Kinetics of bainite-to-austenite transformation during continuous reheating in low carbon microalloyed steel

A dilatometer was used to study the kinetics of bainite-to-austenite transformation in low carbon microalloyed steel with the initial microstructure of bainite during the continuous reheating process. The bainite-to-austenite trans- formation was observed to take place in two steps at low heating rate. The first step is the dissolution of bainite, and the second one is the remaining bainite-to-austenite transformation controlled by a dissolution process. The calculation result of the kinetics of austenite formation shows that the two steps occur by diffusion at low heating rate. However, at high heating rate the bainite-to-austenite transformation occurs in a single step, and the process is mainly dominated by shear. The growth rate of austenite reaches the maximum at about 835℃ at different heating rates and the growth rate of austenite as a function of temperature increases with the increase in heating rate.

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.

Bainite Transformation Under Continuous Cooling of Nb-Microalloyed Low Carbon Steel

Utilizing Gleeble-1500 thermomechanical simulator, the influences of hot deformation parameters on continuous cooling bainite transformation in Nb-microalloyed low carbon steel were investigated. The results indicate that bainite starting temperature decreases with raising cooling rate and increases with increasing deformation temperature. Deformation has an accelerative effect on the bainite transformation when the specimens are deformed at 950 ℃. When the deformation temperature increases, the effect of deformation on bainite starting temperature is weakened. The amount of bainite is influenced by strain, cooling rate, and deformation temperature. When the specimens are deformed below 900 ℃, equiaxed ferrites are promoted and the bainite transformation is suppressed.

Kinetics of austenite growth and bainite transformation during reheating and cooling treatments of high strength microalloyed steel produced by sub-rapid solidification

First,strip cast samples of high strength microalloyed steel with sub-rapid solidification characteristics were prepared by simulated strip casting technique.Next,the isothermal growth of austenite grain during the reheating treatment of strip casts was observed in situ through confocal laser scanning microscope(CLSM).The results indicated that the time exponent of grains growth suddenly rise when the isothermal temperature higher than 1000℃.And the activation energy for austenite grain growth were calculated to be 538.0 kJ/mol in the high temperature region(above 1000℃)and 693.2 kJ/mol in the low temperature region(below 1000℃),respectively.Then,the kinetics model of austenite isothermal growth was established,which can predict the austenite grain size during isothermal hold very well.Besides,high density of second phase particles with small size was found during the isothermal hold at the low temperature region,leading to the refinement of austenite grain.After isothermal hold at different temperature for 1800 s,the bainite transformation in microalloyed steel strip was also observed in situ during the continuous cooling process.And growth rates of bainite plates with different nucleation positions and different prior austenite grain size(PAGS)were calculated.It was indicated that the growth rate of the bainite plate is not only related to the nucleation position but also to the PAGS.

Grain refinement in the coarse-grained region of the heat-affected zone in low-carbon high-strength microalloyed steels

The microstructural features and grain refinement in the coarse-grained region of the heat-affected zone in low-carbon high-strength microalloyed steels were investigated using optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and electron backscattering dif- fraction. The coarse-grained region of the heat-affected zone consists of predominantly bainite and a small proportion of acicular ferrite. Bainite packets are separated by high angle boundaries. Acicular ferrite laths or plates in the coarse-grained region of the heat-affected zone formed prior to bainite packets partition austenite grains into many smaller and separate areas, resulting in fine-grained mixed microstruc- tures. Electron backscattefing diffraction analysis indicates that the average crystallographic grain size of the coarse-grained region of the heat-affected zone reaches 6-9 μm, much smaller than that of anstanite grains.

