Effects of Mn on Microstructures and Properties of Hot Rolled Low Carbon Bainitic Steels

Two kinds of Mn-Si-Mo low carbon steels were designed to study the effects of Mn on the microstructures and properties of hot rolled low carbon bainitic steels.To reduce the production cost,a very low Mo content of 0.13%was added in both steels.After hot rolling,the mechanical properties of samples were tested.Microstructure was observed and analyzed by optical microscope and transmission electron microscope.The results show that the strength of tested steels increases with the increase in Mn content,while the elongation decreases.When Mn content increases,the bainite microstructure increases.The results can provide a theoretical basis for composition design and industrial production of low cost low carbon bainitic steels.

Effect of Nb on the Microstructure and Properties of Cold Rolled and Annealed Mo Microalloyed Bainitic Steel

Two kinds of low carbon bainitic steels,Nb-free Mo bearing and Nb + Mo addition steels,were cold rolled and annealed to investigate the effect of micro-alloying element Nb on the microstructure and properties of Mo microalloyed low carbon high strength bainitic steel. No precipitates were observed in Nb-free Mo bearing steel,whereas,two types of precipitates,i.e.,Nb( C,N) and composite( Nb,Mo)( C,N),were observed in the Nb + Mo microalloyed steel,resulting in precipitation strengthening. The strength of Mo bearing steel was improved by addition of Nb under the same annealing conditions. The grain size of Nb addition steel was almost the same as Nb-free steel. Unlike the obvious grain refinement and precipitation strengthening in hot rolling,the increase in yield strength of Nb addition steels in cold rolling and annealing mainly results from the precipitation strengthening,while the effect of grain refinement strengthening can be almost ignored.

In situ observations of austenite grain growth in Fe-C-Mn-Si super bainitic steel

In situ observations of austenite grain growth in Fe-C-Mn-Si super bainitic steel were conducted on a high-temperature laser scanning confocal microscope during continuous heating and subsequent isothermal holding at 850, 1000, and 1100℃ for 30 min. A grain growth model was proposed based on experimental results. It is indicated that the austenite grain size increases with austenitizing temperature and holding time. When the austenitizing temperature is above 1100℃, the austenite grains grow rapidly, and abnormal austenite grains occur. In addition, the effect of heating rate on austenite grain growth was investigated, and the relation between austenite grains and bainite morphology after bainitic transformations was also discussed.

In situ measured growth rates of bainite plates in an Fe-C-Mn-Si superbainitic steel

The growth rates of bainite plates in an Fe-C-Mn-Si superbainitie steel were investigated by in situ observation. The lengthening rates of ferrite bainite during both cooling and isothermal holding processes were observed and the growth rates of bainite plates nucleating at grain boundaries, within grains and on preformed bainite were measured. It is indicated that the lengthening rates of bainite plates during the cooling and isothermal processes were different, and that the growth rates of bainite plates nucleating at different types of sites also demon- strated diversity. The bainite plates initiating at [vain boundaries during cooling grew the fastest, while the plates nucleating on preformed bainite did the slowest. However, the growth rate of the bainite plates nucleating at grain boundaries during isothermal transformation de- creased the most, whereas the bainite plates initiating within grains grew the fastest. In addition, the growth rate of ferrite bainite in the study supported the diffusion transformation mechanism of bainite from the viewooint of ~rowth rate.

Dynamic Observation of Bainite Transformation in a Fe-C-Mn-Si Superbainite Steel

The dynamic observations of bainitic transformation in a Fe-C-Mn-Si superbainite steel were conducted on a high temperature laser scanning confocal microscope. It is indicated that the mutual intersection of bainite sheaves often occurs during growth of bainite ferrite, resulting in an interlocked bainite microstructure. Moreover, bainite transformation is promoted by higher austenization temperature and the longer and finer bainite platelets are obtained. Further, The average growth rate of bainite after austenization at 1 100 ℃ is calculated as 5.8 μm·s -1. In situ observation investigation makes it possible to identify bainite transformation in real time during isothermal holding.

Effect of cooling rate on microstructure and inclusion in non-quenched and tempered steel during horizontal directional solidification

In order to investigate the relationship between microstructure and MnS inclusion in non-quenched and tempered steel, and cooling rate during horizontal directional solidification, 49MnVS steel was used to conduct the experiments with a selfdesigned device. The mathematical effect of cooling rate on dendritic arm spacing and mean diameter of MnS particles (dMnS) were determined by using linear regression method. The results show that the length of dendrite from solid–liquid interface to end-solidification decreased with increasing the withdrawal velocity (#). dMnS has a similar value in the area of the steady directional solidification;the value of dMnS was 4.1, 3.6, 3.3, 2.8 and 2.3 lm at withdrawal velocity of 50, 75, 100, 150 and 200 lm/s, respectively. dMnS increased with reducing # or RC (interface cooling rate). MnS precipitated in the gaps between dendrites and was influenced by secondary dendritic arm spacing. Besides, a new concept of the ‘Precipitation Unit Space’(PUS) was proposed and the relationships between dMnS, VPUS (volume of PUS) and RC were obtained.

A method for observing tridimensional morphology of sulfide inclusions by non-aqueous solution electrolytic etching

Three-dimensional investigation of sulfides is required in order to improve the mechanical properties of steel by controlling the sulfides in the steel.A method including its principles and device is introduced for the investigation of threedimensional morphology of sulfides.The method is suitable for gear steel,free cutting steel,non-quenched steel,tempered steel(ws≥0.02 wt.%),etc.The influences of current density,time,and temperature on the exposure degree of sulfide inclusions were investigated by using 16MnCrS5 steel.The best parameters of electrolytic etching of sulfur steel,as found by experimentation,are as follows:current density,37.5-52.5 mA/cm2;time,30-35 min;and temperature,—10 to 0℃.Under these conditions,the three-dimensional morphology of sulfide inclusions in sulfur-bearing steel can be exposed effectively.