Investigation into the stress-strain curves of deformation-induced ferrite transformation in a low carbon steel

A series of tests of deformation-induced ferrite transformation （DIP-T） in a low carbon steel were carried out by the Gleeble-3500 hot simulation machine at a temperature range of Ae3-Ar3. The overall stress-strain curves during DIFT can be divided into three typical types： ＂double-humped＂,＂ single-humped＂ and ＂transitional＂. The peaks exhibited in the curve are involved with deformation-induced transformation which happened in grains or at the grain boundaries. According to the stress-time curve and strain-time curve, strain capacity dramatically postponed the strain-induced transformation, which leads to the start of the transformation right ahead of the finish of deformation and the majority of the ferrite transformation process mainly happened after the deformation. Deformation-induced transformation is a metadynamic transformation process with dynamic nucleation.

Effect of V and V-N Microalloying on Deformation-Induced Ferrite Transformation in Low Carbon Steels

Deformation-induced ferrite transformation （DIFT） has been proved to be an effective approach to refine ferrite grains. This paper shows that the ferrite grains can further be refined through combination of DIFT and V or V-N microalloying. Vanadium dissolved in γ matrix restrains DIFT. During deformation, vanadium carbonitrides rapidly precipitate due to strain-induced precipitation, which causes decrease in vanadium dissolved in matrix and indirectly accelerates DIFT. Under heavy deformation, deformation induced ferrite （DIF） grains in V microalloyed steel were finer than those in V free steel. The more V added to steel, the finer DIF grains obtained. Moreover, the addition of N to V microalloyed steels can remarkably accelerate precipitation of V, and then promote DIFT. However, DIF grains in V-N microalloyed steel easily coarsen.

An ultrahigh strength steel produced through deformation-induced ferrite transformation and Q&P process

In this work,DIFT technology and Q&P process were combined in order to introduce ultrafine-grained ferrite into the matrix of martensite and retained austenite to develop a new kind of advanced high strength steel,and two kinds of steels were investigated by this novel combined process.The newly designed process resulted in a sophisticated microstructure of a large amount of ferrite(about 5 m in diameter),martensite and a considerable amount of retained austenite for TRIP 780 steel.The ultimate tensile strength can reach about 1200 MPa with elongation above 16% for TRIP 780,that is much higher than the one solely treated by Q&P process.Tensile tests showed that both steels with the novel combined process achieved a good combination of strength and ductility,indicating that the new process is promising for the new generation of advanced high strength steels.

Effect of Niobium on Isothermal Transformation of Austenite to Ferrite in HSLA Low-Carbon Steel

Using thermomechanical simulation experiment, the kinetics of the isothermal transformation of austenite to ferrite in two HSLA low-carbon steels containing different amounts of niobium was investigated under the conditions of both deformation and undeformation. The results of optical microstructure observation and quantitative metallography analysis showed that the kinetics of the isothermal transformation of austenite to ferrite in lower niobium steel with and without deformation suggests a stage mechanism, wherein there exists a linear relationship between the logarithms of holding time and ferrite volume fraction according to Avrami equation, whereas the isothermal transformation of austenite to ferrite in high niobium steel proceeds via a two stage mechanism according to micrographs, wherein, the nucleation rate of ferrite in the initial stage of transformation is low, and in the second stage, the rate of transformation is high and the transformation of residual austenite to ferrite is rapidly complete. Using carbon extraction replica TEM, niobium carbide precipitation for different holding time was investigated and the results suggested that NbC precipitation and the presence of solute niobium would influence the transformation of austenite to ferrite. The mechanism of the effect of niobium on the isothermal transformation was discussed.

Computer Simulation of Ferrite Transformation during Hot Working of Low Carbon Steel

On the basis of transformation kinetics and thermodynamics, the austenite-ferrite transformation start temperature during deformation was predicted for several grades of low-carbon steels under different processing conditions. Results indicate that Ar3d temperature mostly depended on alloying composition and processing parameters. Ar3d increased as strain rate or strain increased for the same steel grade. In view of enhancement of deformation on transformation, the basic kinetics model was established to simulate deformation induced transformation behavior, using which the influence of the deformation stored energy and effective deformation ledge on the nucleation and growth can be considered. The simulated results are in good agreement with experiment results.