Effect of acicular ferrite on banded structures in low-carbon microalloyed steel

The effect of acicular ferrite （AF） on banded structures in low-carbon microalloyed steel with Mn segregation during both iso- thermal transformation and continuous cooling processes was studied by dilatometry and microscopic observation. With respect to the iso- thermal transformation process, the specimen isothermed at 550℃ consisted of AF in Mn-poor bands and martensite in Mn-rich bands, whereas the specimen isothermed at 450℃ exhibited two different morphologies of AF that appeared as bands. At a continuous cooling rate in the range of 4 to 50℃/s, a mixture of AF and martensite formed in both segregated bands, and the volume fraction of martensite in Mn-rich bands was always higher than that in Mn-poor bands. An increased cooling rate resulted in a decrease in the difference of martensite volume fraction between Mn-rich and Mn-poor bands and thereby leaded to less distinct microstrucmral banding. The results show that Mn segregation and cooling rate strongly affect the formation of AF-containing banded structures. The formation mechanism of microstructural banding was also discussed.

Influence of Nb on Microstructure and Property of Low-Carbon Mn-Series Air-Cooled Bainitic Steel

The effect of Nb on the microstructure evolution of low-carbon Mn-series air cooled bainitic steels has been studied by using thermomeehanical simulation machine, SEM, and TEM observation. The results show that the amount of ferrites is relatively higher in the steel without Nb than that of Nb-bearing steel under same deformation conditions, and the ferrites in Nb-bearing steel are more finer. The mechanical properties of the Nb-bearing steel are higher than those of the steel without Nb at the same finishing rolling temperature （FRT）, and the toughness of the Nb- bearing steel is about 100J higher than that of the steel without Nh at the finishing rolling temperature 750℃. The toughness of Nb microalloyed steel will be improved more effectively than that of the steel without Nb with the decrease of FRT.

Influence of Vanadium Content on Bainitic Transformation of a Low-Carbon Boron Steel During Continuous Cooling

The phase transformation behaviors during continuous cooling of low-carbon boron steels with different vanadium contents were studied by means of dilatometric measurement and microstructure observation. The bainite transformation behavior is not noticeably altered when the vanadium content is 0.042 and 0.086 wt%, and these steels exhibit full bainitic microstructure even at a cooling rate of 5 ℃/s. When vanadium content is increased to 0.18 wt%, ferrite is still present in the microstructure even at a cooling rate of 40 ℃/s. Vickers hardness of the steels with 0.042 and 0.086 wt% V is remarkably higher than that of the steel with 0.18 wt% V at a cooling rate higher than 10 ℃/s, and the difference is increased with the increase in cooling rate. Moreover, the amount of coarse vanadium precipitates formed in austenite is increased with the increase in vanadium content. The optimum content of vanadium to obtain bainitic microstructure is 0.086 wt% in this experimental low-carbon boron steels.

Mn-Series Low-Carbon Air-Cooled Bainitic Steel Containing Niobium of 0.02%

A new hot rolled low-carbon air-cooled bainitic steel containing Nb of 0.02% has been developed based on alloying design of the grain boundary allotriomorphic ferrite （FGBA）/granular bainite （BG） duplex steel. The as-rolled microstructure and mechanical properties of bainitie steel containing Nb of 0. 02% were investigated by tensile test, optical microscopy （OM）, scanning electron microscopy （SEM）, and transmission electron microscopy （TEM）. The results show that adding 0.02 % of Nb obviously improves the strength without sacrificing toughness of the FGBA/BG steel. Adding 0.02% of Nb not only refines the grain boundary allotriomorphic ferrite grains but also promotes the refinement of granular bainite including its bainitic ferrite and M/A island. Any Nb（C,N） has been hardly observed in the steel containing Nb of 0.02%. It is suggested that the strengthening mechanism of Nb of 0.02% can be mainly attributed to the effect of Nb in solution （solute drag-like effect） on the phase transformation rather than the precipitation strengthening of Nb（C, N） particles.

