Enhanced mechanical properties of dual-phase steel by repetitive intercritical annealing

The effect of repetitive intercritical annealing on the mechanical properties and work-hardening response of a typical C–Mn dual-phase (DP) steel was studied by consideration of different pre-intercritical annealing microstructures and martensite volume fractions. It was revealed that the DP steels produced from the initial martensitic microstructure have much better mechanical properties compared with those originated from the ferritic–pearlitic banded microstructure. The repetitive intercritical annealing of the initial martensitic microstructure was effective for the enhancement of strength–ductility balance, where at a comparable ductility; a twofold increase in the tensile strength was obtained. Finally, these results were discussed based on the Crussard–Jaoul work-hardening rate analysis.     

双相区形变对含Cu低碳钢Cu配分行为及组织性能影响

采用双相区形变+IQP及IQP(双相区等温-奥氏体化-淬火-碳配分)热处理工艺,研究了双相区形变对一种含Cu低碳钢Cu配分行为及其组织性能的影响。采用电子探针(EPMA)、扫描电镜(SEM)及透射电镜(TEM)等手段对元素配分行为及组织演变进行了表征。结果表明:实验钢经2种工艺处理后均出现Cu元素向逆转奥氏体的配分行为,采用双相区形变+IQ(双相区保温淬火)处理的组织中富Cu最高的区域面积为12.9%,比IQ工艺下富Cu区域提高108%;双相区形变+IQP工艺处理后实验钢的晶粒明显细化,且组织中块状残余奥氏体较多;与单一IQP工艺相比,双相区形变+IQP工艺处理的实验钢抗拉强度由1 253MPa提高到1 293MPa,伸长率由16.9%提高到18.3%,残余奥氏体体积分数由11.6%提高到13.8%,表明双相区30%的形变处理实现了促进Cu配分行为诱导残余奥氏体含量增加和细晶强化的双重效果。     

低碳中锰热轧TRIP钢退火工艺及组织演变

研究了第三代高强度高塑性TRIP钢的退火工艺对性能的影响和组织演变规律.热轧后形成的原始马氏体与临界退火时形成的残余奥氏体使TRIP钢具有良好的强度和塑性.结果表明:实验用钢可获得1000MPa以上的抗拉强度和30%以上的断后延伸率,且强塑积>30 Gpa·%;退火温度和保温时间对钢的力学性能具有显著影响,热轧TRIP钢临界退火温度为630℃,保温时间18 h时,实验用钢能获得最佳的综合力学性能.      

Application of Quenching and Partitioning (Q&P) Processing to Press Hardening Steel

Press hardening steel (PHS) has been increasingly used for the manufacture of structural automotive parts in recent years. One of the most critical characteristics of PHS is a low residual ductility related to a martensitic microstructure. The present work proposes the application of quenching and partitioning (Q&P) processing to improve the ductility of PHS. Q&P processing was applied to a Si- and Cr-added Q&P-compatible PHS, leading to a press hardened microstructure consisting of a tempered martensite matrix containing carbide-free bainite and retained austenite. The simultaneous addition of Si and Cr was used to increase the retained austenite fraction in the Q&P-compatible PHS. The Q&P processing of the PHS resulted in a high volume fraction of C-enriched retained austenite, and excellent mechanical properties. After a quench at 543 K (270 °C) and a partition treatment at 673 K (400 °C), the PHS microstructure contained a high volume fraction of retained austenite and a total elongation (TE) of 17 pct was achieved. The yield strength (YS) and the tensile strength were 1098 and 1320 MPa, respectively. The considerable improvement of the ductility of the Q&P-compatible PHS should lead to an improved in-service ductility beneficial to the passive safety of vehicle passengers.     

