the microstructure and property of coarse grain heat-affected zone in an X100 pipeline steel

The influence of the secondary thermal cycle on the microstructure of coarse grain heat-affected zone in an XIO0 pipeline steel was investigated by means of a thermal simulation technique and microscopic analysis method. The property of coarse grain heat-affected zone was characterized by Charpy V-Notch impact properties testing. The results indicated that the experimental steel exhibited local brittleness of intercritically reheated coarse-grained heat-affected zone when the peak tempera- ture of secondary thermal cycle was in the range of two phases region （ ~ and 3/）. There were two main reasons for the local brittleness. The first was that the microstructures of intercritically reheated coarse-grained heat-affected zone were not fined although partial grain recrystallization occurred. The second was that M-A islands, which had the higher content, larger size and higher hardness, existed in intercritically reheated coarse-grained heat-affected zone.

High-temperature creep properties of fine grained heat-affected zone in P92 weldment

The simulated fine grained heat-affected zone (FGHAZ) specimens for P92 welded joints were prepared by heat treatment, then the creep tests were carried out at 650 ℃ under the applied stress of 90-120 MPa to investigate high-temperature creep behavior of FGHAZ. The results show that the creep property of FGHAZ is much inferior to that of the base metal, which exhibits the much higher steady creep rate and shorter time to creep fracture. The power law equation can describe the steady creep rate dependence on applied stress, indicating that the stress exponent n of FGHAZ is distinguished between two regions with n=15.1 at high stresses (more than 100 MPa) and n=8.64 at lower stresses. Based on Monkman-Grant equation, the relationship between the secondary creep rate and time to rupture is obtained to evaluate the creep life of FGHAZ with the applied stress above 100 MPa.

Effect of welding parameters on the heat-affected zone of AISI409 ferritic stainless steel

One of the main problems during the welding of ferritic stainless steels is severe grain growth within the heat-affected zone （HAZ） In the present study, the microstmctural characteristics of tungsten inert gas （TIG） welded AISI409 ferritic stainless steel were investigated by electron backscattered diffraction （EBSD）, and the effects of welding parameters on the grain size, local misorientation, and low-angle grain boundaries were studied. A 3-D finite element model （FEM） was developed to predict the effects of welding parameters on the holding time of the HAZ above the critical temperature of grain growth. It is found that the base metal is not fully recrystallized. During the welding, complete recrystallization is followed by severe grain growth. A decrease in the number of low-angle grain boundaries is observed within the HAZ. FEM results show that the final state of residual sWains is caused by competition between welding plastic strains and their release by recrystallization. Still, the decisive factor for grain growth is heat input.

Study on local embrittlement of welding heat-affected zone in XSO pipeline steels

The relationship between the microstructure and toughness of welding heat-affected zone in XSO grade pipeline steels is studied. It is found that the intercritical reheated coarse-grained heat-affected zone （ICCGHAZ） of experimental steels has the lowest toughness values when the secondary peak temperature is at intercritical （ α ＋ γ ） region during multi-pass welding. The local embrittlement is mainly attributed to the morphology, amount and size of M-A constituent. It is also found that the microstructural inhabitanee at ICCGHAZ has a deleterious effect on the toughness. On the basis of above experimental results, it is suggested that the local embrittlement should be prevented by using pre-heating thermal cycle which could eliminate the microstructural inhabitance and using post-heating thermal cycle which could improve the morphology, amount and size of MA constituent.

Effect of Magnesium on Inclusion Formation in Ti-Killed Steels and Microstructural Evolution in Welding Induced Coarse-Grained Heat Affected Zone

Effects of Mg on the chemical component and size distribution of Ti-bearing inclusions favored grain refinement of the welding induced coarse-grained heat affected zone （CGHAZ）, with enhanced impact toughness in Ti-killed steels, which were examined based on experimental observations and thermodynamic calculations. The results indicated that the chemical constituents of the inclusions gradually varied from the Ti-O＋Ti-Mg-O compound oxide to the Ti-Mg-O＋MgO compound oxide and the single-phase MgO, as the Mg content increased from 0.002 3M to 0.006%. A trace addition of Mg （approximately 0. 002%） led to the refinement of Ti-bearing inclusions by creating the Ti-Mg-O compound oxide and provided favorable size distribution of the inclusions for acicular ferrite transformation with a high nucleation rate in the CGHAZ, and a high volume fraction of acicular ferrite was obtained in the CGHAZ with enhanced impact toughness. Otherwise, a high content of Mg （approximately 0. 006%） produced a single-phase MgO, which was impotent to nucleate an acicular ferrite, and a microstructure comprised of a ferrite side plate and a grain boundary ferrite developed in the CGHAZ. The experimental results were confirmed by thermodynamic calculations.

