Toughening ultrastrong low-density steel by textured δ-ferrite lamellas

By both the Charpy V-notched impact and the projectile tests, we here investigated the dynamic fracture behavior of a recently developed ultrastrong lightweight steel comprising a hierarchical martensitic matrix, dispersed ultra-fine-retained austenite grains and oriented δ-ferrite lamellas, the latter being due to high Al and Si contents employed for low-density design. This steel shows a superior combination of specific ultimate tensile strength and impact toughness to other ultrastrong steels and has successfully arrested a real steel-cored bullet shot. These are attributed to the densely textured δ-ferrite lamellas that can deflect the propagating cracks until they are trapped and enclosed besides austenite-to-martensite transformation crack closure, leading to more energy consumed before failure. These results suggest a new pathway for toughening ultrastrong lightweight steels.

Coke behavior with H_(2)O in a hydrogen-enriched blast furnace:A review

Hydrogen-enriched blast furnace ironmaking has become an essential route to reduce CO_(2)emissions in the ironmaking process.However,hydrogen-enriched reduction produces large amounts of H_(2)O,which places new demands on coke quality in a blast furnace.In a hydrogen-rich blast furnace,the presence of H_(2)O promotes the solution loss reaction.This result improves the reactivity of coke,which is 20%-30%higher in a pure H_(2)O atmosphere than in a pure CO_(2)atmosphere.The activation energy range is 110-300 kJ/mol between coke and CO_(2)and 80-170 kJ/mol between coke and H_(2)O.CO_(2)and H_(2)O are shown to have different effects on coke degradation mechanisms.This review provides a comprehensive overview of the effect of H_(2)O on the structure and properties of coke.By exploring the interactions between H_(2)O and coke,several unresolved issues in the field requiring further research were identified.This review aims to provide valuable insights into coke behavior in hydrogen-rich environments and promote the further development of hydrogen-rich blast furnace ironmaking processes.

Effect of H_2S concentration on the corrosion behavior of pipeline steel under the coexistence of H_2S and CO_2

The effect of H2S concentration on H2S/CO2 corrosion of API-X60 steel was studied by scanning electron microscopy, a weight-loss method, potentiodynamic polarization tests, and the electrochemical impedance spectroscopy technique. It is found that the cor-rosion process of the steel in an environment where H2S and CO2 coexist at different H2S concentrations is related to the morphological structure and stability of the corrosion product film. With the addition of a small amount of H2S, the size of the anode reaction region is de-creased due to constant adsorption and separation of more FeS sediment or more FeHS＋ions on the surface of the steel. Meanwhile, the dou-ble-layer capacitance is diminished with increasing anion adsorption capacity. Therefore, the corrosion process is inhibited. The general cor-rosion rate of the steel rapidly decreases after the addition of a small amount of H2S under the coexistence of H2S and CO2. With a further increase in H2S concentration, certain parts of the corrosion product film become loose and even fall off. Thus, the protection provided by the corrosion product film worsens, and the corrosion rate tends to increase.

Morphology, size and distribution of MnS inclusions in non-quenched and tempered steel during heat treatment

This article reports the morphology, size, and distribution evolution of MnS inclusions in non-quenched and tempered steel during heat treatment. The variation of single large-sized MnS inclusions at high temperature was observed in situ using a confocal scanning laser microscope （CSLM）. The slender MnS inclusions first changed to pearl-like slrings. These small-sized pearls subsequently coalesced and became closer together as the temperature increased. Large-sized MnS inclusions in non-quenched and tempered steel samples with different thermal histories were investigated with respect to the evolution of their morphology, size, and distribution. After 30 min of ovulation at 1573 K, the percentage of MnS inclusions larger than 3 μm decreased from 50.5% to 3.0%. After a 3 h making period, Ostwald ripening occurred. Most MnS inclusions moved from the grain bounda- ries to the interior. The present study demonstrates that heat treatment is an effective method of changing the morphology, size, and distribution of MnS inclusions, especially large-sized ones.

