The double-edge effect of second-phase particles on the recrystallization behaviour and associated mechanical properties of metallic materials

Nucleation theory and the solubility product of niobium, carbon, and nitrogen in austenite have been used to derive equations for the start of Nb (C, N) precipitation as a function of temperature and composition. The predicted curves have been compared with the experimental observations of several authors to determine the effects of thermomechanical processing variables on the density of preferred nucleation sites and to incorporate these in the equations. Good agreement between the predicted and observed forms of precipitation curve is obtained with consistent constants in the equations when account is taken of the influence of different methods of detecting the onset of precipitation. Combining the calculated precipitation start curves with the dependence of recrystallization kinetics on composition and thermomechanical process variables when all niobium is in solution leads to prediction of the lower temperature limit for complete recrystallization and of the upper temperature limit for effecti...

Effect of composition and process variables on Nb(C, N) precipitation in niobium microalloyed austenite

Implementation of classical nucleation and growth theories for precipitation

The response of austenites to thermomechanical treatments is studied in a series of niobium (columbium) HSLA steels. Interactions between composition, plastic deformation, strain-induced precipitation, and austenite recrystallization are described and related to previous work in the field. Niobium in solution prior to deformation leads to significant retardation of subsequent austenite recrystallization if Nb(C,N) precipitation takes place prior to or during the early stages of recrystallization. Such straininduced precipitation proceeds in two stages: initially at austenitic grain boundaries and deformation bands, and later on substructural features in the unrecrystallized austenite. The latter precipitation is accelerated only if it occurs in the unrecrystallized austenite; if recrystallization precedes Nb(C,N) precipitation, then the precipitation reaction is much slower. Thus, the Nb(C,N) precipitation and austenite recrystallization reactions are coupled phenomena. The conditions necessary for such an interaction are analyzed, and it is proposed that the level of supersaturation of Nb(C,N) in the austenite at the deformation temperature is a critical factor in determining whether or not an effective interaction will operate at that temperature.

Niobium carbonitride precipitation and austenite recrystallization in hot-rolled microalloyed steels

It is well known that niobium is added to a wide range of steels for improving processing, microstructure, properties and performance. Over the past 20 years, the use of niobium has also permitted new steels with attractive properties to be developed. Furthermore, the addition of niobium to existing steels such as ferritic stainless steels has also led to improvement. The goal of this paper is to review the basic behaviour of niobium in a wide range of steels, including not only the traditional steels but also some of the newer versions. Particular emphasis has been placed on the basic metallurgical principles that apply to these steels, for it is the application of these principles that allows the composition- processing-microstructure-mechanical property relationships to be rationalised and exploited. The application of basic metallurgical principles has resulted in a predictive capability that has led to alterations in composition and processing for the purpose of producing steels with superior...

Niobium in modern steels

A detailed study of carbonitride precipitation in niobium/vanadium microalloyed steels is presented. A thermodynamic model is developed to predict the austenite/carbonitride equilibrium in the Fe−Nb-V-C-N system, using published solubility data and the Hillert/Staffansson model for stoichiometric phases. The model can be used to estimate equilibrium austenite and carbonitride compositions, and the amounts of each phase, as a function of steel composition and temperature. The model also provides a method to estimate the carbonitride solution temperatures for different steel compositions. Actual carbonitride precipitation behavior in austenite is then examined in two experimental 0.03Nb steels containing 0.05V and 0.20V, respectively. Samples were solution treated, rolled at 954°C (20 pct or 50 pct), held isothermally for times up to 10,000 seconds at 843°C, 954°C, or 1066°C, and brine quenched. The process of carbonitride precipitation in deformed austenite is followed by analytical electron microscopy (AEM) of carbon extraction replicas. Precipitates are observed at prior-austenite grain boundaries, and also within the grains (presumably at substructure introduced by the rolling deformation). Analysis of the grain-boundary and matrix precipitate compositions by AEM indicates that the grain-boundary precipitates are consistently richer in vanadium than the matrix precipitates, although compositional trends with holding time and temperature are similar for the two types of precipitates. The compositions of both the grain-boundary and matrix precipitates are not significantly influenced by the rolling reduction or the holding time at temperature. As predicted by the thermodynamic model, the precipitates become more vanadium-rich as the vanadium level in the steel is increased and as the temperature is reduced. The agreement between the measured and predicted precipitate compositions is quite good for the grain-boundary precipitates, although the matrix precipitates are consistently more niobium-rich than predicted by the model.