Effect of Heat Input on Microstructure and Toughness of Coarse Grain Heat Affected Zone in Nb Microalloyed HSLA Steels

The influence of Nb on microstructure, mechanical property and the transformation kinetics of the coarse grain heat affected zone （CGHAZ） in HSLA steels for different heat inputs, has been investigated. When welded at higher heat inputs （100-60 kJ/cm）, impact toughness values of the steel without Nb are much higher than those of the steel with Nb, and the lowest span is 153 J at 60 kJ/cm. But only a little higher values are observed at lower heat inputs （40-30 kJ/cm）, and the highest span is 68 J at 30 kJ/cm. Dilatation studies indicate that continuous cooling transformation starting temperatures （Ts） of CGHAZ for the steel with Nb are approximately 15-30℃ which are lower than those of the steel without Nb at all heat inputs. For higher heat inputs, Nb in solid solution suppresses ferrite transformation and promotes the formation of granular bainite which has detrimental effect on impact toughness. For lower heat inputs higher Charpy impact energy values in the steel with Nb are associated with the formation of low carbon self-tempered martensite.

Microstructures and mechanical properties of laser welded wrought fine-grained ZK60 magnesium alloy

Fine-grained ZK60 magnesium alloy sheets of 2.0 mm in thickness were successfully joined by laser beam welding （LBW）. The effects of welding parameters including laser power and welding speed on the microstructures and mechanical properties of the joints were investigated. A sound bead, with the ultimate tensile strength （UTS） of 300 MPa and elongation of 12.0%, up to 92.5% and 65% of those of the base metal, respectively, is obtained with the optimized welding parameters. No liquation cracking is visible in the partially melted zone （PMZ） owing to the inhibitory action of the fine dispersed precipitates and the fine-grained microstructure in the as-rolled magnesium alloy sheets. The fusion zone （FZ） is featured with the equiaxed dendritic grains of the average grain size about 8 μm, which are similar to those in the heat affected zone （HAZ）, and this contributes to the relatively high joint efficiency.

Effect of Heat Input on Cleavage Crack Initiation of Simulated Coarse Grain Heat-affected Zone in Microalloyed Offshore Platform Steel

The combined effects of martensite-austenite（MA）constituent and pearlite colony on cleavage crack initiation in the simulated coarse-grained heat-affected zone（CGHAZ）of V-N-Ti microalloyed offshore platform steel under different heat inputs were investigated.The results of welding simulation,instrumented impact test,and quantitative analysis indicated that the size of the MA constituent decreased with the increase in cooling time,and by contrast,the size of the pearlite colony increased.According to Griffith theory,the critical sizes of cleavage microcracks were calculated.With the increase of cooling time,the calculated microcrack size could be characterized by the size of the MA constituent first,and then fitted with the size of the pearlite colony.Moreover,the calculated microcrack size variation was opposite to the microcrack initiation energy.This phenomenon is probably due to the combined effects of the MA constituent and pearlite colony with increasing the cooling time of the specimen′s temperature from800 to 500 ℃.

Effect of welding heat input on HAZ character in ultra-fine grain steel welding

In this essay, we studied how heat input affected the microstructure, hardness, grain size and heat-affected zone(HAZ) dimension of WCX355 ultra-fine grain steel which was welded respectively by the ultra narrow-gap welding (UNGW) process and the overlaying process with CO 2 as protective atmosphere and laser welding process. The experimental results show when the heat input changed from 1.65 kJ/cm to 5.93 kJ/cm, the width of its HAZ ranged from 0.6 mm to 2.1 mm.The average grain size grew up from 2～5 μm of base metal to 20～70 μm and found no obvious soften phenomenon in overheated zone. The width of normalized zone was generally wide as 2/3 as that of the whole HAZ, and the grain size in this zone is smaller than that in base metal. Under the circumstance of equal heat input, the HAZ width of UNGW is narrower than that of the laser welding.

