Role of Rare Earth in Low Sulphur Nb-Ti-Bearing Steel

The effect of rare earth on the microstructures, mechanical properties and inclu sions in low sulphur Nb-Ti-bearing steel were investigated. It is shown that t h e transverse yield point, the traverse tensile strength and elongation of testin g steels decrease initially and then rise with increasing content of rare earth. The impact energy values of the testing steels exhibit a contrary trend. Proper amount of rare earth in the steels can improve the anisotropy of impact toughne ss above -20 ℃ and it does not affect the type of microstructures which ar e st ill composed of ferrites and pearlites, but the pearlite amount increases. On one hand, rare earth cleans the molten steel and reduces the amount of inclusions; on the other hand, rare earth makes the inclusions spheroidizd, refi ned and dispersed, and thus improves the distribution of inclusions.

Effects of Rare Earth on Structure and Mechanical Properties of Clean BNbRE Steel

The mechanisms of RE in clean BNbRE steel were studied by means of experimental measurement, microstructural observation and theoretical analysis. For BNbRE steel, the state and the content of RE were measured, and the effects and the mechanisms of RE on sulfide inclusions, microstructure and properties of steel were determined. On the condition of increasing the cleanliness of steel, the mechanisms of RE in steel were changed to certain degree. Small amount of RE has the effect of cleaning, modifying inclusions and alloying in clean steel, too. With increasing the cleanliness of BNbRE steel, addition of RE should be decreased properly. Under experimental conditions, the optimum addition of RE is -0.01 % （mass fraction） for clean BNbRE steel, while RE can evidently improve plasticity and impact toughness of BNbRE steel.

Effect of Rare Earths on Properties of BNbRE Rail Steel

The development and properties of BNbRE rail steel and the effect of RE on rail steel were studied. The results show that the properties of rail steel ( σ b≥980 MPa, δ 5≥8%) can be improved by adding RE and niobium and adjusting the content of C, Si and Mn in steel. At the same time, the abrasion resistance, contact fatigue and fatigue property of BNbRE rail steel are excellent. It also shows that RE in rail steel has the functions of purifying steel, modifying inclusion and micro alloy action effect. The improved steel making process enhances the quality of molten steel. Although the content of RE is low, excellent properties of BNbRE rail steel are achieved.

Effect of Rare Earth Elements on Thermal Fatigue Property of Low Chromium Semi-Steel

The effect of rare earth elements on eutectic carbide′s morphology of low chromium semi steel in as cast state and after heat treatment was investigated, and accordingly, the thermal fatigue property of this material was studied. The results show that RE can improve the eutectic carbide′s morphology, inhibit the formation and propagation of thermal fatigue cracks, therefore, promote the thermal fatigue property, which is more noticeable in case of the RE modification in combination with heat treatment. The optimal thermal fatigue property can be obtained when treated with 0.2% RE modification as well as normalization at 950 ℃ for 3 h.

Effects of Rare Earths on Toughness of 31Mn2SiRE Wear- Resistance Cast Steel

The toughness of 31Mn2SiRE wear-resistance cast steel were increased by means of RE compound modification and high temperature austenitizing. The results show that the microstructures can be refined, needle and network ferrite are eliminated, the dislocation density and the quantity of dislocated martensite are increased remarkably, and the shape and distribution of inclusions are improved by the addition of RE. Therefore, the mechanical properties of the modified steel can be greatly increased, especially the toughness (αK) by 44%, yield strength (σs) by 10%, and elongation (δ5) by 42%.

Effect of rare earths on mechanical properties of plasma nitrocarburized surface layer of 17-4PH steel

The aim of this investigation is to reveal the influence of rare earths(RE) addition on mechanical properties of plasma nitrocarburized 17-4PH steel.The nitrocarburized layers were characterized by optical microscope,scanning electron microscope equipped with energy dispersive X-ray analyzer,X-ray diffractometer,microhardness tester and pin-on-disc tribometer.The results showed that RE atoms could diffuse into the surface layer of 17-4PH steel plasma nitrocarburized at 500 °C for 4 h and did not change the ...