Carbonitride precipitation in niobium/vanadium microalloyed steels

The response of austenite to thermomechanical treatment is investigated in two series of niobium microalloyed steels. Optical and electron metallographic techniques were used to follow the austenite recrystallization and carbonitride precipitation reactions in these steels. The first series of steels contained a constant level of 0.05Nb, with carbon levels varying from 0.008 to 0.25 pct. It was found that a lower carbon concentration results in faster austenite recrystallization, due to a smaller carbonitride supersaturation, which leads to a reduced precipitate nucleation rate. The second series of steels was designed with a constant carbonitride supersaturation, by simultaneously varying the Nb and C concentrations while maintaining a constant solubility product. In these steels, the recrystallization kinetics increase as the volume fraction of Nb(C, N) is reduced and/or as the precipitate coarsening rate is increased. The volume fraction of carbonitrides increases as the Nb: (C+12/14 N) ratio approaches the stoichiometric ratio of approximately 8:1. The precipitate coarsening rate was shown to increase with increasing amounts of niobium remaining in solution in the austenite (i. e., “excess” Nb after precipitation). As expected, recrystallization proceeds more slowly at lower temperatures and after a reduced amount of deformation. An experiment to determine whether Nb atoms dissolved in the austenite could exert a significant solute-drag effect on the recrystallization reaction indicated that 0.20Nb in solution could reduce the rate of recrystallization compared to a Nb-free C-Mn steel. However, this solute effect was smaller than the retarding effect which 0.01Nb can have when it is precipitated in the form of carbonitrides on the austenite substructure after rolling.

Austenite recrystallization and carbonitride precipitation in niobium microalloyed steels

The segregation and precipitation of boron have been studied in thermomechanically processed 0.2C-0.6Mn-0.5Mo steels containing nominally 0, 10, 20, 50, and 100 ppm B. These steels were hot-rolled in the laboratory (in simulation of production multipass rolling), and their transformation behavior during subsequent water quenching was examined for different finish-rolling temperatures (980 °C and 870 °C) and quenching temperatures (730 °C to 950 °C). The results showed that in general, a “free” boron content of 10 to 20 ppm (which is similar to the levels used for conventional quenched-and-tempered steels) will provide a boron hardenability increment similar to that for conventional quenched-and-tempered steels. The delay time prior to quenching (over the range of 10 to 100 seconds) did not have a significant effect on hardenability except in the steels containing 50 or more ppm B. In these higher B steels, precipitation of borocarbides occurred along austenite grain boundaries with a resultant decrease in hardenability.

The boron hardenability effect in thermomechanically processed, direct-quenched 0.2 Pct C steels

Ten experimental 0.18 pct C-1.2 pct Mn- 0.002 pct B steels with various Ti/N ratios were evaluated in this study. The hardenability of these steels was first determined using Jominy tests. Slab sections were then rolled to produce 12.5-mm-thick plates, and subsequently quenched and tempered for mechanical property evaluation. The volume fraction of coarse (greater than 1 µm) TiN particles was measured in all steels using quantitative metallographic techniques. Scanning transmission electron microscopy was used to investigate fine precipitates, and scanning electron microscopy was used to examine the fracture surface of Charpy specimens. The results show that a complete boron (B) hardenability effect is obtained with Ti/N ratios ≥2.9, a value slightly below the stoichiometric Ti/N ratio of 3.4. Any excess Ti, above that which combines with N, provides an additional increase in hardenability on quenching (effect of Ti in solution) and an increase in strength on tempering (Ti (C,N) precipitation). Steels with a higher (Ti)(N) product develop a higher volume fraction of coarse TiN particles during solidification. These coarse TiN particles result in reduced toughness levels of the heat-treated plates evaluated in the present study.

Steven S. Hansen

Papers

Niobium carbonitride precipitation and austenite recrystallization in hot-rolled microalloyed steels

Carbonitride precipitation in niobium/vanadium microalloyed steels

Austenite recrystallization and carbonitride precipitation in niobium microalloyed steels

The boron hardenability effect in thermomechanically processed, direct-quenched 0.2 Pct C steels

Effect of the Ti/N ratio on the hardenability and mechanical properties of a quenched-and-tempered C-Mn-B steel