Prediction of HAZ grain size in welding of ultra fine grained steel with different parameters

The temperature field and thermal cycling curve in the heat-affected zone during welding 400 MPa ultra fine grained steel by plasma arc were simulated using finite element method. The principle of grain growth kinetics was used to predict the grain size in the heat-affected zone under different welding parameters. The simulation results show that the growing tendency of HAZ grain could be controlled by adjusting the welding parameters, but the growth of HAZ grain could not be eliminated at all. The HAZ grain size became small with increasing of the cooling rate and added with increasing of welding current, arc voltage and welding speed.

Mn对船板钢大热输入焊接CGHAZ组织性能的影响

采用焊接热模拟的方法研究了Mn元素含量对EH36船板钢焊接粗晶区组织与性能的影响.结果表明,Mn含量对EH36钢大热输入焊接粗晶区的低温韧性存在显著影响.Mn元素含量较高(1.58%)或较低(0.56%)时,粗晶区的低温韧性均差.当Mn含量等于1.20%时粗晶区的低温韧性最高.Mn含量对EH36钢大热输入焊接粗晶区的组织同样存在显著影响.Mn含量较低(0.56%)时,粗晶区的主要组织为粗大的先共析铁素体,其宽度约为30μm;而Mn含量较高(1.58%)时,粗晶区组织则以硬质相M-A岛状组织为主.先共析铁素体和硬质相M-A岛状组织共同决定着船板钢焊接粗晶区的韧性.

RPC钢激光焊接CGHAZ的组织与性能

利用Gleeble-1500热模拟机进行了激光焊接条件下热模拟试验,研究了弛豫-析出-控制相变钢激光焊接热影响区粗晶区(CGHAZ)组织和性能.结果表明,CGHAZ组织为粒状贝氏体,具有较高的硬度、强度.CGHAZ韧性随t8/5的增大先增大然后减小.当t8/5为3～8 s时,-40 ℃ CGHAZ冲击吸收功远高于母材的冲击吸收功,表明在合适的激光焊接条件下,激光焊接CGHAZ可获得很好低温韧性.CGHAZ韧性随热输入的变化主要是由M-A组元的尺寸、总量、数量和形状综合决定的.

不同热输入下X90管线钢CGHAZ组织及脆化研究

通过模拟X90管线钢不同焊接热输入下的单道次焊接热循环过程,对热模拟后的CGHAZ试样进行显微组织观察、冲击以及硬度试验,并对冲击断口进行微观形貌观察,重点研究不同热输入下X90管线钢CGHAZ的微观组织和脆化现象。结果表明:X90管线钢焊接热循环后CGHAZ组织主要为板条贝氏体(LB)、粒状贝氏体(GB)和M/A组元;随着焊接热输入的增加,组织中LB减少,GB和M/A数量增多且尺寸增大;CGHAZ表现为粗晶脆化,冲击吸收功在E=20kJ/cm时出现最大值,冲击断口在E≥30kJ/cm时表现为明显脆断;CGHAZ未出现软化现象。因此,推荐X90管线钢焊接热输入大小低于30kJ/cm。

不同焊接热输入对X90管线钢CGHAZ组织与性能的影响

为了获得X90管线钢埋弧焊接的合理热输入,采用Gleeble-3500型热模拟试验机模拟了不同焊接热输入条件下X90管线钢的热循环过程,同时采用显微组织观察、冲击试验和硬度试验的方法,研究了不同焊接热输入对X90管线钢粗晶热影响区(CGHAZ)组织与性能的影响规律。结果显示,X90管线钢经焊接热模拟后, CGHAZ显微组织主要有贝氏体铁素体、粒状贝氏体和M/A岛组元组成,冲击韧性优异;当焊接热输入E>30 kJ/cm时,显微组织中贝氏体铁素体减少,粒状贝氏体不断增多,晶粒尺寸变大,同时M/A组元也由细小的网状长大成大条状或块状,韧性显著下降, CGHAZ存在软化现象。研究表明,对于X90管线钢的埋弧焊接,当焊接热输入E<30 kJ/cm时可获得良好的综合力学性能。

