Formation of Austenite During Intercritical Annealing of Dual-Phase Steels

The formation of austenite during intercritical annealing at temperatures between 740 and 900 °C was studied in a series of 1.5 pct manganese steels containing 0.06 to 0.20 pct carbon and with a ferrite-pearlite starting microstructure, typical of most dual-phase steels. Austenite formation was separated into three stages: (1) very rapid growth of austenite into pearlite until pearlite dissolution is complete; (2) slower growth of austenite into ferrite at a rate that is controlled by carbon diffusion in austenite at high temperatures (~85O °C), and by manganese diffusion in ferrite (or along grain boundaries) at low temperatures (~750 °C); and (3) very slow final equilibration of ferrite and austenite at a rate that is controlled by manganese diffusion in austenite. Diffusion models for the various steps were analyzed and compared with experimental results.     

The effect of intercritical annealing temperature on the structure of niobium microalloyed dualphase steel

The structures produced in a Nb-microalloyed steel by oil quenching after intercritical anneals at 760 and 810 °C have been examined by light and transmission electron microscopy. After both anneals, the periphery of the austenite pool transforms on cooling to ferrite in the same orientation as the ferrite retained during intercritical annealing. Thus the ferrite forms by an epitaxial growth mechanism without the formation of a new interface or grain boundary. The new ferrite is precipitate-free in contrast to the retained ferrite which develops a very dense precipitate dispersion during intercritical annealing. In the carbonenriched interior of the austenite pool beyond the epitaxial ferrite only martensite forms in specimens annealed at 760 °C but various mixtures of ferrite and cementite form in specimens annealed at 810 °C. The latter structures include lamellar pearlite, a degenerate pearlite, and cementite interphase precipitation. All Nb is in solution in the austenite formed at 810 °C, and therefore the low hardenability of the specimens annealed at that temperature is best explained by the effect of low austenite carbon content.     

Formation of austenite in 1.5 pct Mn steels

The formation of austenite from different microstructural conditions has been studied in a series of 1.5 pct Mn steels that had been heated in and above the intercritical (α+ γ) region of the phase diagram. The influence of variables such as cementite morphology, initial structural state of the ferrite and the carbon content has been assessed in terms of their respective effects on the kinetics of austenite formation and final microstructure. Austenite was found to form preferentially on ferrite-ferrite grain boundaries for all initial structures. The results of this study have shown that the 1.5 pct Mn has lowered both the AC₃ and AC₁, lines causing large amounts of austenite to form in low carbon steel. The kinetics of austenite formation at 725 °C were not only very slow but also were approximately independent of the amount formed. Austenite appeared to form slightly more rapidly from cold rolled ferrite than from recrystallized ferrite or ferrite-pearlite structures.     

Recrystallization and formation of austenite in deformed lath martensitic structure of low carbon steels

The effect of prior deformation on the processes of tempering and austenitizing of lath martensite was studied by using low carbon steels. The recrystallization of as-quenched lath martensite was not observed on tempering while the deformed lath martensite easily recrystallized. The behavior of austenite formation in deformed specimens was different from that in as-quenched specimens because of the recrystallization of deformed lath martensite. The austenitizing behavior (and thus the austenite grain size) in deformed specimens was controlled by the competition of austenite formation with the recrystallization of lath martensite. In the case of as-quenched (non-deformed) lath martensite, the austenite particles were formed preferentially at prior austenite grain boundaries and then formed within the austenite grains mainly along the packet, block, and lath boundaries. On the other hand, in the case of lightly deformed (30 to 50 pct) lath martensite, the recrystallization of the matrix rapidly progressed prior to the formation of austenite, and the austenite particles were formed mainly at the boundaries of fairly fine recrystallized ferrite grains. When the lath martensite was heavily deformed (75 to 84 pct), the austenite formation proceeded almost simultaneously with the recrystallization of lath martensite. In such a situation, very fine austenite grain structure was obtained most effectively.     