Effects of Rare Earth on Behavior of Precipitation and Properties in Microalloyed Steels

The influence of rare earths on the behavior of precipitation of 14MnNb,X60 and 10MnV steels was studied by STEM, XRD, ICP and thermal simulation method. The main carbonitride precipitates are Nb(C, N),(Nb, Ti)(C, N)and V(C, N). In austenite RE delays the beginning of precipitation, and decreases the rate of precipitation. In ferrite RE promotes precipitation and increases the amount of equilibrium carbonitride precipitation. RE can make precipitates fine, globular and dispersed in the microalloyed steels. With the increase of the amount of RE in steel, the amount of precipitation increases. The promotion effect is weakened with excessive RE. RE has only little influence on the strength of microalloyed steel, but it can improve impact toughness effectively.

Effect of Rare Earth (Niobium) on Costed and Hot-Rolled Microstructure and Properties of Heavy Rail Steels

A compared investigation was made on the microstructure and mechanical properties of continuous casting square blanks of BNbRE and U71Mn heavy rail steels having eutectoid composition. The variation of solidified structure of the square blanks was demonstrated by measuring hardness. The observation to the structure and inclusions in the head, waist and base of the hot-rolled rails of the test steels were carried out with optical microscope and SEM. It is found that the casting blanks of both tested steels compose of three areas with constant hardness and three hardness varying areas, and there is considerable P-eutectic structure in the blank of the U71Mn steel. The distribution of the inclusions in the UT1Mn steel rail is mainly oxides in both rail head and rail base, and is mainly MnS in the waist of the rail. There has strong effect of the addition of rare earth elements on them. The discussion on these results was made.

Effects of Cerium on Microalloying in Low Sulfur Nb-Ti-Bearing Steel

The CCT curves of supercooled austenite were investigated by using THERMECMASTOR-Z simulation machine, test samples refined from 50 kg vacuum induction furnace and two-stage controlled roiling in laboratorial condition. Test results show that influence of cerium （Ce） addition in low sulfur Nb-Ti-Bearing steel is as follows： Ce can increase the transformation point tara and tAr1, enlarge the interval of transformation （tAr3-tAr1） . Ce moves CCT and rightwards , and reduces hardenability. Ce increases bainitic transformation temperature and enlarges curves upwards interval of bainite formation. With higher cooling rates, Ce changes the martensite from coarse strip to fine strip. It decreases Ms, enhances the trend of lath martensitic structure and limits the formation of lamellar crystal.

Antibacterial Properties of Cerium-Bearing Stainless Steel Bearing Cerium

In this study, the nominal 00Cr18Ni9 type alloys containing 0 to 5% Ce were melted in a inductive furnace in an atmosphere of argon, the distribution and content of cerium in these Ce-bearing stainless steels were analyzed, the composition of cerium precipitation phase was analyzed with X-ray diffraction method, the antibacterial performance of Ce-bearing stainless steels against Escherichia coli ATCC 8099 and Staphytococcus aureus ATCC 6538 were investigated with film attachment method. It is found that the stainless steels containing Ce have excellent antibacterial property, especially, not as the Cu-bearing antibacterial stainless steels, a special aging treatment is not required for Ce-bearing antibacterial stainless steels, which makes their application easy and cheap. The antibacterial mechanism of Ce-bearing stainless steels was also discussed.

Alloying Effect of Lanthanum in GCr15 Bearing Steel with Tin and Antimony

Effect of tin and antimony on hot ductility of GCr15 bearing steel as well as interaction between lanthanum and tramp elements, were studied by simulator Gleeble-1500 and the fractures for the tested steels were analyzed using SEM and EDS. The results show that with increasing contents of tin and antimony elements, the hot ductility of GCr15 bearing steel was decreased. Lanthanum can reduce the harmful effect of tramp elements on the hot ductility of GCr15, which can react with antimony to form compound and segregate at grain boundary in steel. Lanthanum can refine the recrystallized austenite grains after deformation and subsequent martensite structure.

Internal Friction and Profile of Property and Structure of PD_3 and PD_3RE Rail Steels

The profile of both hardness and microstructure of continuous casting blanks and rails of PD3 heavy rail steel and PD3RE steel containing small amount of rare earth （RE） added from tundish were studied. It is found that the addition of RE makes the fluctuation of the hardness value decrease, and inhibits effectively and/or even removes lower hardness value（zone） in the centric area of the blank with a cross section of 280 mm × 380 mm, and that the surface layer in the rail head of PD3RE steel is obviously hardened and the reason causing this hardening is due to the thinning of the pearlite structure. The metallographic observation shows that there exists a Fe-P（C） eutectic structure in the blank center of the PD3 steel containing only 0. 016% P, while the addition of RE can fully inhibit this structure.