热处理温度对长期服役T23钢CGHAZ微观组织的影响

以服役时间超过6×104 h的T23水冷壁管对接接头作为研究对象,对焊接接头进行不热处理(焊态)、520℃×1 h,580℃×1 h,650℃×1 h,720℃×1 h及760℃×1 h等6种不同参数的热处理试验。为研究不同热处理后粗晶热影响区(CGHAZ)微观组织变化,分析合金碳化物在晶界的分布规律,同时探索CGHAZ再热裂纹形成原因与析出物之间的内在联系,重点对粗晶区进行了显微硬度分析、金相组织分析、扫描电镜形貌分析及能谱分析。结果表明,焊态T23钢CGHAZ为粗大板条马氏体与贝氏体的混合组织,经测算最大晶粒尺寸约100μm,大部分晶粒尺寸30~50μm;在580℃热处理时,由于晶粒细化及析出物在晶内弥散强化作用,CGHAZ出现了二次硬化现象,根据再热裂纹形成理论,此时晶内强度与晶界强度差较大,应力松弛主要集中于晶界,CGHAZ产生再热裂纹的倾向较大;在720℃热处理时,在CGHAZ晶界位置出现了密集孔洞及合金碳化物,并且空洞与合金碳化物之间存在伴生关系,但短时间内孔洞在后续正常服役条件(560~600℃)下能否发展成为再热裂纹有待商榷。

焊接热输入对X90管线钢CGHAZ组织和冲击性能的影响

采用焊接热模拟技术、显微组织分析和冲击试验的方法,研究焊接线能量对X90管线钢粗晶热影响区组织和力学性能的影响规律。结果表明,不同线能量下试验钢的组织均为板条贝氏体(LBF)和粒状贝氏体(GBF),线能量为25 kJ/cm时,试验钢的组织主要为LBF,冲击功较高;随着焊接线能量的增加,GBF增加,晶粒粗化,韧性显著下降。

元素Nb对TiNbV微合金钢CGHAZ组织与冲击韧性影响

利用焊接热模拟研究Nb元素含量对TiNbV微合金钢焊接热影响粗晶区(CGHAZ)组织和性能的影响.低铌钢和高铌钢在经历焊接热循环后微观组织构成及晶粒尺寸有显著差异.Nb元素含量为0.005%时焊接CGHAZ组织为铁素体和针状铁素体以及珠光体,大角度晶界和小角度晶界的晶粒比例相当,焊接CGHAZ晶粒尺寸粗大不均匀.随着Nb元素含量的增加,大角度晶界的晶粒数量有所增加,晶粒得到细化.但是,针状铁素体形成受到抑制,CGHAZ中贝氏体含量增加.微合金钢中贝氏体的形成对焊接CGHAZ冲击韧性的下降起主导作用,Nb元素的含量控制在合适范围内(~0.02%),才可以保证CGHAZ具有良好的冲击韧性.

焊接热输入对新型低Mn微Nb钢CGHAZ组织及冲击韧性的影响

借助Gleeble-3500热模拟试验机,结合光学显微镜、扫描电子显微镜、电子背散射衍射仪、透射电子显微镜、能谱仪、Thermo-Calc热力学计算及冲击性能测试等手段,研究了焊接热输入对一种新型低Mn微Nb钢粗晶热影响区(coarse grained heat affected zone, CGHAZ)组织和冲击韧性的影响。结果表明:随着焊接热输入的降低,CGHAZ中板条贝氏体(LB)数量增多,粒状贝氏体(GB)数量减少,γ→α相变开始温度A降低,组织显著细化;CGHAZ的-20℃冲击吸收能量(KV)随焊接热输入的降低而升高,冲击断口均呈现出典型的穿晶解理断裂特征,其解理面尺寸随焊接热输入的降低而减小;随着热输入的降低,细小弥散的Nb(C,N)粒子数量增多,平均尺寸减小。