Effects of Quenching Process on Mechanical Properties and Microstructure of High Strength Steel

The effects of direct quenching and tempering （DQ-T） process and conventional reheat quenching and tempering （RQ-T） processes on mechanical properties and microstructure of high strength steel were investigated. The DQ process was found to enhance the hardenability of steel effectively. The tensile strength and yield strength of DQ specimen was 975 MPa and 925 MPa respectively, which were higher than those of RQ specimen＇s of 920 MPa and 871 MPa. In contrast, low temperature toughness （-40 ℃, AKV） of DQ-T specimen （124 J） was generally inferior to that of RQ-T specimen （156 J）. The direct quenching temperature was one of the potential process parameters to determine strength/toughness balance of steel manufactured by DQ process. The experimental results showed that excellent strength/toughness balance was obtained when the specimens was quenched at temperature in the range of 850-910 ℃. The yield strength and impact energy （-40 ℃） of DQ steel decreased significantly with increasing of quenching temperature, although the tensile strength was nearly stable.

Effects of Chemical Composition and Cooling Process on Structures and Properties of Direct-Quenched Steels

The microstructures and mechanical properties of a series of direct-quenched steels containing,in weight percent,from 0.05 to 0.20 carbon,0.20 to 0.40 silicon,1.10 to 1.70 manganese and at least one microalloying element of vanadium,niobium,titanium and boron have been investigated.After controlled rolling,these steels were cooled in spray water to 400,300 and 200℃,respectively and then cooled in still air.Comparison of the Charpy V-notch impact toughness of direct-quenched steels without subsequent tempering was made with that of direct-quenched steels tempered at 600℃.It is found that an attractive combination of strength and toughness is achived by means of direct-quenching.There exists two types of microstructures in accordance with carbon equivalent.Lath martensitic microstructure is obtained for C>0.4%,granular bainitic microstructures for C.< 0.35%and mixtures of martensite and bainite for C,.in the range of 0.35— 0.40%.The effect of interrupted quenching temperature on microstructure is not significant for low C.steel,but interrupted quenching temperature has a strong effect on microstructure for high C,.steel.

不同回火工艺对15CrNiMo渗碳钢微观组织和力学性能的影响

主要研究了15CrNiMo渗碳钢渗碳后热处理工艺对其微观组织及性能的影响,对渗碳后直接回火工艺和二次淬火工艺进行了分析对比。直接回火工艺是将渗碳淬火后的试样直接进行低温回火处理,而二次淬火工艺是试样在渗碳淬火后经过高温回火后再淬火+低温回火的热处理工艺。通过扫描电子显微镜对两种工艺的试样和冲击断口进行观察。同时,对两种工艺的试样进行了表面硬度测试。结果表明,两种工艺试样渗碳层与过渡层组织结构差异不大,直接回火工艺试样的心部为贝氏体组织,拥有较好的冲击韧性,而二次淬火工艺试样心部存在双相组织,其中包括另一种形态的贝氏体组织,对冲击韧性产生负面影响。二次淬火工艺试样表面硬度由于碳扩散作用导致硬度下降。直接回火工艺的试验钢表现出更良好的性能,表面硬度为59.5 HRC、冲击功192 J,较二次淬火工艺试验钢的分别提高了6.5 HRC和32 J。

Microstructures and phase transformation in directionally solidified TiAl-Nb alloys

Intermetallic Ti-45Al-8Nb-(W,B,Y)(at.%)and Ti-46Al-5Nb alloys are directionally solidified at a constant growth rate of 30μm·s-1 using a Bridgman type apparatus.The quenched microstructures and lengths of different phase regions were observed and measured after various growing times of 0-30 min.Results show that the phase transformations in different phase regions are mainly depending on the high temperature microstructure and the supercooling degree during quenching process.After isothermal holding,the primary phase grows into the liquid phase,the dendrites change from equiaxed to columnar grains,and the length of the L+βphase region,L+β+αphase region and mushy zone varies,indicating that the entire directional solidification process can be described by a static equilibrium-nonequilibrium-dynamic equilibrium evolution process.In addition,the gap between the original growth interface and front interface shows that the actual crystal growth rate is not equal to the drawing velocity during directional solidification.