稀土Y对GCr15轴承钢力学性能的影响

为探究稀土Y对GCr15轴承钢力学性能的影响,采用真空感应炉冶炼了不同Y含量的GCr15轴承钢,利用MC010-HV-30Z维氏硬度计、SANS-ZBC2752A型冲击试验机、CSS-88500型电子万能试验机、JSM-6510型扫描电子显微镜和Sigma-300场发射电子显微镜等设备,研究Y对GCr15轴承钢硬度、冲击性能、拉伸性能及夹杂物的影响。结果显示:Y含量为0.005%时,试验钢具有较好的综合力学性能;Y略微降低了GCr15轴承钢的硬度,由258.7 HV降低到254.4 HV;冲击功提高了17.9%,由17.9 J提高到21.1 J;抗拉强度提高了6.50%,由903.8 MPa提高到963.3 MPa;最大拉应力提高了6.50%,由17.75 kN提高到18.91 kN;断后伸长率提高了16.80%;试验钢的断裂模式由沿晶断裂向穿晶断裂过度;Y处理后,夹杂物尺寸由3μm左右减小为1μm左右。试验钢的硬度略微降低,冲击功、抗拉强度、断后伸长率均有所提高,夹杂物尺寸减小。

Ce对DH36船板钢显微组织和力学性能的影响

为探究稀土Ce对DH36船板钢显微组织和力学性能的影响,采用真空感应炉熔炼不同Ce含量的DH36船板钢,利用场发射扫描电镜、显微硬度计、冲击试验机、电子万能试验机等设备研究了Ce对DH36船板钢组织、硬度、冲击性能、拉伸性能的影响。结果显示:在DH36船板钢中加入Ce使铁素体和珠光体组织细化。含0.009%Ce的试验钢综合力学性能最好,硬度增幅最大,相比未加Ce的试验钢提升15.6%;抗拉强度由未添加Ce的581.97 MPa提升到643.80 MPa,提升10.6%;冲击功由未添加Ce的162.8 J提升到174.5 J,提升7.2%。加入稀土Ce后,试验钢的拉伸断口和冲击断口形貌得到改善,韧窝数量增多,断口表面的夹杂物类型发生改变,由大尺寸不规则夹杂物变成了小尺寸类球状稀土夹杂物,降低了有害夹杂物引起的应力集中,使断口表面的裂纹源明显减少。

稀土La对42CrMo钢碳化物析出特征及摩擦学性能增强机理研究

使用真空熔炼技术制备了稀土42CrMo钢,采用光学显微镜(OM)、扫描电子显微镜(SEM)和能谱仪(EDS)对材料微观组织、拉伸断口、磨损表面和亚表层进行了表征,研究了La对42CrMo钢碳化物析出特征及摩擦学性能增强机理.结果表明:La减小了晶界张力和界面能,降低了碳化物沉淀所需成核势垒,提供了形核点,使42CrMo钢具有更小的原奥氏体晶粒和碳化物,原奥氏体和碳化物尺寸减少约46.5%和19.4%.添加La后,42CrMo钢具有更优良的力学和摩擦磨损性能,屈服强度、抗拉强度和断后伸长率比普通钢提升了9.29%、9.48%和25.01%,磨损率降低了36.71%.稀土钢强塑性的提高得益于La对晶粒和碳化物的细化以及碳化物和基体界面柔韧性的提高.摩擦磨损性能的提升是由于碳化物和基体的柔性界面在摩擦磨损过程中起到协调变形作用,减少了微裂纹的形成和碳化物的剥离,使摩擦表面形成的自润滑膜更加致密、完整,不易破坏.此外,La减少了钢中夹杂物,也提高了稀土钢的塑性和摩擦磨损性能.