Optimization of flow control devices in a single-strand slab continuous casting tundish

The optimization of flow control devices in a single-slab continuous casting tundish was carried out by physical modeling, and the optimized scheme was presented. With the optimal tundish configuration, the minimum residence time of liquid steel was increased by 1.4 times, the peak concentration time was increased by 97%, and the dead volume fraction was decreased by 72%. A mathematical model for molten steel in the tundish was established by using the fluid dynamics package Fluent. The velocity field, concentration field, and the resi-dence time distribution （RTD） curves of molten steel flow before and after optimization were obtained. Experimental results showed that the reasonable configuration with flow control devices can improve the fluid flow characteristics in the tundish. The results of industrial applica-tion show that the nonmetallic inclusion area ratio in casting slabs is decreased by 32% with the optimal tundish configuration.

Microstructures and mechanical properties of C-Mn-Cr-Nb and C-Mn-Si-Nb ultra-high strength dual-phase steels

The microstructures and mechanical properties of C-Mn-Cr-Nb and C-Mn-Si-Nb ultra-high strength dual-phase steels were studied by scanning electron microscopy （SEM）, transmission electron microscopy （TEM）, and tensile test. The results show that Si can promote the transformation of austenite （γ） to ferrite （α）, enlarge the （α＋γ） region, and increase the aging stability of martensite by inhibiting carbide precipitation. Adding Cr leads to the formation of retained austenite and martensite/austenite （M/A） constituents, as well as the decomposi- tion of martensite during the overaging stage. Both of the steels show higher initial strain-hardening rates and two-stage strain-hardening characteristics. The C-Mn-Si-Nb steel shows the higher strain-hardening rate than the C-Mn-Cr-Nb steel in the first stage; however, there is no significant difference in the second stage. Although the tensile strength and elongation of the two steels both exceed 1000 MPa and 15%, respectively, the comprehensive mechanical properties of the C-Mn-Si-Nb steel are superior.

Effect of Heat Input on the Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of 07MnCrMoVR Weld Joints

As a new type of low cracking suscepbility high strength steel,07MnCrMoVR steel has excellent weldability,with low carbon equivalent and cold cracking susceptibility coefficient.However,there are still some problems when this steel is on the outdoor actual welding condition,such as having some extend cold cracking suscepbility and embrittlement of heat affected zone.Currently, researching works for the welding of this steel mostly focus on the evaluation the weldability of it,only few works are concentrated in how the heat input affecting the embrittlement of HAZ.The goal of this research is to study the effect of heat input on the embrittlement of the heat affected zone so as to get the optimal welding heat input range for it.In this paper,38 mm 07MnCrMoVR steel made by Shougang is welded by manual arc welding technology,and the effect of heat input on the microstructure and mechanical properties of weld joints is also investigated by use of optical microscope（OM）,scanning electron microscope（SEM）,mechanical properties testing machines and Viker hardness tester.The microstructure and fractography observation results and the mechanical properties testing results indicate that the 07MnCrMoVR steel made by Shougang has a wide adaptable range for heat input,and when the heat input is in the range of 15-42 kJ/cm,the toughness of the weld joints is well.With the increase of heat input,the impact toughness of weld zone and heat affected zone decrease,whereas the tensile strength of the weld joints does not change at all.The microstructure of the weld is acicular ferrite with small amount of proeutectoid ferrite,and with the increase of heat input,the ratio of proeutectoid ferrite and the amount of M-A constituent increase,as well as the grain size and the width of the bainite lath in coarsened grain heat affected zone. Fractography results show that with the increase of heat input,the number of dimples in impact fracture specimens decreases,and the cleavage patterns increase,inducing the fracture from ductility to embrittlement.This research provides a theory support for guiding the penstock constructor how to use 07MnCrMoVR steel in actual welding.

Water Modeling of Optimizing Tundish Flow Field

In the water modeling experiments, three cases were considered, i. e, , a bare tundish, a tundish equipped with a turbulence inhibitor, and a rectangular tundish equipped with weirs （dams） and a turbulence inhibitor. Comparing the RTD curves, inclusion separation, and the result of the streamline experiment, it can be found that the tundish equipped with weirs （dams） and a turbulence inhibitor has a great effect on the flow field and the inclusion separation when compared with the sole use or no use of the turbulent inhibitor or weirs （dams）. In addition, the enlargement of the distance between the weir and dam will result in a better effect when the tundish equipped with weirs （dam） and a turbulence inhibitor was used.