Evaluation of Carbon Partitioning in New Generation of Quench and Partitioning (Q&P) Steels

Quenching and partitioning (Q&P) and a novel combined process of hot straining (HS) and Q&P (HSQ&P) treatments have been applied to a TRIP-assisted steel in a Gleeble®3S50 thermomechanical simulator. The heat treatments involved intercritical annealing at 800 °C and a two-step Q&P heat treatment with a partitioning time of 100 seconds at 400 °C. The “optimum” quench temperature of 318 °C was selected according to the constrained carbon equilibrium (CCE) criterion. The effects of high-temperature deformation (isothermal and non-isothermal) on the carbon enrichment of austenite, carbide formation, and the strain-induced transformation to ferrite (SIT) mechanism were investigated. Carbon partitioning from supersaturated martensite into austenite and carbide precipitation were confirmed by means of atom probe tomography (APT) and scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM). Austenite carbon enrichment was clearly observed in all specimens, and in the HSQ&P samples, it was significantly greater than in Q&P, suggesting an additional carbon partitioning to austenite from ferrite formed by the deformation-induced austenite-to-ferrite transformation (DIFT) phenomenon. By APT, the carbon accumulation at austenite/martensite interfaces was observed, with higher values for HSQ&P deformed isothermally (≈ 11 at. pct), when compared with non-isothermal HSQ&P (≈ 9.45 at. pct) and Q&P (≈ 7.6 at. pct). Moreover, a local Mn enrichment was observed in a ferrite/austenite interface, indicating ferrite growth under local equilibrium with negligible partitioning (LENP).

     

Tensile Properties of Medium Mn Steel with a Bimodal UFG α + γ and Coarse δ-Ferrite Microstructure

While the tensile strength and elongation obtained for medium Mn steel would appear to make it a candidate material in applications which require formable ultra-high strength materials, many secondary aspects of the microstructure–properties relationships have not yet been given enough attention. In this contribution, the microstructural and tensile properties of medium Mn steel with a bimodal microstructure consisting of an ultra-fine grained ferrite + austenite constituent and coarse-grained delta-ferrite are therefore reviewed in detail. The tensile properties of ultra-fine-grained intercritically annealed medium Mn steel reveal a complex dependence on the intercritical annealing temperature. This dependence is related to the influence of the intercritical annealing temperature on the activation of the plasticity-enhancing mechanisms in the microstructure. The kinetics of deformation twinning and strain-induced transformation in the ultra-fine grained austenite play a prominent role in determining the strain hardening of medium Mn steel. While excellent strength–ductility combinations are obtained when deformation twinning and strain-induced transformation occur gradually and in sequence, large elongations are also observed when strain-induced transformation plasticity is not activated. In addition, the localization of plastic flow is observed to occur in samples after intercritical annealing at intermediate temperatures, suggesting that both strain hardening and strain rate sensitivity are influenced by the properties of the ultra-fine-grained austenite.     

In-situ analysis of retained austenite transformation in high-performance micro-alloyed TRIP steel

Microstructures and mechanical properties of Ti-V micro-alloyed TRIP( transformation-induced plasticity) steel with different compositions were investigated by tensile test,scanning electron microscopy( SEM),transmission electron microscopy( TEM),X-ray diffraction( XRD) and thermodynamic calculation( TC). The results indicated that the steel exhibited high ultimate tensile strength( 1 079MPa),sufficient ductility( 28%) and the highest product of strength and ductility( 30 212 MPa·%) heat treated after intercritical annealing at 800℃ for 3 min and bainitic annealing at 430 ℃ for 5 min. In addition,the change of volume fraction of retained austenite( VF-RA) versus tensile strain was measured using in-situ analysis by X-ray stress apparatus and micro-electronic universal testing machine. It was concluded that a-value could be used to evaluate the stability of retained austenite( S-RA) in the investigated Ti-V micro-alloyed TRIP steel. The smaller a-value indicated the higher stability of retained austenite( S-RA) and the higher mechanical properties of Ti-V micro-alloyed TRIP steel.     

