Effects of cooling rate and Al on MnS formation in medium-carbon non-quenched and tempered steels

The effect of Al on the morphology of MnS in medium-carbon non-quenched and tempered steel was investigated at three different cooling rates of 0.24, 0.43, and 200°C·s^-1. The formation mechanisms of three types of MnS were elucidated based on phase diagram information combined with crystal growth models. The morphology of MnS is governed by the precipitation mode and the growth conditions. A monotectic reaction and subsequent fast solidification lead to globular Type I MnS. Type II MnS inclusions with different morphological characteristics form as a result of a eutectic reaction followed by the growth in the Fe matrix. Type III MnS presents a divorced eutectic morphology. At the cooling rate of 0.24°C·s^-1, the precipitation of dispersed Type III MnS is significantly enhanced by the addition of 0.044wt% acid-soluble Al（Als）, while Type II MnS clusters prefer to form in steels with either 0.034wt% or 0.052wt% Als. At the relatively higher cooling rates of 200°C·s^-1 and 0.43°C·s^-1, the formation of Type I and Type II MnS inclusions is promoted, and the influence of Al is negligible. The results of this work are expected to be employed in practice to improve the mechanical properties of non-quenched and tempered steels.

New insights into the effects of silicon content on the oxidation process in silicon-containing steels

Simultaneous thermal analysis（STA） was used to investigate the effects of silicon content on the oxidation kinetics of silicon-containing steels under an atmosphere and heating procedures similar to those used in industrial reheating furnaces for the production of hot-rolled strips. Our results show that when the heating temperature was greater than the melting point of Fe2SiO4, the oxidation rates of steels with different silicon contents were the same; the total mass gain decreased with increasing silicon content, whereas it increased with increasing oxygen content. The oxidation rates for steels with different silicon contents were constant with respect to time under isothermal conditions. In addition, the starting oxidation temperature, the intense oxidation temperature, and the finishing oxidation temperature increased with increasing silicon content; the intense oxidation temperature had no correlation with the melting of Fe2SiO4. Moreover, the silicon distributed in two forms： as Fe2SiO4 at the interface between the innermost layer of oxide scale and the iron matrix, and as particles containing silicon in grains and grain boundaries in the iron matrix.

High speed continuous turning of hardened steel with newly developed low content PCBN

In this study,newly developed low content PCBN was used to evaluate the cutting performance in high speed turning of hardened steel.Using new PCBN and commercially available PCBN tipped inserts under the same cutting condition,cutting performance with variable cutting speed,feed rate and depth of cuts on tools were measured by observation of flank and crater wear.Its microstructures were analyzed through SEM microscope,measurement of surface roughness on workpiece was also performed. According to cutting performance results,it is shown that new PCBN shows much longer tool life in high speed continuous turning than our conventional PCBN tools,with improved wear and chipping resistance.This result on the machinability of new PCBN for hardened steel will provide effective guidelines to manufacturing engineers,also provide useful economic machining solution for high speed continuous turning for hardened steel.

Effects of oxygen content on the oxidation process of Si-containing steel during anisothermal heating

The oxidizing behavior of Si-containing steel was investigated in an O2 and N2 binary-component gas with oxygen contents ranging between 0.5 vol% and 4.0 vol% under anisothermal-oxidation conditions. A simultaneous thermal analyzer was employed to simulate the heating process of Si-containing steel in industrial reheating furnaces. The oxidation gas mixtures were introduced from the commencement of heating. The results show that the oxidizing rate remains constant in the isothermal holding process at high temperatures; therefore, the mass change versus time presents a linear law. A linear relation also exists between the oxidizing rate and the oxygen content. Using the linear regression equation, the oxidation rate at different oxygen contents can be predicted. In addition, the relationship between the total mass gain and the oxygen content is linear; thus, the total mass gain at oxygen contents between 0.5 vol%–4.0 vol% can be determined. These results enrich the theoretical studies of the oxidation process in Si-containing steels.

Effect of Cr on mechanical properties and corrosion behaviors of Fe-Mn-C-Al-Cr-N TWIP steels

By using scanning electron microscopy（SEM） equipped with electron back-scattered diffraction（EBSD）system, transmission electron microscopy（TEM） and Corr Test4 electrochemical workstation, effects of chromium content（1.35 wt% - 3.95 wt%） on the mechanical properties and anti-corrosion behaviours of high manganese Fe-Mn-C-Al-Cr-N twinning-induced plasticity（TWIP） steels were studied. The results show that Cr content has an obvious influence on the mechanical properties and fracture behaviors of the high manganese TWIP steels. The yield and ultimate tensile strengths of the steel sheets were improved with increasing Cr content while the elongation was reduced. In addition, with the increase of Cr content, the fracture mode changed from ductile fracture pattern with coarse dimples and tear ridges（Cr content ≤ 2.35%） to intergranular fracture（when Cr content is 3.95%）. Furthermore, Cr content has a tremendous effect on anti-corrosion behaviors of the high manganese TWIP steels. The increase of Cr content enhanced the corrosion resistance of the annealed steel sheets by improving the proportion of low-angle boundary.

Effects of tantalum on austenitic transformation kinetics of RAFM steel

The RAFM（reduced activation ferritic/martensitic）steels containing different tantalum contents（0wt.%,0.027wt.%,0.073wt.%）were designed and cast.Differential scanning calorimetry and optical microscopy were employed to explore the influence of tantalum content on the austenitic transformation of RAFM steels.The austenitic transformation kinetics was described by aphase-transformation model.The model,involving site saturation nucleation,diffusion-controlled growth and impingement correction,was established based on the classical Johnson-Mehl-Avrami-Kolmogorov model.The phase-transformation kinetics parameters,including D_0（pre-exponential factor for diffusion）and Q_d（activation energy for diffusion）,were calculated by fitting the experimental data and the kinetic model.The results indicated that the average grain size is decreased with the increase of tantalum.The values of A_（c1） and A_（c3） （onset and finish temperature of austenitic transformation,respectively）are increased by increasing the tantalum content.The increase of tantalum caused the decrease of D_0.However,Q_d is increased with the increase of tantalum.In addition,as a carbides forming element,tantalum would reduce the carbon diffusion coefficient and slow down the austenitic transformation rate.