Development of microalloyed steels for high temperature carburizing

The potential for use of microalloy additions to suppress abnormal austenite grain growth and produce steels with enhanced bending fatigue resistance after high temperature vacuum carburizing was investigated in a series of Ti-modified SAE 8620 steels with w(niobium) additions up to 0.1%.Results are considered from a series of papers at the Advanced Steel Processing and Products Research Center on the effects of Nb content,heating rate, rolling history,and processing temperature on the evolution of austenite grain structures in carburizing steels. Emphasis is placed on understanding the effects of alloying and processing on each stage in the annealing process including the as received laboratory rolled conditions,during the onset of carburizing after annealing at different heating rates,and after annealing for various times at carburizing temperatures up to 1 100℃.Heating rate to the carburizing temperature was shown to be an influential variable and suppression of abnormal grain growth was dependent on the development of a critical distribution of fine NbC precipitates,stable at the austenitizing temperature.The importance to industrial carburizing practice of heating rate effects on precipitates and austenite grain size evolution are discussed and correlated to selected data on fatigue performance.

21^(st) Century Niobium-Bearing Structural Steels

Value-added applications of niobium (Nb) microalloyed steels continue to be developed for commercial implementation to meet increased material demands and improved properties for 21st century structural applications. These applications demand Nb-bearing steels that deliver improved toughness, fracture and fire resistance and weldability. Such applications include medium and jumbo beam, boiler, bridge, container, heavy equipment, long product, pressure vessel, ship, storage tank and windtower applications. Steel producers are challenged to develop microalloyed steel grades that cost effectively meet end user demands for higher strength at thinner cross sections, better low temperature toughness to resist brittle fracture in building, pressure vessel and ship structures, sustain higher loads per unit area in earthquake and hurricane zone product applications, demonstrate improved fire-resistance in buildings, bridges and tunnels and provide overall improved weldability. Niobium is often a key element to achieve these results. This paper will discuss Nb market opportunities and key operational practices required to successfully melt, cast and roll these high strength steel grades. Niobium process metallurgy is important to leverage the ability of niobium to obtain ultra-fine grain, homogeneous structural steel microstructures with superior mechanical properties. The process metallurgy, physical metallurgy and resultant properties are significantly determined by mill capabilities, mill practices, operational understanding and the culture of the steel mill. The optimal combination and implementation aspects that are unique to each mill we call metallurgical operational integration (MOI) . MOI is the bridge that links the product requirements to mill capability and process implementation.

Microalloyed Steels for Heat Treating Applications at Higher Process Temperatures

The potential is considered for use of microalloyed bar steels,in conjunction with thermomechanical processing,to enhance the properties of steels heat treated at higher process temperatures than have been used historically.Two examples are highlighted:microalloyed spring steels with enhanced resistance to tempering and Nb-modified gear steels for high temperature vacuum carburizing,e.g.on the order of 1050℃ versus 930℃ for a typical gas carburizing operation.In the spring steel example,the Nb+V steel results in significantly finer prior austenite grain sizes than the other steels considered,enhanced fatigue performance,and improved toughness.In the Nb-modified carburizing steel,Nb additions up to 0.1 wt pct to a Ti-modified 8620 steel,in conjunction with thermomechanical processing to control initial precipitate distributions prior to carburizing,are shown to lead to materials with improved resistance to abnormal austenitic grain growth at the higher process temperatures.Alloy content and heating rate to the carburizing temperature were shown to be important variables and suppression of abnormal grain growth was correlated with the development of a critical distribution of fine NbC precipitates,stable at the austenitizing temperature leading to improved fatigue performance in steels with fine and uniform grain structures.Opportunities for extending the results of this study to alloy design and controlled rolling in bar mills are assessed.

Effect of Nb on Microstructure Evolution in Cold Rolled Dual-Phase Steels:Interaction of Recovery,Recrystallization and Phase Transformations

The effects of Nb addition,individually and in combination with Ti,were evaluated over a range of coiling temperatures.Coiling temperature influences the ratio of soluble and precipitated Nb in the hot rolled steel containing 0.08 % C and 2.2 % Mn.Nb bearing precipitates can co-precipitate on TiN and impact the microstructure and mechanical properties of the steel after annealing treatment.Microstructure characterization revealed that recovery and recrystallization processes preceded austenite formation.The effects of Nb on austenite formation in cold rolled steels during heating and isothermal holding and on austenite decomposition during subsequent cooling were investigated using dilatometry.The addition of Nb retarded ferrite recrystallization starting temperature,but had no significant effect on the starting temperature of austenite formation during heating.The Nb addition also accelerated austenite formation once the transformation started,and was beneficial for the formation of a finer and homogeneous microstructure.

The Contribution of Niobium Bearing Steels and Enhanced Sustainability

With the growing concern for the environmental impact of greenhouse gases and the rapid depletion of important resources,the use of Nb-bearing steels for advanced high strength steel applications can reduce raw material usage and the carbon footprint.The conservation and more efficient use of ironmaking and steelmaking raw materials is an urgent issue for steel producers globally.Recently-developed Nb-microalloyed steel applications provide a more effective product design and reduce CO 2 emissions and energy consumption per tonne of steel.A sustainability structural steelstudy presents the positive cost and reduced environmental impact of Nb-microalloyed steels.This analysis compares the CO 2 emission reduction and energy savings in the steelmaking process melted in both the Basic Oxygen Furnace (BOF) and the Electric Arc Furnace (EAF).Nb-microalloyed structural steels offer the opportunity to reduce the total weight of a given structure compared to a non-microalloyed steel construction.Generally,one considers the savings associated with less material and lower construction costs.In addition,there is an environmental benefit in the reduction in emissions (kilograms of CO 2) and less energy consumption (GJ) due to the fact that less steel is melted.Plus,there are lighter sections and less material weight in the final end user design which reduces transportation and fabrication costs.A forecasted trend is presented which introduces an increased usage of microalloyed steel grades to replace traditional commodity-type non-alloyed higher carbon-manganese grades for environmental benefits and significant cost reduction.