Formation mechanism of the protective layer in a blast furnace hearth

A variety of techniques, such as chemical analysis, scanning electron microscopy-energy dispersive spectroscopy, and X-ray diffraction, were applied to characterize the adhesion protective layer formed below the blast furnace taphole level when a certain amount of titanium-bearing burden was used. Samples of the protective layer were extracted to identify the chemical composition, phase assemblage, andistribution. Furthermore, the formation mechanism of the protective layer was determined after clarifying the source of each componenFinally, a technical strategy was proposed for achieving a stable protective layer in the hearth. The results show that the protective layemainly exists in a bilayer form in the sidewall, namely, a titanium-bearing layer and a graphite layer. Both the layers contain the slag phaswhose major crystalline phase is magnesium melilite（Ca2Mg Si2O7） and the main source of the slag phase is coke ash. It is clearly determinethat solid particles such as graphite, Ti（C,N） and Mg Al2O4play an important role in the formation of the protective layer, and the key factofor promoting the formation of a stable protective layer is reasonable control of the evolution behavior of coke.

Decarburization rate of RH refining for ultra low carbon steel

The decarburization behaviors of ultra low carbon steel in a 210-t RH vacuum degasser were investigated under practical operat- ing conditions. According to the apparent decarburization rate constant （Kc） calculated by the carbon content in the samples taken from the hot melt in a ladle at an interval of 1-2 min, it is observed that the total decarburization reaction period in RH can be divided into the quick decarburization period and the stagnant decarburization period, which is quite different from the traditional one with three stages. In this study, the average apparent decarburization rate constant during the quick decarburization period is 0.306 min^-1, and that of the stagnant period is 0.072 min^-1. Increasing the initial carbon content and enhancing the exhausting capacity can increase the apparent decarburization rate constant in the quick decarburization period. The decarburization reaction comes into the stagnant decarburization period when the carbon content in molten steel is less than 14× 10^-6 after 10 min of decarburization.

Surface Ferrite Grain Refinement and Mechanical Properties of Low Carbon Steel Plates

Considering the specialities of the steel plate production, the TMCP study has been carried out with Gleeble 2000 tester to explore the possibility of fine grained ferrite in the low carbon steel plates with the chemical composition of C 0.13--0.18, Si 0.12-0.18, Mn 0.50-0. 65, P 0. 010-0. 025, and S 0. 005-0. 028. The plates with thickness of 8. 7 mm in which the ferrite grain size is smaller than 8μm have been produced by special de- formation process in the laboratory. Furthermore, the trial production of special plain carbon steel plates of 16-25 mm in thickness and 2 000- 2 800 mm in width with fine grained ferrite has been successfully carried out in the Shougang Steel Plate Rolling Plant. The ferrite grain size is 5.5-7μm in the surface layers and 9.5-15μm in the central layer respectively. The yield strength is 320- 360 MPa, tensile strength is 440-520 MPa and the elongation is 25%- 34 %. It is very important for the rolling plants to improve the low carbon steel plates＇ mechanical properties. The results show that the ferrite grains in the surface layer can be refined effectively by the appropriate rolling process, and the strength can be also increased.

Effect of slag composition on the cleanliness of 28MnCr5 gear steel in the refining processes

The equilibrium reaction between CaO-Al2O3-SiO2-MgO slag and 28MnCr5 molten steel was calculated to obtain the suitable slag composition which is effective for decreasing the oxygen content in molten steel. The dissolved oxygen content [O] in molten steel un- der different top slag conditions was calculated using a thermodynamic model and was measured using an electromotive force method in slag-steel equilibrium experiments at 1873 K. The relations among [O], the total oxygen content （T.O）, and the composition of the slag were investigated. The experimental results show that both [O] and T.O decrease with decreasing SiO2 content of the slag and exhibit different trends with the changes in the CaO/Al2O3 mass ratio of the slag. Increasing the CaO/Al2O3 mass ratio results in a decrease in [O] and an in- crease in T.O. To ensure that T.O ≤ 20 ppm and [O] ≤ 10 ppm, the SiO2 content should be controlled to 〈5wt%, and the CaO/AI203 mass ratio should be in the range from 1.2 to 1.6.