Quenched and Partitioned Microstructures Produced <Emphasis Type="Italic">via</Emphasis> Gleeble Simulations of Hot-Strip Mill Cooling Practices

Previous researchers reported on quenched and partitioned (Q&P) microstructures produced via carbon partitioning from martensite into austenite during isothermal annealing after quenching to develop a partially martensitic initial structure. However, the thermal profile used in previous studies is not well suited to creating Q&P microstructures directly from a hot-strip mill. In this work, the commonly employed Q&P thermal profile (i.e., having an isothermal partitioning step) was modified to evaluate nonisothermal partitioning that might instead occur during cooling of a wound coil. Thus, it was possible to assess the potential for creating Q&P microstructures and properties directly off of the hot mill. Gleeble thermal simulations representative of a hot-strip mill cooling practice were used to create dual-phase, Q&P, transformation-induced plasticity (TRIP), and conventional microstructures by varying the quench/coiling temperatures (CTs) using a 0.19C-1.59Mn-1.63Si (wt pct) steel. Microstructural and mechanical property data indicate that hot rolling might be a viable processing route for high-strength Q&P steels.     

Effect of warm- rolling and intercritical annealing on microstructure and mechanical properties of medium- Mn steel

Effect of warm- rolling and subsequent intercritical annealing time at 650?? on microstructure and mechanical properties of a medium- Mn steel 0. 1C- 5Mn was investigated by using uniaxial tensile testing, transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and X- ray diffraction (XRD) analysis. The results show that a duplex microstructure having both equiaxed and lamellar morphologies of reverted austenite and ferrite is obtained after intercritical annealing of the warm- rolled steel sheet. The amount of reverted austenite and its size increase with increasing annealing time, which causes a decrease of the mechanical stability of austenite and thus an increase of ultimate tensile strength (UTS) while a decrease of yield strength, total elongation (TEL) and the product of UTS to TEL (UTS??TEL). An excellent combination of strength and ductility of 40GPa??% could be obtained after a short time annealing of 5min. The combination of strength and ductility (UTS??TEL) could be increased by about 20% for the warm- rolled steel sheet compared to that of the cold- rolled steel sheet. It is thus proposed that warm- rolling is a promising way to simplify the traditional multi- stage rolling and annealing processes of medium- Mn steels as well as further enhancing it mechanical properties.     

两相区退火温度对TRIP钢组织性能的影响

 针对600 MPa级别TRIP钢,进行了760、780、800、820、840、860 ℃两相区退火温度试验,利用扫描电镜和拉伸试验机等设备,分析了其对应的组织比例和力学性能检验结果,得出结论：随着两相区退火温度的升高,铁素体体积分数逐渐减少,钢板的抗拉强度值不断增加,但伸长率值却先下降再升高,在820 ℃伸长率有最大值,这与820 ℃时较高残余奥氏体体积分数和最大残奥中碳质量分数相对应,说明TRIP效应可以改善钢板的塑性指标,获得最佳强塑组合;在800～820 ℃的两相区转变温度范围内,强塑积可以达到2.17×104 MPa·%,为600 MPa级TRIP钢退火工艺提供了实际指导。     

Quench and Partitioning Steel: A New AHSS Concept for Automotive Anti‐Intrusion Applications

A new type of high strength, high toughness, martensitic steel, based on a newly proposed Quench and Partitioning (Q&P) process, is presented. This high strength martensitic grade is produced by the controlled low temperature partitioning of carbon from as‐quenched martensite laths to retained inter‐lath austenite under conditions where both low temperature transition carbide formation and cementite precipitation are suppressed. The contribution focuses on both the current understanding of the fundamental processes involved and includes a discussion of the technical feasibility of large‐scale industrial production of these steels as sheet products. The Q&P process, which is carried out on steels with a lean composition, should be implemented easily on some current industrial continuous annealing and galvanizing lines. In addition, martensitic Q&P sheet steel is characterized by very favourable combinations of strength, ductility and toughness, which are particularly relevant for high strength anti‐intrusion automotive parts.     