Characteristics of microstructural evolution during deformation-enhanced ferrite transformation in Nb-microalloyed HSLA steel

Microstructure evolution during deformation of undercooled austenite at 760℃ was investigated in Nb-microalloyed steel by using SEM （scanning electron microscope）, TEM （transmission electron microscope）, and EBSD （electron backscattered diffraction）. It is indicated that during deformation-enhanced ferrite transformation （DEFT） in Nb-microalloyed steel, the incubation period is prolonged, and the higher strain is needed to accomplish ferrite transformation. Therefore, the transformation kinetics curves move to high strain parallelly; and the transformation kinetics curves of Nb-microalloyed steel can be divided into three stages. At the fast stage, the solute drag effect of Nb and the consumption of strain energy for the dynamic precipitation of Nb（CN） led to a long incubation period, and at the second stage, ferrite transformation was accelerated significantly and fine Nb（CN） precipitates restrict the grain growth of ferrite effectively. The results also showed that DEFT in Nb-microalloyed steel is still a nucleation dominated process, and during the microstructure evolution the interchange of 〈001〉 and 〈111〉 texture was obtained.

Microstructural Features During Strain Induced Ferrite Transformation in 08 and 20Mn Steels

The microstructure evolution during strain induced ferrite transformation was followed in thermal-simulation tests of clean 08 and 20Mn steels. The influences of carbon equivalence and initial austenite grain size on ferrite grain refinement and the volume fraction of ferrite during straining were inspected. The results revealed that the accelerating effect of ferrite transformation by strain was increased as the carbon equivalence decreased. However, finer ferrite grains were obtained at higher carbon content. At strain of similar to1.5 ferrite grains less than 3 mum and 2 mum can be obtained in 08 and 20Mn steels respectively. Whereas the ferrite grain refinement in 08 steel was due to both effects of strain induced transformation and ferrite dynamic recrystallization, that in 20Mn was mainly due to strain induced transformation. Heavy strain can produce fine ferrite grains in coarse austenite grained 08 steel, but it would lead to band microstructure in coarse austenite grained 20Mn.

Effects of C and Mn elements on deformation-enhanced ferrite transformation in low carbon (Mn) steels

Effects of C and Mn contents on the deformation-enhanced ferrite transformation （DEFT） in low carbon （Mn） steels have been investigated by hot compression. The microstructures of 2-4μm ultra-fine equiaxed ferrite grains with minors distributed homogeneously can be obtained by DEFT in all the tested steels. The more pronounced refinement is achieved as the C or Mn content increasing because of the higher-density nucleating sites and lower growth rate. The effectiveness of C on the level of refinement is more obvious than that of Mn.

Modeling of Incubation Time for Austenite to Ferrite Phase Transformation

On the basis of the classical nucleation theory, a new model of incubation time for austenite to ferrite transformation has been developed, in which the effect of deformation on austenite has been taken into consideration. To prove the precision of modeling, ferrite transformation starting temperature （Ar3） has been calculated using the Scheil＇s additivity rule, and the Ar3 values were measured using a Gleeble 1500 thermomechanical simulator. The Ar3 values provided by the modeling method coincide with the measured ones, indicating that the model is precise in oredicting the incubation time for austenite to ferrite transformation in hot deformed steels.

Grain Size Prediction after Continuous Cooling Transformation from Deformed Austenite to Ferrite

On the basis of transformation thermodynamics and kinetics theories,an algorithm for predicting ferrite grain size after continuous cooling transformation from deformed austenite to ferrite is suggested.The calculated results of computer simulation with the algorithm are in so good agreement with the measured ones in controlled rolling and controlled cooling experiments that the theoretical algorithm is feasible.