Ce对于20MnTiB冷镦钢夹杂物和力学性能的影响

工业化试验生产不同稀土(Ce)含量20MnTiB冷镦钢,采用维氏硬度计、拉伸试验机、冲击试验机、光学显微镜(OM)及扫描电镜(SEM)等手段,研究添加Ce后,钢中夹杂物变质情况以及热轧盘条显微组织和力学性能的变化,并分析Ce的作用机理.结果表明,添加0.0025%Ce后,钢液中S含量下降,洁净度显著提高;盘条中夹杂物由大尺寸、长条状的Al_(2)O_(3)·MgO·CaO·CaS复合夹杂物变质为小尺寸、类球状的CeAlO_(3)·MgO·CaO·CaS复合夹杂物;同时长条状MnS夹杂物消失;热力学计算表明钢中最易生成的稀土夹杂物为CeAlO_(3).添加Ce后,盘条显微组织细化,铁素体比例有所提升,粒状贝氏体组织减轻,其尺寸也进一步减小.盘条的硬度、屈服强度和抗拉强度有所降低;室温冲击韧性显著增加,由31.7 J增加至52.3 J,提升65.0%.稀土微合金化盘条硬度、强度的降低以及冲击性能的显著增加有益于其冷镦性能提高.研究结果可为进一步开发新型稀土微合金化冷镦钢提供技术和理论支撑.

稀土在BNbRE重轨钢中的作用机制

通过化学分析、金相观察和理论分析,研究了稀土在BNbRE重轨钢中的存在状态和含量的变化规律,以及它对钢的硫化物夹杂、微观组织和性能的影响机制。研究发现,对于BNbRE重轨钢,加入大量的稀土并不能增加钢中固溶稀土的含量,固溶稀土的含量均保持在0.0012%以下。少量的固溶稀土可以细化BNbRE重轨钢的奥氏体晶粒和珠光体片层结构。在本实验条件下,BNbRE重轨钢的最佳稀土加入量约为0.02%,此时BNbRE重轨钢的塑性和冲击韧性得到显著提高。

稀土在洁净BNbRE重轨钢中的作用机制

通过实验测定、金相观察和理论分析,系统研究了稀土在洁净BNbRE重轨钢中的赋存状态和存量的变化规律,以及其对钢的硫化物夹杂、微观组织及性能的影响作用机制。研究发现,在钢洁净度大幅度提高的条件下,稀土在钢中的作用机制有所变化,微量的稀土起到实现净化钢液、变质夹杂物和微合金化作用,而且作用效果非常稳定。随着钢洁净度的提高,稀土加入量可以适当降低。在本实验条件下,洁净BNbRE重轨钢的稀土最佳加入量为～0.01%,此时洁净BNbRE重轨钢的塑性和冲击韧度得到显著改善。

控制冷却对含Nb钢组织性能的影响研究

为了进一步提高含Nb钢的强度,降低含Nb钢的开发成本,通过实验室热轧试验研究超快冷、超快冷+层流冷却和层流冷却3种冷却模式对含Nb钢的组织演变和力学性能影响。结果表明,与层流冷却相比,试验钢采用超快冷后组织中出现针状铁素体和贝氏体,晶粒尺寸细化,位错显著增加,析出物粒子更为细小,试验钢力学性能显著提高。超快冷的主要强化机制为相变强化、细晶强化、位错强化和析出强化。超快冷+层流冷却模式下,随着终冷温度的降低,软相组织减少、硬相组织增多,试验钢的强度升高。随着出超快冷温度的降低,多边形铁素体体积分数逐渐减少且晶粒更为细小,针状铁素体体积分数增多,试验钢强度得到提高,断后伸长率略有降低。以上结果为超快冷工艺条件下开发低成本含Nb钢奠定了理论基础。

稀土对23CrNiMoA钢显微组织和冲击性能的影响

采用金相显微镜、冲击试验机、扫描电镜和能谱仪等设备,研究稀土对23CrNiMoA钢的组织和冲击性能的影响。结果表明,在23CrNiMoA中添加质量分数为0.018%的镧铈金属后,钢材金相组织并无明显变化;在室温(20℃)试验钢纵向和横向冲击吸收能量分别由86.0 J和70.3 J提升至93.7 J和85.7 J,等向性提高了11%,冲击性能得到显著提升。此外,通过观察试验钢的冲击断口形貌可以看出,添加稀土后钢中断口处韧窝数量增多,且分布均匀,同时这些大而深的韧窝底部存在1μm左右的球状稀土夹杂物,这使得冲击断裂时裂纹扩展所需的吸收能量大大提高,对23CrNiMoA钢冲击性能起到良好的改善作用。