Thermomechanical processing of advanced high strength steels

Extensive research efforts are underway globally to develop new steel microstructure concepts for high-strength sheet products, driven largely by the need for lightweight automotive structures in support of designs to enhance occupant safety and energy efficiency. One promising approach, involving the quenching and partitioning (Q&P) process, was introduced in the predecessor to this paper series, Austenite Formation and Decomposition, 2003.[1] Development of the Q&P process has continued through to the present, and the current status is highlighted in this article, along with some alternative approaches that are also receiving attention. Special emphasis is placed on the synthesis and interpretation of the fundamental phase transformation responses, perspectives related to alloying and processing, and the resulting microstructure and properties. Key mechanistic issues are discussed, including carbide formation and suppression, migration of the martensite/austenite interface, carbon partitioning, and partitioning kinetics.

Analysis of Microstructure Evolution in Quenching and Partitioning Automotive Sheet Steel

High-energy X-ray diffraction study on the temperature-dependent mechanical stability of retained austenite in low-alloyed TRIP steels

On the deformation behavior of κ-carbide-free and κ-carbide-containing high-Mn light-weight steel

Nanoindentation measurements were obtained on eight commercially-produced DP980 dual-phase steels to quantify the hardness of the individual constituents, ferrite and martensite, in each steel. Each microstructure was also evaluated to determine grain size, martensite volume fraction (MVF), and retained austenite content. Nanoindentation hardnesses and quantitative microstructural measurements were correlated with tensile properties and performance in hole expansion tests to assess the importance of the individual constituent properties. Hole expansion samples were prepared with both sheared edges produced by mechanical punching, and non-deformed edges produced by electric discharge machining (EDM). Average material hardness based on nanoindentation data correlated directly to Vickers hardness measurements, verifying the capability of the nanoindentation technique to produce data consistent with traditional hardness measurements. Yield strength (YS) correlated directly to ferrite hardness indicating that, for a similar MVF and microstructural morphology, the YS is controlled by the strength of the softer matrix phase (ferrite). Hole expansion ratios (HER) on EDM samples decreased with an increase in both martensite and ferrite hardness, indicating that EDM HER values can be enhanced by softening both constituents. Punched-hole HER values decreased with increasing martensite hardness and martensite-to-ferrite hardness ratio, but were independent of ferrite hardness, indicating that softening the martensite while increasing the ferrite hardness could produce a higher HER.

https://inside.mines.edu/~cpackard/papers/Correlations%20between%20nanoindentation%20hardness%20and%20macroscopic.pdf

Correlations between nanoindentation hardness and macroscopic mechanical properties in DP980 steels

The body design with light weight and enhanced safety is a key issue in the car industry. Corresponding to this trend, POSCO is developing various automotive steel products with advanced performance. Conventional advanced high strength steels such as DP and TRIP steels are now expanding their application since the steels exhibit higher strength and ductility than those of conventional solution and precipitation strengthened high strength steels. Efforts have been made to enhance the mechanical performance of these steels such as ductility, hole expansion ratio, deep drawability, etc. Current research is focused on development of extra- and ultra-AHSS. Extra-AHSS are designed to utilize nano-scale retained austenite embedded in fine bainite and martensite. Ultra-AHSS are designed to have austenite as the major phase, and the ductility is enhanced primarily by continuous strain hardening generated during forming. These steels including extra- and ultra-AHSS are believed to be the next generation automotive steels which will replace the existing high strength steels due to their extremely high strength and ductility combinations.

New Trends in Advanced High Strength Steel Developments For Automotive Application

A method of manufacturing a high manganese plated steel sheet includes a heating step of heating a continuously cast slab at a temperature of 10500C to 13000C, a finish hot rolling step of performing finish hot rolling on the slab at a temperature of 85O0C to 95O0C, a hot rolling and coiling step of performing hot rolling and coiling on the slab at a temperature of 75O0C or less, a pickling step of pickling the slab in a HCl solution having a concentration of 5% to 25% for 20 seconds or more, an annealing step of annealing the slab at a recrystallization temperature of 6000C, and a plating step of immersing the slab into a hot dip galvanizing bath so as to create a plated layer on a surface of the steel sheet.

High manganese coated steel sheet having high strength and ductility and manufacturing method thereof

Edge stretching is an important formability issue when it comes to apply sheet steels to automotive industry. Anisotropy, strain hardening and toughness are closely related to hole expansion properties. In this paper, hole expansion properties of a high Mn fully austenitic Twinning Induced Plasticity (TWIP) steel are compared with three other types of single-phase sheet steels. The effects of r-value, n-value, m-value and post-uniform elongation on the edge stretch-flangeability are discussed. It was found that the post-uniform elongation and the strain rate sensitivity have a pronounced effect on hole expansion properties.

On the Stretch-flangeability of High Mn TWIP Steels

The present study focused on the design and testing of new 3rd generation TWIP steels to find reduced Mn content alternatives to the existing high Mn FeMnC and FeMnAlC alloy systems. In order to investigate the effect of nitrogen addition, 12Mn0.6C-N was examined and 18Mn0.6C-N steel was used as a reference. Effects of nitrogen and manganese on the microstructure and mechanical properties were investigated by X-ray diffraction, optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy and tensile testing. The deformation microstructures of 12Mn0.6C-N were mixtures of twinned austenite and 5~10% e-martensite. Only deformation twinning was observed in 18Mn0.6C-N during the deformation due to its higher stacking fault energy. 18Mn0.6C-N steel exhibited higher strength and elongation than 12Mn0.6C-N steel. The effect of the strain rate on the tensile behavior of both materials was also examined. While 18Mn0.6C-N showed clear negative strain rate sensitivity, 12Mn0.6C-N did not show a clear relationship between flow stress and strain rate. The effect of annealing temperature on the tensile behavior and microstructure was also examined.

Effect of N on Microstructure and Tensile Behavior of TWIP Steel

This study has been conducted to evaluate the orientation-dependent stored energy of deformed grains from the data measured using electron back-scattered diffraction (EBSD) analysis. The stored energy in deformed grains is an important term as a driving force for static recrystallization of cold-rolled steels. Subgrain method based on subgrain structure is used for quantitative analysis of the stored energy developed in cold-rolled interstitial free (IF) steels to a reduction of 80%. The orientation dependent stored energy term was used in Monte Carlo technique to simulate static recrystallization of IF steels.

Kwang Geun Chin

Papers

New Trends in Advanced High Strength Steel Developments For Automotive Application

High manganese coated steel sheet having high strength and ductility and manufacturing method thereof

On the Stretch-flangeability of High Mn TWIP Steels

Effect of N on Microstructure and Tensile Behavior of TWIP Steel

Evaluation of Stored Energy in Cold-Rolled IF Steels from EBSD Data and Its Application to Recrystallization Modeling