Effect of Direct Quenching on Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of a Wear-resistant Steel

A wear-resistant steel was hot rolled at the same finish temperature, and subsequently treated with conventional reheat quenching and tempering process （RQ＆T） and direct quenching and tempering process （DQ＆T）, respectively. The effect of direct quenching on the microstructure and mechanical properties was investigated in detail by using optical microscope, transmission electron microscope and scanning electron microscope equipped with electron backscattered diffraction. The results showed that the microstructures of both the RQ and DQ specimens were complex constituents of lath martensite and lower bainite. Compared with the RQ specimen, the lower bainite content in DQ specimen was much higher. Furthermore, the bainite in the DQ specimen extended into and segmented the prior austenite grains, which can decrease martensite packet size. The proportion of high-angle boundary in the DQ specimen was higher than that in the RQ specimen, which may improve the impact toughness. The carbides in DQ＆_T specimen were much finer and distributed even dispersively because direct quenching can retain substantive defects which may provide more nucleation sites for carbide precipitation in the tempering process. Besides, the mechanical properties of DQ and DQ＆T specimens were superior than those subjected to RQ and RQ＆T processes, respectively.

Physical Simulation of Hot Deformation and Microstructural Evolution for 42CrMo4 Steel Prior to Direct Quenching

Direct quenching and tempering （DQ-T） of hot rolled steel section has been widely used in steel mill for the sake of improvement of mechanical properties and energy saving. Temperature history and microstructural evolution during hot rolling plays a major role in the properties of direct quenched and tempered products. The mathematical and physical modeling of hot forming processes is becoming a very important tool for design and development of required products as well as predicting the microstructure and the properties of the components. These models were mostly used to predict austenite grain size （AGS）, dynamic, recta-dynamic and static recrystallization in the rods immediately after hot rolling and prior to DQ process. The hot compression tests were carried out on 42CrMo4 steel in the temperature range of 900-1 100 ℃ and the strain rate range of 0. 05-1 s^-1 in order to study the high tempera- ture softening behavior of the steel. For the exact prediction of flow stress, the effective stress-effective strain curves were obtained from experiments under various conditions. On the basis of experimental results, the dynamic recrystallization fraction （DRX）, AGS, hot deformation and activation energy behavior were investigated. It was found that the calculated results were in good agreement with the experimental flow stress and microstructure of the steel for different conditions of hot deformation.

Effect of External Forced Flow and Boiling Film on Heat Transfer of AISI 4140 Steel Horizontal Rod During Direct Quenching

The effects of rod falling and moving, external flow field, boiling film and radiation were investigated on fluid flow and heat transfer of AISI 4140 steel horizontal rod during direct quenching by mathematical modeling. The flow field and heat transfer in quenching tank were simulated by computational fluid dynamics （CFD） method considering falling and moving of rods during process. Therefore, modeling of flow field was done by a fixed-mesh method for general moving objects equations, and then, energy equation was solved with a numerical approach so that effeet of boiling film heat flux was considered as a source term in energy equation for solid-liquid boundary. Simulated results were verified by comparing with published and experimental data and there was a good agreement between them. Also, the effects of external forced flow and film boiling were investigated on heat flux output, temperature distribution and heat transfer coefficient of rod. Also simulated results determined optimum quenching time for this process.

Effect of direct quenching on microstructure and mechanical properties of medium-carbon Nb-bearing steel

The influence of direct quenching (DQ) on microstructure and mechanical properties of 0.19C-1.7Si-1.0 Mn-0.05Nb steel was studied. The microstructure and mechanical properties of reheat quenched and tempered (RQ&T) steel plate were compared with those of direct quenched and tempered (DQ&T) steel plates which were hot rolled at different finish rolling tem-peratures (1173 K and 1123 K), i.e., recrystallization-controlled-rolled direct-quenched (RCR&DQ) and controlled-rolled direct-quenched (CR&DQ), respectively. The strengths generally increased in the following order: RQ&T<RCR&DQ&T< CR&DQ&T. Strength differences between the CR&DQ&T and RQ&T conditions as high as 14% were observed at the tempered temperature of 573 K. The optical microscopy of the CR&DQ&T steel showed deformed grains elongated along the rolling direction, while complete equiaxed grains were visible in RQ&T and RCR&DQ&T steels. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and electron backscattering diffraction (EBSD) of the DQ steels showed smaller block width and higher density of dislocations. Inheritance of austenite deformation substructure by the martensite and differences in martensite block width were ruled out as major causes for the strength differences between DQ and RQ steels.