Effect of post rolling stress on phase transformation behavior of microalloyed dual phase steel

The slow phase transformation of microalloyed dual phase steel makes the nonuniform stress and temperature fields during the post rolling cooling process have a significant impact on the phase transformation process.Given the relatively slow phase transformation of DP780 steel within the microalloyed dual phase steel series,the influence of stress on the phase transformation behavior of DP780 steel was investigated.To quantify the nonuniform thermal and stress conditions in the steel coil,a thermo-mechanical coupled finite element model of the hot-rolled strip cooling process was established.Based on the simulation data,DP780 steel was chosen as the research material,and Gleeble 3500 thermal simulation equipment was used for experimental validation.The thermal expansion curves were analyzed through regression to establish the dynamic model of DP780 steel phase transformation under stress.Subsequently,metallographic analysis was conducted to determine phase transformation type and grain size of DP780 steel.The results confirmed that the stress promotes the occurrence of semi-diffusion-type bainite transformation.Furthermore,an appropriate level of stress facilitates the growth of bainitic grains,while the increased stress inhibits the growth of ferritic grains.

Study on Microstructure Refinement of Vanadium and Nitrogen Microalloyed Low Carbon Bainitic Steel

The effect of relaxation treatment after finish rolling on microstructure and mechanical properties has been investigated for a vanadium and nitrogen microalloyed low carbon bainitic steel.Finer lath bainite microstructure can be obtained in the plate with relaxation.The results of quantitative statistics show that in the plate without relaxation,80% of the total bainite lath bundles are in the range 5-15μm in length and 3-13μm in width,while in the plate with relaxation 80% of the total bundles are in the range 3-9μm in length and 1-7μm in width.The mechanical properties show that the plate with relaxation has higher impact energy,yield strength and hardness than the plate without relaxation,also the comprehensive performance after tempered at 650℃ is superior to the plate without relaxation.

Effect of Pre-deformation on Grain Ultrafining by Intercritical Deformation in Low-Carbon Microalloyed Steels

In this study, the effect of pre-deformation at recrystallization and non-recrystallization zone on the grain ultrafining by the subsequent intercritical deformation （ID） was investigated on low-carbon microalloyed steel. The results showed that ultrafine grain microstructure with an average size of - 1.0 μm was fabricated through pre-deformation in the recrys- tallization zone followed by ID. When pre-deformed at the non-recrystallization zone prior to ID, the grain size increased to 1.6 μm with a heterogeneous distribution along with the well-developed dynamic recovery of ferrite. The grain ultrafining mechanism was attributed to the combined action of the deformation-induced ferrite transformation and the continuous dynamic recrystallization. In particular, the continuous dynamic recrystallization process during ID occurred on the pro-eutectoid ferrite as a result of the subgrain rotation mechanism and the absorbing dislocations mechanism.

控轧控冷工艺对低碳铌微合金钢组织和性能的影响

用Gleeble-1500热模拟实验机测定了低碳铌微合金钢变形后的连续冷却转变曲线（CCT曲线），并在实验室对该实验钢采用不同的工艺进行了控制轧制和控制冷却的实验。研究了工艺参数对实验钢力学性能和微观组织的影响，分析了低碳铌微合金钢的强韧化机制。热模拟实验结果表明，实验钢在较宽的冷却速度范围（0．5～30℃／s）内可以获得贝氏体组织。控轧控冷的实验结果表明，实验钢的组织主要为铁素体和贝氏体。随着终轧温度的降低，组织得到细化，强度提高，但屈强比也随之增加；降低卷取温度使组织中的贝氏体含量略有增加，强度有所提高。初步探讨了贝氏体对实验钢性能的影响，为制定合适的生产工艺制度提供了依据。

Mn-Mo-Nb-B低碳微合金钢中温转变组织的演化

利用金相、电子背散射衍射(EBSD)技术结合纳米压痕仪研究了低碳Mn-Mo-Nb-B微合金钢的组织转变、晶粒的晶体学取向及其纳米力学性能.由1℃/s冷速连续冷却到室温所得组织主要是贝氏体铁素体和粒状贝氏体.以1℃/s冷速连续冷却到560℃淬水所得组织为针状铁素体和淬水时形成的马氏体/贝氏体,其中相邻针状铁素体之间为小角晶界;前一试样中.粒状贝氏体的平均纳米压痕硬度(2.31 GPa)与后一试样中针状铁素体的平均纳米压痕硬度(2.22 GPa)极为接近取向差较小的针状铁素体组织在1℃/s冷速下连续冷却过程中碰撞、接合成粒状贝氏体.

