Phase Transformation under Continuous Cooling Conditions in Medium Carbon Microalloyed Steels

Several 35CrMo4 and 38MnV7 steels with different additions of Ti and V were manufactured by electroslag remelting. The influence of the alloying and microalloying elements on phase transformation at different cooling rates was studied and the continuous cooling transformation diagrams were plotted. In order to optimize the heat treatment and improve the mechanical properties, the range of cooling rates leading to a fully bainitic microstructure （without ferrite, pearlite and especially without martensite） was determined. Bainite and martensite transformation start temperatures （Bs, Ms） were also established and compared with the values predicted by empirical equations. The important role of precipitates （especially V carbonitride particles） on final microstructure and mechanical properties was assessed.

Effect of cooling rate and composition on microstructure and mechanical properties of ultrahigh-strength steels

The influence of cooling rate on the microstructure and mechanical properties of two new ultrahigh-strength steels(UHSSs)with different levels of C,Cr and Ni has been evaluated for the as-cooled and untempered condition.One UHSS had higher contents of C and Cr,while the other one had a higher Ni content.On the basis of dilatation curves,microstructures,macrohardness and microhardness,continuous cooling transformation diagrams were constructed as a guide to heat treatment possibilities.Cooling rates(CRs)of 60,1 and 0.01°C/s were selected for more detailed investigations.Microstructural characterization was made by laser scanning confocal microscopy,field emission scanning electron microscopy combined with electron backscatter diffraction,electron probe microanalysis and X-ray diffraction.Mechanical properties were characterized using macrohardness,tensile and Charpy V-notch impact tests.UHSS with the higher C and Cr contents showed lower transformation temperatures and slower bainite formation kinetics than that with the higher Ni content.Higher cooling rates led to lower volume fractions and carbon contents of retained austenite together with finer prior austenite grain size,as well as effective final grain size and lath size.These changes were accompanied by higher yield and tensile strengths.The best combinations of strength and toughness were obtained with martensitic microstructures and by avoiding the formation of granular bainite accompanied by proeutectoid carbides at low CR.For the cooling rates studied,UHSS with the higher C and Cr contents showed the higher hardness and strength but at the cost of toughness.

Analysis on hot deformation and following cooling technology of 25Cr2Ni4MoVA steel

The true stress–true strain curves of 25Cr2Ni4MoVA steel were obtained by uniaxial compression experiments at 850–1200℃ in the strain rate range of 0.001–10.0 s^(−1).And the dynamic continuous cooling transformation curves were obtained at the cooling rate range of 0.5–15.0℃ s^(−1) from the austenitization temperature of 1000℃ to the room temperature by pre-strain of 0.2 as well.The power dissipation map and the dynamic continuous cooling transformation diagram were constructed based on the data provided by these curves.Compared with the optical micrographs of the compressed samples,the full dynamic recrystallization region is located between 1000 and 1200℃ and at the strain rate range from 0.01 to 10.0 s^(−1) with the power dissipation efficiency not less than 0.33.In the full dynamic recrystallization region,the power dissipation efficiency increases and the dynamic recrystallization activation energy decreases with the temperature increasing.With the strain rate decreasing,the power dissipation efficiency increases firstly and then starts to decrease as the strain rate is less than 0.1 s^(−1),and dynamic recrystallization activation energy changes on the contrary.According to the dynamic continuous cooling transformation diagram,slow cooling is a better way for the hot-deformed piece with large size or complex shape to avoid cracking as the temperature of the piece is lower than 400℃,and different cooling ways can be used for the hot-deformed piece with small size and simple shapes to obtain certain microstructure and meet good compressive properties.