Microstructural Evolution and Properties of a High Strength Steel with Different Direct Quenching Processes

A high strength low alloy steel with low carbon equivalent was selected for simulating online direct quench- ing and coiling （DQ-C） process. The influence of stop quenching temperature on mechanical properties and micro- structures was studied and compared with normal direct quenching and tempering （DQ-T） process. The study con- firmed that required mechanical properties were obtained for both the processes. Properties of the experimental steel with DQ-C process could reach the same level as that of DQ-T process in general. In the DQ-C process, strength de- creased with increase in stop quenching temperature. Martensite was obtained and experienced an aging process at stop quenching temperature below Mi. On fast cooling below Mi, martensite was partially transformed and carbon partitioning occurred during slow cooling. The reduction in solid solution carbon and increased amount of retained austenite led to lower strength compared with the DQ-T process. DQ-C process was more favorable for microalloy carbide precipitation. However, impact toughness under different cooling conditions was adequate because of low car- bon equivalent and refined microstructure.

X120级管线钢DQ-T工艺试验研究

通过合理的组织、成分设计,采用直接淬火回火(DQ-T)工艺,在实验室成功试制X120级管线钢,并结合金相、透射电子显微技术,研究了不同回火温度对试验钢组织、析出与性能的影响规律。结果表明,随回火温度的升高,屈服强度Rel呈现起伏现象,在450℃和650℃回火后出现两次峰值,抗拉强度Rm变化趋势与Rel相似,起伏相对平缓;冲击功AKv(-20℃)、伸长率A均有一定波动,在450℃回火后,AKv(-20℃)>230 J,A>15%。淬火后450℃回火,钢板为下贝氏体与回火马氏体组织,具有最优的综合力学性能,Rel=845 MPa,Rm=940 MPa,A=16.5%,AKv(-20℃)=236 J,各项指标均符合X120管线钢性能要求。

基于流变应力特性的铝合金淬火残余应力数值模拟及试验研究

依据相关试验数据引入铝合金的流变应力特性曲线,对7075铝合金板材淬火过程进行温度场和应力场的直接热力耦合数值模拟,研究7075铝合金板材最终淬火残余应力的分布规律,并采用盲孔法对7075铝合金板材最终淬火残余应力进行测量,试验测量结果表明考虑铝合金流变应力特性的直接耦合法数值模拟出的铝合金淬火残余应力分布具有很好的准确度,同时借鉴相关文献的试验测量数据对直接耦合和准耦合两种数值模拟方法仿真出的铝合金板材内部最终淬火残余应力分布结果进行比较和评价,评比结果显示考虑铝合金流变应力特性的直接耦合数值模拟结果具有更好的准确度,能够准确模拟出铝合金板材内部最终淬火残余应力在厚度方向上(表面至中层)的非单调分布规律。

回火工艺对直接淬火钢组织与性能的影响

通过同一钢种在两种不同冷却速率的直接淬火试验比较,研究了回火工艺对直接淬火钢性能的影响。对直接淬火钢分别进行了回火温度为500、550、600、650℃的一系列回火试验。结果发现,在相对慢速冷却条件下,出现二次硬化现象,回火温度升高,韧性得到改善;快速冷却条件下,回火温度升高,强韧性下降。

SPV490钢板直接淬火回火工艺的研究

针对SPV490钢控轧后的直接淬火回火工艺进行研究.结果表明,采用再结晶区控轧后结合直接淬火回火工艺时,实验钢的强度大幅度提高,但韧性下降;采用在奥氏体再结晶区变形44%,然后在未再结晶区变形的两阶段控轧工艺后结合直接淬火回火工艺时,由于在细化晶粒的基础上增加晶粒内部变形带数量及位错密度,从而获得细小、均匀的组织,实验钢的综合力学性能良好.

DQ-T工艺对12MnNiVR钢组织和力学性能的影响

研究了轧后在线淬火＋离线回火（DQ-T）对12MnNiVR容器钢显微组织及力学性能的影响.结果表明,在线淬火至300℃获得的组织以条状贝氏体为主,淬火至30℃的组织为马氏体加贝氏体.经离线回火,原始带状下贝氏体为回火索氏体替代,同时析出大量微小FexC粒子.在630~710℃区间,随着回火温度的升高,屈服强度和硬度急速降低,而低温韧性明显提升.回火时间增加,强度下降,韧性增强.在最佳DQ-T工艺条件下：容器钢的ReH为660MPa,Rm为700MPa,A为19.4%,Akv（-20℃）为104 J.