新颖的贝氏体/铁素体双相低碳微合金钢

利用特殊微合金设计及终轧控冷工艺得到超细贝氏体/铁素体双相低碳微合金钢.该钢的组织由原奥氏体晶界上及晶粒内部的约5μm的准多边形铁索体及超细化的贝氏体板条束组成.铁素体的体积分数约20％.该双相低碳微合金钢的强度比同成分的全贝氏体钢略低,但其延伸率却大幅度提高.采取适当的回火处理,该双相钢屈服强度可达到700MPa,而延伸率大于25％,是一种具有高强度、高塑性的新型低碳微合金双相钢.

贝氏体型非调质钢的试制

为降低钢结构件的成本,开发了一种新型的贝氏体高强度钢。该钢种属普通低碳合金钢,其特点是以价格较低的V,Mn,Cr取代昂贵的Ni,Mo,B等进行合金化,勿需热处理,生产工艺简单。铸坯的加热和压下制度与其它钢种类似,采用控温轧制和轧后空冷提高钢的强度和韧性。结果表明:试验钢板的抗拉强度较高,均在860MPa以上;且随着终轧温度的提高,钢的冲击韧性得到改善。

低碳Mo-Cu-Nb-B系微合金钢的中温转变组织类型

利用热膨胀仪对低碳 Mo-Cu-Nb-B 系微合金钢进行了不同温度的等温实验．结合金相(OM)、透射电镜(TEM) 研究了不同等温条件下组织转变特点．该微合金钢中温转变有三类组织：沿晶界形核并向晶内单方向生长的准多边形铁素体,晶界或晶内形核的针状铁素体和成束生长的板条贝氏体铁素体．620℃为发生准多边形铁素体转变的鼻尖；580℃只发生少量仿晶界铁素体转变,铁素体转变受到抑制；在530℃左右等温时,奥氏体将发生针状铁素体转变,这些针状组织彼此交割、独立生长, 分割原奥氏体晶粒,细化了组织．

控轧控冷参数对含铌微合金钢组织的影响

利用Gleeble-1500型热模拟试验机研究了含铌微合金钢在不同控轧控冷参数下组织的变化规律。结果表明：低温变形由于引发了形变诱导铁素体相变,对珠光体转变的促进作用更加明显；珠光体片层间距随变形温度的升高而减小,并且随冷却速率增加明显减小；高温变形扩大了贝氏体相变的冷速区间,低温变形由于引发形变诱导铁素体相变,对贝氏体相变起到了抑制作用。

卷取温度对钛微合金化钢组织与性能的影响

与铌钒微合金化钢相比,钛微合金化钢有更低的成本,因此设计了一种低碳钛微合金化热轧高强钢,并利用扫描电镜(SEM)和透射电镜(TEM)等仪器研究了不同卷取温度对实验钢组织和性能的影响.结果表明:卷取温度对实验钢的组织与力学性能有较大的影响,300℃卷取时得到板条贝氏体和粒状贝氏体的混合组织,400和470℃卷取时得到粒状贝氏体组织;实验钢的屈服强度和抗拉强度均随卷取温度的升高呈现出先下降再上升的规律,延伸率呈现出先升高再下降的规律,分析认为力学性能的变化主要由相变强化、析出强化以及M-A岛的尺寸和形态共同决定;470℃卷取时实验钢有较好的综合力学性能,屈服强度和抗拉强度分别达到了700和865 MPa,延伸率达到了18.9%.

奥氏体变形对铌微合金钢贝氏体相变的影响

用Gleeb le-1500热模拟机研究了铌微合金钢奥氏体变形后连续冷却条件下贝氏体相变规律.研究表明,随变形温度的升高,先共析铁素体量较少,贝氏体的板条束变宽.在连续冷却条件下,贝氏体的转变量随变形量的增加而减少,随应变速率的增加而减少,但应变速率对贝氏体转变量的影响随冷却速度的增加而减弱.随着变形后保温时间的延长,奥氏体稳定性增加,在较快冷却条件下转变产物中存在残余奥氏体.