冷轧中锰钢的成形性能

 研究了两相区退火时间对中锰钢(0.1C-5Mn)的微观组织结构、力学性能及扩孔性能的影响。利用扫描电镜(SEM)和背散射电子成像技术(EBSD)对退火过程中微观组织结构的演化进行了表征;通过拉伸和扩孔试验测定了不同退火状态下中锰钢的强度、塑性和扩孔率。研究表明,中锰钢在650℃下逆转变退火获得了含有大量奥氏体相的基体为超细晶组织的奥氏体、铁素体双相钢组织,强塑积（Rm·A）达到30GPa·%以上;奥氏体体积分数随退火时间的延长而逐步增加,但过多亚稳奥氏体对钢的综合成形性能不利。     

中碳钢球化退火行为和力学性能的研究

采用常规双相区球化退火和亚温球化退火工艺研究了常规轧制（CR）和控轧控冷（CRC）的中碳钢SWRCH35K的球化退火行为和力学性能。结果表明,与传统的双相区球化退火相比,亚温球化退火时碳化物球化进程明显加快,球化率高,且碳化物比较细小,具有良好的塑性和冷成形性,采用亚温球化退火处理可明显地缩短球化退火时间。控轧控冷的中碳钢线材尽管具有比较粗大的珠光体组织,但因有相当部分的珠光体发生退化,其球化退火进程要明显快于细珠光体组织。     

Quenching and Partitioning (Q&P) Processing of Martensitic Stainless Steels

Austenite was stabilized in the martensitic stainless steel grade AISI 420 by means of quenching and partitioning (Q&P) processing. The effects of quenching temperature on the microstructure and mechanical properties were investigated. The specimens processed at low quench temperatures (regime I) had a microstructure consisting of tempered martensite and retained austenite. At high quench temperatures (regime II), fresh martensite was present too. The highest austenite fraction of about 0.35 was obtained at the quench temperature delineating regimes I and II. The amount of carbon in retained austenite increased as the quench temperature decreased. The carbon level of austenite was, however, much lower than the carbon concentrations expected from full partitioning assumption. This was mainly due to the extensive cementite formation in the partitioning step. Stabilization of austenite by Q&P processing was found not to be purely chemical. Austenite stabilization was also assisted by locking, because of local carbon enrichment, of potential martensite nucleation sites in the austenite/martensite boundaries and in austenite defects. The importance of the latter stabilization mechanism increased at higher martensite fractions. According to the tensile test results, the Q&P processed specimen with the highest austenite fraction was not associated with the best combination of strength and ductility. The mechanical stability of austenite was found to increase with its carbon concentration being the highest at the lowest quench temperature. The thermal stability, on the other hand, was almost inversely proportional to the retained austenite fraction, being low at intermediate quench temperatures where the retained austenite fraction was high.     

Influence of intercritical annealing temperature on microstructure and mechanical properties of medium Mn TRIP steel

The transformation, microstructure and mechanical properties of the 0. 2C- 5Mn TRIP steel after intercritical annealing were investigated using dilatometer, scanning electronic microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy(TEM), X- ray diffraction (XRD), and tensile testing machine. The phase transformation thermodynamics of the investigated steel after intercritical annealing was calculated by Factsage software and the characteristics of the transformation were discussed. The results show that the reversed austenite content increases with the increasing of the intercritical annealing temperature, the carbon content in reversed austenite firstly increases and then decreases, manganese content in reversed austenite decreases, which results in the decreasing of the thermal stability of reversed austenite. When the intercritical annealing temperature is 700??, an obvious martensitic transformation occurs during the cooling process. With the increasing of intercritical annealing temperature, cementite is gradually dissolved, but it cannot be completely dissolved due to the short transformation time. When the intercritical annealing temperature is 600-675??, the microstructure after intercritical annealing consists of ferrite, cementite and retained austenite. When the intercritical annealing temperature is 700??, the microstructure after intercritical annealing consists of ferrite, retained austenite, martensite and a small amount of undissolved cementite. The engineering stress and strain curves of the investigated steel are significantly changed with increasing intercritical annealing temperature. At the same time, the optimal mechanical properties with tensile strength of 1138MPa and total elongation of 23% can be obtained after annealed at 675?? for 3min.     