Effect of intercritical temperature and cold-deformation on the kinetics of austenite formation during the intercritical annealing of dual-phase steels

The objective of this investigation was to study the effect of the intercritical temperature and percentage of cold-deformation on the kinetics auf austenite formation during the intercritical annealing in the alpha + gammy (α + γ) phase field of the iron-carbon phase diagram. This investigation was carried out on an Fe–0.11 C–1.58Mn–0.4 Si ferritic-pearlitic alloy with different structures of 0% (hot-rolled), 25% and 50% cold-deformation. The intercritical annealing temperatures were 735, 750°C and the intercritical annealing time ranged from 15 to 1815 s. It has been observed that recrystallization of the deformed ferrite was completed before any austenite formation. Surprisingly, it was noted that the recrystallized ferrite grain size was independent of percentage cold-deformation. Furthermore, it was expected that cold-deformation accelerates the kinetics of austenite formation. Nevertheless, the amounts of austenite formed from pearlite dissolution were mostly equal, irrespective of the starting condition. As has been previously reported, increasing the intercritical annealing temperature was found to increase the amount of austenite.     

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.     

Austenitization during intercritical annealing of an Fe-C-Si-Mn dual-phase steel

Partial austenitization during the intercritical annealing of an Fe-2.2 pct Si-1.8 pct Mn-0.04 pct C steel has been investigated on four kinds of starting microstructures. It has been found that austenite formation during the annealing can be interpreted in terms of a carbon diffusion-limited growth process. The preferential growth of austenite along the ferrite grain boundaries was explained by the rapid carbon supply from the dissolving carbide particles to the growing fronts of austenite particles along the newly formed austenite grain boundaries on the prior ferrite grain boundaries. The preferential austenitization along the grain boundaries proceeded rapidly, but the austenite growth became slowed down after the ferrite grain boundaries were site-saturated with austenite particles. When the ferrite grain boundaries were site-saturated with austenite particles in a coarse-grained structure, the austenite particles grew by the mode of Widmanstätten side plate rather than by the normal growth mode of planar interface displacement.     

Austenite stabilization from direct cementite conversion in low-alloy steels

Tr ansformation i nduced p lasticity (TRIP) effects associated with austenite dispersions in low alloy Fe-Mn-Si steels can be enhanced by austenite stabilisation. Austenite which forms during conventional intercritical annealing does not possess the required stability in order to exhibit TRIP effects. In this work, thermodynamic calculations indicated that it is feasible to form austenite by a cementite to austenite conversion which occurs under paraequilibrium conditions, i.e with partition of carbon but with no partition of substitutional alloying elements. In this way the austenite inherits the manganese content of cementite and is chemically stabilised. A treatment consisting of a two-step annealing has been examined. In the first step, soft annealing, an Mn-enriched cementite dispersion in ferrite is formed. In the second step, intercritical annealing, austenite nucleates on the cementite particles, which are consumed to form austenite. It was experimentally determined that this austenite has been enriched in manganese and carbon and, therefore, is stabilised. The conversion reaction is followed by the conventional austenite nucleation at ferrite grain boundaries. This austenite is lean in manganese and is not stable. The net effect of the two-step annealing treatment is a significant austenite stabilisation relative to simple intercritical annealing, indicating a potential for enhanced TRIP effects in this class of steels.     

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).

     

Development of Bimodal Ferrite-Grain Structures in Low-Carbon Steel Using Rapid Intercritical Annealing

Mixed ferrite grain structures, which have fine- and coarse-grain regions and showing “bimodal” grain size distributions, have been produced by rapid intercritical annealing of warm-rolled (or cold-rolled) samples. Microstructural changes have been analyzed using dilatometric studies, size prediction of transformed and recrystallized grains, and microtexture measurements. Fine austenite grains (<5 μm) developed during rapid annealing and transformed into fine-ferrite grains (2 to 4 μm) after cooling. Coarse-ferrite grains (28 to 42 μm) resulted from the recrystallization and growth of deformed ferrite. The effect of heating rate on microstructural morphologies during intercritical annealing has also been studied. A slow rate of heating (30 K/s) developed a uniform distribution of fine-ferrite grains and austenitic islands, while rapid heating (300 K/s) generated coarse blocks of austenite, elongated along the prior-pearlitic regions, in the ferrite matrix. As expected, bimodal ferrite grain structures or fine-scale dual-phase structures showed superior combination of tensile strength and ductility, compared to the ultrafine-grained steels.     