Simulation research on monomer agglomeration of nonmetallic inclusions in steel with a diffusion limited aggregation model

The monomer agglomeration of nonmetallic inclusions was simulated with a diffusion limited aggregation （DLA） model of the fractal theory. The simulation study with a random two-dimensional diffusion was carried out. The results indicate that the DLA model can be used for the simulation of agglomeration behavior of the cluster-type inclusions. The morphology of clusters was observed with SEM and compared with the simulated agglomerates. The modelling procedure of the DLA model is applicable for the agglomeration process. The uncertainty of agglomeration process and the persuasive average agglomerative ratio was analyzed. The factors about the agglomerative ratio with the collision path distance and the size of particles or seed were discussed. The adherence of the nonmetallic inclusions on the dam, the weir and the walls of a tundish, and the absorption of inclusions by stopper or nozzle were also discussed.

Damage Mecha nism and Counter measures of Al_(2)O_(3)-SiC-C Refractories Un der Extreme Conditions

This paper analyzes the extreme application conditions of high temperature, high thermal shock and strong erosion of Al_(2)O_(3)-SiC-C refractories for molten iron ladles. It is considered that the main damage mechanism of the refractories is chemical corrosion of oxides (high contents of CaO, FeO and MnO) in the materials, reaction melting erosion, oxidation or decomposition of C or SiC in the materials, melting erosion at high temperatures, and damage under high thermal shock. The analysis results show that the low carbon and low silica Al_(2)O_(3)-SiC-C materials with high oxidation resistance should be used. The ratio of Al_(2)O_(3) to SiO_(2) in the materials should be greater than 2.5, and the andalusite or pyrophyllite with microcracks, Al_(2)O_(3) or Si_(3)N_(4) with in-situ particles or fibers, and the clay or metal with ductility at high temperatures should be added to improve the high temperature corrosion resistance and thermal shock resistance.

The Solidification and Corrosion Behavior Determination of the Ti/B Added Zn-Al-Mg Alloys

The solidification and corrosion behavior of the Ti/B added Zn-Al-Mg alloys were experimentally investigated by means of microstructure characterization and electrochemical test.The basic calculations were carried out to predict the characteristics of the Ti-added Zn-Al-Mg alloys.The Zn-Al-Mg ingots with minor doping of Ti/B were prepared and solidified under different cooling rate,including air cooling,water quenching and furnace cooling.The scanning electron microscopy(SEM)and the X-ray diffraction method(XRD)were used to determine the microstructures and phase types of the alloy samples.It could be discovered that trace TiAl3 particles were dispersed in the Ti/B added alloy samples which provide the heterogeneous nucleation sites to refine the size of the dendrites and the eutectic microstructures.More fined microstructures with the addition of both Ti and B were obtained compared with those with the merely addition of Ti,and the water cooled alloys presented the finest microstructures due to the fastest cooling rate.It could also be noticed that with the increasing solidification rate,the percentage of the MgZn_(2) phase turned out to be higher because of the Mg_(2)Zn_(11)↔MgZn_(2) transition,which is in consistent with the results in the actual hot-dip galvanizing process.Electrochemical experiments in the previous work included methods the of the Tafel polarization test and the electrochemical impedance spectroscopy test(EIS).Results show that the quenched Zn-Al-Mg alloy with the addition of both Ti and B takes on best corrosion resistance.Consequently,the addition of certain amount of Ti/B elements and the appropriate elevation of the cooling rate will be the practicable approaches to optimize the microstructure and the corrosion resistance of the Zn-Al-Mg coatings in the actual galvanizing process.

Scratch behavior of high speed steels for hot rolls

The scratch behaviors of two high speed steels （HSS） for hot rolls were studied by a Micro-combi Tester, and the emphasis was placed on researching the relations between the microstructure and the scratch resistance property of different HSS. The experimental results indicate that during the scratch process, the carbides are embedded into the matrix, the penetration depth of different HSS is closely related with the matrix hardness, i.e., the higher the matrix hardness, the better the scratch resistance property; and in the matrix, the fine, dispersive carbides are beneficial to form steady friction between the indenter and the scratched materials, but the coarser carbides are easier to fall into pieces.