回火工艺对在线淬火12MnNiVR钢组织和性能的影响

利用SEM、TEM等分析方法及性能检测研究了回火工艺参数对在线淬火12MnNiVR钢组织及性能的影响。结果表明,在线淬火后的12MnNiVR钢板淬火组织为淬火马氏体加少量淬火贝氏体的复合组织;经(625～655)℃×60min回火可以获得均匀的回火贝氏体组织,其综合力学性能均超过要求。抗拉强度可达到628MPa以上,屈服强度可达562MPa以上,伸长率达21%以上,-20℃冲击功达到220J以上。

冷却速率对直接淬火钢组织和性能的影响

对含微量硼的钢与无硼钢在不同冷速下直接淬火试样的组织进行了观察,分别测定了含硼钢与无硼钢的连续冷却转变(CCT)曲线,以及轧制后不同温度回火试样的拉伸强度。结果表明:硼的添加会使贝氏体转变Bs点降低,生成粗大的针状或板条状贝氏体组织,这种贝氏体组织越多,它的强度就越低;无硼钢在慢冷情况下(15℃／s),Bs点较高,易于形成粒状贝氏体组织,该组织与马氏体形成的混合组织使强度较高。为避免粗大贝氏体区,对于含硼钢,适宜采用快速冷却;而对于无硼钢,应尽量降低冷却速率。

热处理对机械齿轮钢组织和性能的影响

通过在17Cr2Ni2Mo齿轮钢基础上添加微量元素V、Nb的方法制备新型齿轮钢G1,采用渗碳后直接淬火和一次淬火工艺对两种齿轮钢进行热处理,对比分析了热处理工艺对齿轮钢组织、性能和热处理变形趋势的影响。结果表明：直接淬火工艺下,齿轮钢渗碳层中可见不合格的沿着晶界网状分布的碳化物组织,一次淬火工艺下渗碳层为细小的碳化物＋马氏体组织;在两种热处理工艺下,G1钢的渗碳层显微硬度要高于17Cr2Ni2Mo钢,且直接淬火工艺下渗碳层的显微硬度要高于一次淬火工艺下渗碳层的显微硬度,两种齿轮钢的有效硬化层深度都约为1.7 mm;在淬火温度为860℃、回火温度为150℃时,G1齿轮钢渗碳层的显微硬度最大,为适宜的齿轮钢热处理方案;添加V、Nb的G1齿轮钢的热处理变形趋势要小于17Cr2Ni2Mo齿轮钢。

低碳微合金直接淬火钢的组织与力学性能

为了提高低碳直接淬火钢的强韧性能,对一种低碳Nb-V微合金钢进行了轧后直接淬火(DQ)和再加热淬火(RQ)热处理实验,分析了低碳直接淬火钢的的强韧化机理.采用光学显微镜、透射电子显微镜、硬度计、拉伸试验机以及冲击试验机研究了轧后热处理工艺对低碳Nb-V微合金钢组织和力学性能的影响.结果表明,DQ工艺钢马氏体板条间距细小,含有较多的位错亚结构,因此具有较高的强度和韧性.DQ工艺钢马氏体中的大量位错,促进了碳化物弥散析出,产生了显著的二次硬化效果.由于基体中固溶的Nb、V等元素推迟淬火马氏体在回火过程中的各种转变,以及回火时析出的细小弥散碳化物抑制马氏体铁素体回复、再结晶过程,DQ工艺钢表现出较高的回火稳定性.

回火温度对1500MPa级Nb-Ti低合金直接淬火钢组织与性能的影响

通过低成本成分设计,在控制轧制的基础上,应用直接淬火+回火工艺制得抗拉强度1 500 MPa级经济型低合金高强高韧钢,测定了该合金成分体系的连续冷却转变曲线,研究了不同回火温度对直接淬火钢组织与力学性能的影响.结果表明:随着回火温度的升高,试验钢抗拉强度逐渐下降,屈服强度先升高后降低,-40℃冲击功则呈现出先升高、后降低、再升高的趋势.回火温度为200℃时,试验钢获得了最优的综合力学性能,抗拉强度达到1 730 MPa,屈服强度为1 400 MPa,-40℃冲击功为43 J.

14Cr1MoR钢的直接淬火工艺研究

研究了控制轧制和直接淬火相结合生产压力容器钢的工艺。奥氏体再结晶区变形时,单道次变形率越大则再结晶进行地越充分,再结晶后的晶粒就越细。奥氏体未再结晶区变形率增大则奥氏体晶粒内形变区域增多,从而使马氏体形核点增多,淬火后得到细板条马氏体组织。利用Cr、Mo等合金元素增加合金淬透性的性质,控轧后材料有足够高的温度进行直接淬火。材料经高温回火得到细小回火索氏体,力学性能优良。