Recrystallization Behavior of a Heavily Deformed Austenitic Stainless Steel During Iterative Type Annealing

The study describes evolution of the recrystallization microstructure in an austenitic stainless steel during iterative or repetitive type annealing process. The starting heavily cold deformed microstructure consisted of a dual phase structure i.e., strain-induced martensite (SIM) (43 pct in volume) and heavily deformed large grained retained austenite. Recrystallization behavior was compared with Johnson Mehl Avrami and Kolmogorov model. Early annealing iterations led to reversion of SIM to reversed austenite. The microstructure changes observed in the retained austenite and in the reverted austenite were mapped by electron backscatter diffraction technique and transmission electron microscope. The reversed austenite was characterized by a fine polygonal substructure consisting of low-angle grain boundaries. With an increasing number of annealing repetitions, these boundaries were gradually replaced by high-angle grain boundaries and recrystallized into ultrafine-grained microstructure. On the other hand, recrystallization of retained austenite grains was sluggish in nature. Progress of recrystallization in these grains was found to take place by a gradual evolution of subgrains and their subsequent transformation into fine grains. The observed recrystallization characteristics suggest continuous recrystallization type process. The analysis provided basic insight into the recrystallization mechanisms that enable the processing of ultrafine-grained fcc steels by iterative type annealing. Tensile properties of the processed material showed a good combination of strength and ductility.     

The Effect of the Initial Microstructure on Recrystallization and Austenite Formation in a DP600 Steel

The effects of initial microstructure and thermal cycle on recrystallization, austenite formation, and their interaction were studied for intercritical annealing of a low-carbon steel that is suitable for industrial production of DP600 grade. The initial microstructures included 50 pct cold-rolled ferrite–pearlite, ferrite–bainite–pearlite and martensite. The latter two materials recrystallized at similar rates, while slower recrystallization was observed for ferrite–pearlite. If heating to an intercritical temperature was sufficiently slow, then recrystallization was completed before austenite formation, otherwise austenite formed in a partially recrystallized microstructure. The same trends as for recrystallization were found for the effect of initial microstructure on kinetics of austenite formation. The recrystallization–austenite formation interaction accelerated austenization in all the three starting microstructures by providing additional nucleation sites and enhancing growth rates, and drastically altered morphology and distribution of austenite. In particular, for ferrite–bainite–pearlite and martensite, the recrystallization–austenite formation interaction resulted in substantial microstructural refinement. Recrystallization and austenite formation from a fully recrystallized state were successfully modeled using the Johnson–Mehl–Avrami–Kolmogorov approach.     

Effects of Initial Structure and Reversion Temperature on Austenite Nucleation Site in Pearlite and Ferrite–Pearlite

Austenite nucleation sites were investigated in near-eutectoid 0.8 mass pct C steel and hypoeutectoid 0.4 mass pct C steel samples with full pearlite and ferrite–pearlite initial structures, respectively. In particular, the prior austenite grain size had been coarsened to compare grain boundaries in the hierarchical pearlite structure, i.e., the low-angle pearlite colony and high-angle block boundaries with ferrite/pearlite interfaces in the austenite nucleation ability. When the full pearlite in 0.8 mass pct C steel underwent reversion at a relatively low temperature, austenite grains preferentially formed at pearlite block boundaries. Consequently, when the full pearlite with the coarse block structure underwent reversion just above the eutectoid temperature, the reversion took a long time due to the low nucleation density. However, austenite grains densely formed at the pearlite colony boundaries as well, as the reversion temperature became sufficiently high. On the other hand, when ferrite–pearlite in the 0.4 mass pct C steel underwent reversion to austenite, the ferrite/pearlite interface acted as a more preferential austenite nucleation site than the pearlite block boundary even in the case of low-temperature reversion. From these results, it can be concluded that the preferential austenite nucleation site in carbon steels is in the following order: ferrite/pearlite interface?>?pearlite block?>?colony boundaries. In addition, orientation analysis results revealed that ferrite restricts the austenite nucleation more strongly than pearlitic ferrite does, which contributes to the preferential nucleation at ferrite/pearlite interfaces. This suggests that austenite grains formed at a ferrite/pearlite interface tend to have an identical orientation even under high-temperature reversion. Therefore, it is thought that the activation of austenite nucleation within pearlite by increasing the reversion temperature may be effective for rapid austenitization and the grain refinement of austenite structure after the completion of reversion in carbon steels.     

