Microalloyed steel

About: Microalloyed steel is a research topic. Over the lifetime, 2183 publications have been published within this topic receiving 33586 citations.

Effects of Nb, Ti and V on recrystallization kinetics of austenite in microalloyed steels

Abstract: Purpose: The work presents research results of impact of Nb, Ti and V microadditions on flow stress, recrystallization kinetics and microstructure of newly elaborated steels assigned for production of forged machine parts, using the method of thermo-mechanical treatment. Design/methodology/approach: The study was performed with the use of Gleeble 3800 simulator. Stressstrain curves were determined during continuous compression test in a temperature range from 900 to 1100°C and at a strain rate of 1, 10 and 50 s-1. In order to determine recrystallization kinetics of plastically deformed austenite, discontinuous compression tests of specimens were done with a given strain at the rate of 10 s-1, in a temperature range from 900 to 1100°C, with isothermal holding of samples between successive stages of deformation for 2 to 100 s. Recrystallization kinetics of plastically deformed austenite was described using the Johnson-Mehl-Avrami equation. The observations of microstructures of thin foils were done using JEOL JEM 3010 transmission electron microscope. Findings: Basing on the analysis of the form and the course of curves obtained in the compression test, it was found that in the studied range of parameters of hot plastic deformation, the decrease of strain hardening of studied steels is caused by the process of continuous dynamic recrystallization. This is also confirmed by calculation results of activation energy of plastic deformation process. Performed two-stages compression tests revealed that microadditions introduced into steel considerably influence the kinetics of static recrystallization. Research limitations/implications: It was found that the time necessary for a total course of recrystallization of austenite is too long to be accepted in the production process of forgings. Practical implications: Executed hot compression tests will contribute to establishing conditions of forging with the method of thermo-mechanical treatment. Originality/value: Strain-stress curves and recrystallization kinetics curves of newly elaborated microalloyed steels have been determined.

Effect of Nb-Mo additions on precipitation behaviour in V microalloyed TRIP-assisted steels

Abstract: The microstructural evolution and precipitation behaviour of Nb-V-Mo and single V containing transformation-induced plasticity-assisted steels with an acicular/bainitic ferrite matrix were investigated by a heat treatment up to the austenite formation range. It was found that during the heating stage the acicular/bainitic ferrite matrix resisted recrystallisation, while cementite and martensite were decomposed and austenite was formed in the acicular/bainitic ferrite. Both Nb-V-Mo and V containing steels after the heat treatment showed a microstructure consisting of a polygonal ferrite matrix with small islands of pearlite. During these transformations, the microscopy observations showed that 0.04 wt% Nb and 0.08 wt% Mo additions to the 0.16 wt% V microalloyed steel considerably reduced the growth-coarsening of microalloy precipitates.

Coupled Grain Growth and Precipitation Modeling in Multi-Phase Systems

Abstract: In this work, we utilize recent software for precipitation kinetics simulation and couple it with models for grain growth. Basis of our studies is the thermo-kinetic software MatCalc, which has been designed for simulation of the evolution of precipitates in general multi-component multi-phase alloy systems. Grain growth approaches of different complexity are incorporated into the precipitation kinetics framework, investigated with respect to their coupling behavior with precipitation and precipitate dissolution and, finally, benchmarked on typical grain growth problems of industrial practice. The example presented in this work comprises austenite grain growth studies accompanying TiN and NbC precipitation/dissolution during austenitization of a Ti/Nb microalloyed steel. It is demonstrated that the present approach represents a versatile tool for analysis of simultaneous grain growth and precipitation in industrially important alloy systems.

Effect of Alloy Elements in Time Temperature Transformation Diagrams of Railway Wheels

Abstract: The Heavy-Haul railroad wheels started to use higher wear resistance steels microalloyed with niobium, vanadium, and molybdenum [1]. During continuous cooling, these elements depress the temperature of the pearlite formation, producing smaller interlamellar spacing that increases the hardness of the steel, besides to favor the precipitation hardening through the formation of carbides [2, 3]. Also, they delay the formation of difusional components like pearlite and bainite during isothermal transformation. The effects of these alloy elements on microstructure during isothermal transformation were studied in this work using a Bähr 805A/D dilatometer. Three different compositions of class C railway wheels steels (two microalloyed and one, non microalloyed) were analyzed in temperatures between 200 and 700 °C. The microstructure and hardness for each isothermal treatment were obtained after the experiments. Comparing with non microalloyed steel (7C), the vanadium addition (7V steel) did not affect the beginning of diffusion-controlled reactions (pearlite and bainite), but delayed the end of these reactions, and showed separated bays for pearlite and bainite. The Nb + Mo addition delayed the beginning and the ending of pearlite and bainite formation and also showed distinct bays for them. The delays in diffusion-controlled reactions were more intense in the 7NbMo steel than in 7V steel. The V or Nb + Mo additions decreased the start temperature for martensite formation and increased the start temperature for austenite formation.