PHASE TRANSFORMATION UNIT OF BAINITIC FERRITE AND ITS SURFACE RELIEF IN LOW AND MEDIUM CARBON ALLOY STEELS

The lath-or plate-shaped bainitic ferrite of low and medium carbon alloy steels consists of packets of ferrite sublaths which are composed of many finer and regular ferrite blocks.They are uniform shear growth units of bainitic phase transformation.No carbide is precipitated from them.The bainitic O-carbides are precipitated from γ-α interface or carbon-rich austenite.The mode of arrangement of the units in ferrite sublath packet is in uni-or bi-di- rection.Single surface relief is produced by the accumulation of uniform shear strains with all the ferrite units arranged unidirectionally in a sublath packet,while tent-shaped surface relief is formed by the integration of the uniform shear strains of two groups with ferrite units piling up in two directions and growing face to face;whereas if they grow back to back,the integra- tion will be responsible for invert-tent-shaped surface relief.The interface trace between two groups of ferrite units in a sublath packet is shown as“midrib”.

Sensivity Analysis of the Cellular Automata Model for Austenite-Ferrite Phase Transformation in Steels

The main goal of the present research is to realize a sensitivity analysis of the developed complex micro scale austenite (γ) to ferrite (α) phase transformation model. The proposed solution is implemented in the developed Cellular Automata Framework that facilitates implementation of various microstructure evolution models. Investigated model predicts phase transformation progress starting from the fully austenitic or two-phase regions. Theoretical background of the implemented austenite-ferrite phase transformation model is presented in the paper. The defined transition rules for initiation and subsequent growth as well as internal variables for each particular CA cell are also discussed. Examples of results obtained from the developed model, as well as model capabilities are shown. Finally sensitivity analysis using Morris OAT Design is also presented and discussed.

Processing of Ultralow Carbon Pipeline Steels with Acicular Ferrite

Acicular ferrite microstructure was achieved for an ultralow carbon pipeline steel through the improved thermome chanical control process (TMCP), which was based on the transformation process of deformed austenite of steel. Compared with commercial pipeline steels, the experimental ultralow carbon pipeline steel possessed the satisfied strength and toughness behaviors under the current improved TMCP, although it contained only approximately 0.025% C, vvhich should mainly be attributed to the microstructural characteristics of acicular ferrite.

Effect of Nb on the transformation kinetics of low carbon(manganese) steel during deformation of undercooled austenite

The hot compression tests using Gleeble 1500 were performed by varying the true strain up to 1.6 （80% reduction） in Nbfree and Nb-microalloyed steels. The effect of Nb addition on the transformation kinetics during deformation of undercooled austenite was investigated. It was found that as compared with Nb-free steel, the transformation incubation period of Nb-bearing steel was prolonged and the transformation kinetics curves parallelly moved to higher strain because of the solute Nb drag effect. Studies on kinetics also showed that the deformation-enhanced ferrite transformation （DEFT） of the two steels were composed of three stages, which can be expressed by the J-M-A equations individually. However, the parameter n related to the mode of nucleation and growth is somewhat different in the first and second stages of the two steels, and the same in the third stage for both the steels corresponding to the nucleation Of retained austenite.

Effect of silicon and prior deformation of austenite on isothermal transformation in low carbon steels

Isothermal transformation （TTT） behavior of the low carbon steels with two Si contents （0.50 wt pct and 1.35 wt pct） was investigated with and without the prior deformation. The results show that Si and the prior deformation of the austenite have significant effects on the transformation of the ferrite and bainite. The addition of Si refines the ferrite grains, accelerates the polygonal ferrite transformation and the formation of M/A constituents, leading to the improvement of the strength. The ferrite grains formed under the prior deformation of the austenite become more homogeneous and refined. However, the influence of deformation on the tensile strength of both steels is dependent on the isothermal temperatures. Thermodynamic calculation indicates that Si and prior deformation reduce the incubation time of both ferrite and bainite transformation, but the effect is weakened by the decrease of the isothermal temperatures.

