Osamu Matsumura

Bio: Osamu Matsumura is an academic researcher from Nippon Steel. The author has contributed to research in topics: Austenite & Recrystallization (metallurgy). The author has an hindex of 11, co-authored 18 publications receiving 1085 citations.

Enhancement of Elongation by Retained Austenite in Intercritical Annealed 0.4C-1.5Si-O.8Mn Steel

Abstract: An excellent combination of elongation over 30% and high strength about 100kgf/mm2 is achieved in processing of a 0.4C-1.5Si-0.8Mn steel by intercritical annealing, rapid cooling into bainite transformation temperature to soak several minutes. This combination is caused by transformation induced plasticity of retained austenite. Sufficient amount of stable austenite is a requisite for the good ductility. For the rapid cooling after annealing, the soaking temperature for the best combination of strength and ductility is immediately above Ac1. On the other hand, a delay before rapid cooling provides good properties if the soaking temperature is near Ac3 and the subsequent cooling is performed at a lower rate before pearlite transformation; in this case the critical cooling rate is reduced. These phenomena are discussed in terms of the growth of ferrite and the diffusion of alloying elements inclusive of Mn during slow cooling.

Mechanical Properties and Retained Austenite in Intercritically Heat-Treated Bainite-Transformed Steel and Their Variation with Si and Mn Additions

Abstract: Processing peculiarities and functions of alloying elements, such as Si and Mn, were studied for improving formability of steel sheets with mixed microstructures. Annealing a sheet steel with 0.2 pct C in the intercritical range produced very fine particles of retained austenite which were moderately stabilized due to C enrichment by subsequent holding in the bainite transformation range. Its strength-ductility balance is greatly superior to that of other dual-phase steels due to transformation-induced plasticity (TRIP). The holding time in the bainite transformation range varies with temperature, depending on the activation energy of C diffusion in austenite, and shifts to longer times with an increase of Si or Mn additions. The optimum cooling rate from the intercritical region is reduced with an increase of Mn content but is not influenced by Si content. Additional Mn makes the retained austenite content larger, although uniform elongation remains the same. In this case, the product of tensile strength and total elongation is increased due to an increase in the tensile strength. Contrary to Mn, Si does not affect retained austenite content but improves the uniform elongation by increasing its stability.

Influence of C Content and Annealing Temperature on Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of 400°C Transformed Steel Containing Retained Austenite

Abstract: In order to evaluate the influence of C content and annealing temperature on the mechanical properties of steels containing retained austenite, cold-rolled sheets containing 0.12 to 0.4 C, 1.2 Si, and 1.5 Mn have been intercritically annealed and isothermally transformed at 400°C. Annealing near AC1 temperature followed by the 400°C isothermal transformation for 100 to 300 sec results in the best combination of strength and ductility. The ultimate tensile strength ranges from 590 Mpa in the 0.12 C steel to 980 Mpa in the 0.4 C steel. The total elongation varies 39 to 33%, and is ranked well above that of conventional ferrite-martensite dual-phase steels at the comparable strength. Amounts of retained austenite in these specimens are 7 to 20% and linearly related to the C contents of the steel. Mechanical stability of the retained austenite is fairly improved compared to that found in conventional dual-phase steels, and enhances the ductility at high strength. Better combinations of strength and ductility are maintained even in the lower C steels due to the contribution of an increased amount of highly ductile ferrite.

Effect of Retained Austenite on Formability of High Strength Sheet Steels

Abstract: Effects of retained austenite on press formability were investigated, using austempered 04C-Si-12Mn sheet steels with high tensile strength of more than 980 MPaThe results showed plausible relationships between formability and initial volume fraction of retained austenite (Vγ0) With an increase in Vγ0, height of stretch forming increased linearly to its maximum at about 02Vγ0, and bending as well as expanding of a mechanically ground hole were gradually improved to the best at 015 to 02Vγ0 On the other hand, expanding of a punched hole was slightly deteriorated with increasing Vγ0 in less than 015-02Vγ0 These various types of formability were all extraordinarily deteriorated beyond 02Vγ0 in stretch forming and 015-02Vγ0 in the othersIt was concluded that these effects of retained austenite on formability can be clearly understood in terms of Vγ0 and k: a rate constant relating rate of deformation-induced transformation with uniaxial tensile strain, as a parameter showing stability of retained austenite in press forming

Structure–properties relationship in TRIP steels containing carbide-free bainite

Abstract: The purpose of the present contribution is to review the current knowledge about the relationship between the micro-structure of cold rolled intercritically annealed low alloy TRIP-aided sheet steels and their mechanical properties from a materials engineering point of view. The focus is on their production in existing industrial lines and on their application in the manufacture of passenger cars with a body-in-white which offers an improved passive safety. The review aims to make clear that although low alloy TRIP-aided sheet steel is by now starting to be an established structural material in BIW manufacturing, there is still room for the further optimization of the composition and the processing. In addition, there are still a number of problems related to their physical metallurgy that require a better fundamental understanding.

Effect of microstructure on the stability of retained austenite in transformation-induced-plasticity steels

Abstract: Two Fe-0.2C-1.55Mn-1.5Si (in wt pct) steels, with and without the addition of 0.039Nb (in wt pct), were studied using laboratory rolling-mill simulations of controlled thermomechanical processing. The microstructures of all samples were characterized by optical metallography, X-ray diffraction (XRD), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The microstructural behavior of phases under applied strain was studied using a heat-tinting technique. Despite the similarity in the microstructures of the two steels (equal amounts of polygonal ferrite, carbide-free bainite, and retained austenite), the mechanical properties were different. The mechanical properties of these transformation-induced-plasticity (TRIP) steels depended not only on the individual behavior of all these phases, but also on the interaction between the phases during deformation. The polygonal ferrite and bainite of the C-Mn-Si steel contributed to the elongation more than these phases in the C-Mn-Si-Nb-steel. The stability of retained austenite depends on its location within the microstructure, the morphology of the bainite, and its interaction with other phases during straining. Granular bainite was the bainite morphology that provided the optimum stability of the retained austenite.

On the Influence of Interactions between Phases on the Mechanical Stability of Retained Austenite in Transformation-Induced Plasticity Multiphase Steels

Abstract: The mechanical stability of dispersed retained austenite, i.e., the resistance of this austenite to mechanically induced martensitic transformation, was characterized at room temperature on two steels which differed by their silicon content. The steels had been heat treated in such a way that each specimen presented the same initial volume fraction of austenite and the same austenite grain size. Nevertheless, depending on the specimen, the retained austenite contained different amounts of carbon and was surrounded by different phases. Measurements of the variation of the volume fraction of untransformed austenite as a function of uniaxial plastic strain revealed that, besides the carbon content of retained austenite, the strength of the other phases surrounding austenite grains also influences the austenite resistance to martensitic transformation. The presence of thermal martensite together with the silicon solid-solution strengthening of the intercritical ferrite matrix can “shield” austenite from the externally applied load. As a consequence, the increase of the mechanical stability of retained austenite is not solely related to the decrease of the M s temperature induced by carbon enrichment.