Effects of CeO_2 on the XPS valence band spectra of coal under the combustion initialization stage at 400℃

In order to get the catalytic mechanism of CeO2 on graphite and coal at 400℃, the morphologies of coal, graphite, and CeO2 before and after combustion were analyzed through X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy （XPS）. It is found that the particle size of coal is mostly between 11.727 and 64.79 μm, while the particle size of CeO2 is between 1.937 and 11.79 μm. The agglomeration of coal and CeO2 can be seen by scanning electron microscopy （SEM） after reaction. XPS results show that with the addition of CeO2, the intensity of binding energy gets stronger, but there is no energy peak transition. Comparing the character of coal with and without the addition of CeO2, it can be seen that the C C bond fractures first at 400℃, while the C-H energy-band takes electrons at the same time to be far away from the Fermi level, and the O 2s, O 2p, and C sp hybrid orbitals are all excited. Adding CeO2 can enhance the activity of the whole coal. In addition, through XPS analysis, combined with the oxygen transfer theory and the electron transfer theory, the catalytic mechanism of CeO2 for pulverized coal combustion could be obtained.

In-situ Observation of Dark Phase Precipitation during Heating and Soaking Process of a High Nickel Steel

In-situ observation of microstructural evolution during heating and soaking process was carded out for a high nickel steel using HTCLSM. Dark phases were observed when soaking at 900℃. Results showed that the number of the dark phases culminated in about 50 s during soaking at 900℃. With the increase of soaking time the area proportion of the dark phases increased and reached the maximum value in about 3 min, When temperature rose from 900 ℃, the dark phases remained steady initially, but started to dissolve into the matrix at about 1 060 ℃ and completely disappeared at 1 132℃. When the specimen soaked at 900 ℃ was cooled down to room temperature （RT）, the dark phases kept stable. Energy spectrum analysis results showed that the dark phases contained much more Cr and Mn elements than the matrix and,were also rich in V. Tensile test results showed that the dark phase strengthened the steel with the maximum tensile strength obtained after soaking at 900 ℃ for 3 minutes.

Environmental boundary and formation mechanism of different types of H2S corrosion products on pipeline steel

To establish an adequate thermodynamic model for the mechanism of formation of hydrogen sulfide (H2S) corrosion products, theoretical and experimental studies were combined in this work. The corrosion products of API X60 pipeline steel formed under different H2S corrosion conditions were analyzed by scanning electron microscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, and X-ray diffraction. A thermodynamic model was developed to clarify the environmental boundaries for the formation and transformation of different products. Presumably, a dividing line with a negative slope existed between mackinawite and pyrrhotite. Using experimental data presented in this study combined with previously published results, we validated the model to predict the formation of mackinawite and pyrrhotite on the basis of the laws of thermodynamics. The established relationship is expected to support the investigation of the H2S corrosion mechanism in the oil and gas industry. © 2017, University of Science and Technology Beijing and Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg.

A stochastic model of bubble distribution in gas–solid fluidized beds

On the basis of the Langevin equation and the Fokker-Planck equation, a stochastic model of bubble distribution in a gas-solid fluidized bed was developed. A fluidized bed with a cross section of 0.3 m×0.02 m and a height of 0.8 m was used to investigate the bubble distribution with the photographic method. Two distributors were used with orifice diameters of 3 and 6 mm and opening ratios of 6.4% and 6.8%, respectively. The particles were color glass beads with diameters of O.3, 0.5 and 0.8 mm （Geldart group B particles）. The model predictions are reasonable in accordance with the experiment data. The research results indicated that the distribution of bubble concentration was affected by the particle diameter, the fluidizing velocity, and the distributor style. The fluctuation extension of the distribution of bubble concentration narrowed as the particle diameter, fluidizing velocity and opening ratio of the distributor increased. For a given distributor and given particles the distribution was relatively steady along the bed height as the fluidizing velocity changed.