Effects of heat treatment and alloying elements on the microstructures and mechanical properties of 0.15 wt pct C transformation-induced plasticity-aided cold-rolled steel sheets

The main emphasis of this study has been placed on understanding the effects of manganese and silicon additions and of heat-treatment (intercritical annealing and isothermal treatment) conditions on the microstructures and mechanical properties of 0.15 wt pct C transformation-induced plasticity (TRIP)-aided cold-rolled steel sheets. The steel sheets were intercritically annealed and isothermally treated at the bainitic region. Microstructural observation and tensile tests were conducted, and volume fractions of retained austenite were measured. Steels having a high manganese content had higher retained austenite fractions than the steels having a low manganese content, but showed characteristics of a dual-phase steel such as continuous yielding behavior, high tensile strength over 1000 MPa, and a low elongation of about 20 pct. The retained austenite fractions and mechanical properties varied with the heat-treatment conditions. In particular, the retained austenite fractions increased with decreasing intercritical annealing and isothermal treatment temperatures, thereby resulting in the improvement of the elongation and strength-ductility balance without a serious decrease in the yield or tensile strength. These findings suggested that the intercritical annealing and isothermal treatment conditions should be established in consideration of the stability of austenite and the solubility of alloying elements in the austenite formed during the intercritical annealing.     

Influence of Al on the Microstructural Evolution and Mechanical Behavior of Low-Carbon,Manganese Transformation-Induced-Plasticity Steel

Microstructural design with an Al addition is suggested for low-carbon, manganese transformation-induced-plasticity (Mn TRIP) steel for application in the continuous-annealing process. With an Al content of 1 mass pct, the competition between the recrystallization of the cold-rolled microstructure and the austenite formation cannot be avoided during intercritical annealing, and the recrystallization of the deformed matrix does not proceed effectively. The addition of 3 mass pct Al, however, allows nearly complete recrystallization of the deformed microstructure by providing a dual-phase cold-rolled structure consisting of ferrite and martensite and by suppressing excessive austenite formation at a higher annealing temperature. An optimized annealing condition results in the room-temperature stability of the intercritical austenite in Mn TRIP steel containing 3 mass pct Al, permitting persistent transformation to martensite during tensile deformation. The alloy presents an excellent strength-ductility balance combining a tensile strength of approximately 1 GPa with a total elongation over 25 pct, which is comparable to that of Mn TRIP steel subjected to batch-type annealing.     

Impact of Si on Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of 22MnB5 Hot Stamping Steel Treated by Quenching &amp; Partitioning (Q&amp;P)

Based on 22MnB5 hot stamping steel, three model alloys containing 0.5, 0.8, and 1.5 wt pct Si were produced, heat treated by quenching and partitioning (Q&P), and characterized. Aided by DICTRA calculations, the thermal Q&P cycles were designed to fit into industrial hot stamping by keeping partitioning times ≤ 30 seconds. As expected, Si increased the amount of retained austenite (RA) stabilized after final cooling. However, for the intermediate Si alloy the heat treatment exerted a particularly pronounced influence with an RA content three times as high for the one-step process compared to the two-step process. It appeared that 0.8 wt pct Si sufficed to suppress direct cementite formation from within martensite laths but did not sufficiently stabilize carbon-soaked RA at higher temperatures. Tensile and bending tests showed strongly diverging effects of austenite on ductility. Total elongation improved consistently with increasing RA content independently from its carbon content. In contrast, the bending angle was not impacted by high-carbon RA but deteriorated almost linearly with the amount of low-carbon RA.