EFFECT OF SILICON ADDITION ON RECRYSTALLIZATION AND PHASE TRANSFORMATION BEHAVIOR OF HIGH-STRENGTH HOT-ROLLED TRIP STEEL

Because Si is a noncarbide forming element, a multiphase microstructure consisting of ferrite, bainite, and retained austenite, at room temperature, can be formed by controlling the thermomechanical process strictly. The cooling schedules must be restricted by the formation of pearlite and cementite. In the present article, a new integrated mathematical model for prediction of microstructure evolution during controlled rolling and controlled cooling is developed for a typical kind of low carbon Si-Mn TRIP steel, which consists of temperature simulation, recrystallization, and transformation models. The influence of Si contents has been thoroughly investigated. The calculated results indicate that Si retards recrystallization, restrains austenite grain growth as well as accelerates polygonal ferrite transformation.

THREE-DIMENSIONAL VISUALIZATION OF DEGENERATE FERRITE FORMED BELOW TTT-DIAGRAM BAY IN AN Fe-C-Mo ALLOY

The evolution of degenerate ferrite in an Fe-0.28wt%C-3.0wt%Mo alloy isothermally reacted for 10ks at 20℃ below TTT diagram bay temperature have been revealed utilizing serial sectioning in conjunction with computer reconstruction and visualization. The degenerate ferrite is initially formed at prior austenite boundary and then grows toward grain interior rather than along the grain boundary. The degenerate morphology of ferrite may be attributed to repeated nucleation, growth and coalescence of adjacent ferrite crystals. The shape of individual ferrite crystals appears to be rod-like.

A Mixed-control Mechanism Model of Proeutectoid Ferrite Growth under Non-equilibrium Interface Condition in Fe-C Alloys

By combining the α/γ interface migration and the carbon diffusion at the interface in Fe-C alloys, a mathematical model is constructed to describe the mixed-control mechanism for proeutectoid ferrite formation from austenite. In this model, the α/γ interface is treated as non-equilibrium interface, i.e., the carbon concentration of austenite at γ/α interface is obtained through theoretical calculation, instead of that assumed as the local equilibrium concentration. For isothermal precipitation of ferrite in Fe-C alloys, the calculated results show that the rate of interface migration decreases monotonically during the whole process, while the rate of carbon diffusion from γ/α interface into austenite increases to a peak value and then decreases. The process of ferrite growth may be considered as composed of three stages: the period of rapid growth, slow growth and finishing stage. The results also show that the carbon concentration of austenite at γ/α interface could not reach the thermodynamic equilibrium value even at the last stage of ferrite growth.

Comparison of Ferrite Refinement Mechanisms by Different Processing Schedules in 08 and 20Mn Steels

The influence of deforming temperature on ferrite refinement was analyzed by comparing the microstructures obtained by deformation at above A(r3), in two-phase region of (alpha + gamma) and at below A(t) in clean 08 and 20Mn steels. The results indicate that ferrite refinement through strain induced transformation by deformation at above A(r3) is more effective than that by deformation simply through ferrite dynamic recrystallization. The main problem of ferrite refinement by deformation at below A(r3) is the inhomogeneity of microstructure which is controlled by the orientations and sizes of ferrite grains and the distribution of second phases. Ferrite dynamic recrystallization after strain induced transformation can further effectively refine ferrite.

Dissolution Behavior of Delta Ferrites in Martensitic Heat-resistant Steel for Ultra Supercritical Units Blades

The dissolution behavior of delta ferrites in martensitic heat-resistant steel was studied.And the reason why the dissolution rate of delta ferrites decreased with dissolution time was discussed.The experimental results show that the chemical compositions of delta ferrites negligibly change with dissolution time.The decrease of dissolution rate of delta ferrites with dissolution time should be attributed to the change of shape and distribution of delta ferrites.The shape of delta ferrites tends to transfer from polygon to sphere with dissolution time,causing the decrease of specific surface area of delta ferrites.The distribution position of delta ferrites tends to transfer from boundaries of austenite grains to interior of austenite grains with dissolution time,decreasing the diffusion coefficient of alloy atoms.Both them decrease the dissolution rate of delta ferrites.