Retained carbide distribution in intercritically austenitized 52100 steel

Two 52100 steels, one containing 0.009 pct P, the other 0.023 pct P, were homogenized at 1150 °C, slowly cooled to form proeutectoid carbides and pearlite, partially spheroidized, austenitized at 850 °C for one hour, oil quenched, and tempered at 200 °C. Light microscopy and transmission electron microscopy of carbon extraction replicas showed that cementite particles were retained as three different morphologies in the fine-grained austenite formed during the 850 °C intercritical austenitizing treatment. The morphologies are characterized as follows: (1) closely spaced intragranular carbides most of which are less than 0.25 μm in diameter, (2) carbides about 1 μm in diameter, located on austenite grain boundaries, and (3) branched proeutectoid carbides arranged in networks corresponding to the coarse, 130 μm diameter austenite grains formed during homogenizing. The major effect of high phosphorus content was to retard the spheroidization of the retained carbides.     

Austenite Formation in Plain Low-Carbon Steels

In this study, austenite formation from hot-rolled (HR) and cold-rolled (CR) ferrite-pearlite structures in a plain low-carbon steel was investigated using dilation data and microstructural analysis. Different stages of microstructural evolution during heating of the HR and CR samples were investigated. These stages include austenite formation from pearlite colonies, ferrite-to-austenite transformation, and final carbide dissolution. In the CR samples, recrystallization of deformed ferrite and spheroidization of pearlite lamellae before transformation were evident at low heating rates. An increase in heating rate resulted in a delay in spheroidization of cementite lamellae and in recrystallization of ferrite grains in the CR steel. Furthermore, a morphological transition is observed during austenitization in both HR and CR samples with increasing heating rate. In HR samples, a change from blocky austenite grains to a fine network of these grains along ferrite grain boundaries occurs. In the CR samples, austenite formation changes from a random spatial distribution to a banded morphology.     

Formation of Banded Microstructures with Rapid Intercritical Annealing of Cold-Rolled Sheet Steel

The effects of heating rate in the range of 0.3 to 693 °C/s on transformations during intercritical annealing of a cold-rolled 0.12C-1.4Mn-0.02Nb steel with either a ferrite-pearlite or ferrite-spheroidized carbide microstructure were evaluated. Heating rates were selected to impart different predicted degrees of ferrite recrystallization present at the onset of austenite formation. Rapid heating minimized ferrite recrystallization with both prior microstructures and minimized pearlite spheroidization in the ferrite-pearlite condition, and austenite formation occurred preferentially in recovered ferrite regions as opposed to along recrystallized ferrite boundaries. Martensite was evenly distributed in slowly heated steels because austenite formed on recrystallized, equiaxed, ferrite boundaries. With rapid heating, austenite formed in directionally oriented recovered ferrite, which increased the degree of banding. The greatest degree of banding was found with intermediate heating rates leading to partial recrystallization, because austenite formed preferentially in the remaining recovered ferrite, which was located in bands along the rolling direction. Ferrite-spheroidized carbide microstructures had somewhat reduced martensite banding when compared to the ferrite-pearlite condition, where elongated pearlite enhanced banded austenite leading to banding in transformed microstructures.     

Influence of annealing treatment on the formation of nano/submicron grain size AISI 301 Austenitic stainless steels

Nano/submicron austenitic stainless steels have attracted increasing attention over the past few years due to fine structural control for tailoring engineering properties. At the nano/submicron grain scales, grain boundary strengthening can be significant, while ductility remains attractive. To achieve a nano/submicron grain size, metastable austenitic stainless steels are heavily cold-worked, and annealed to convert the deformation-induced martensite formed during cold rolling into austenite. The amount of reverted austenite is a function of annealing temperature. In this work, an AISI 301 metastable austenitic stainless steel is 90 pct cold-rolled and subsequently annealed at temperatures varying from 600 °C to 900 °C for a dwelling time of 30 minutes. The effects of annealing on the microstructure, average austenite grain size, martensite-to-austenite ratio, and carbide formation are determined. Analysis of the as-cold-rolled microstructure reveals that a 90 pct cold reduction produces a combination of lath type and dislocation cell-type martensitic structure. For the annealed samples, the average austenite grain size increases from 0.28 μm at 600 °C to 5.85 μm at 900 °C. On the other hand, the amount of reverted austenite exhibits a maximum at 750 °C, where austenite grains with an average grain size of 1.7 μm compose approximately 95 pct of the microstructure. Annealing temperatures above 750 °C show an increase in the amount of martensite. Upon annealing, (Fe, Cr, Mo)₂₃C₆ carbides form within the grains and at the grain boundaries.     

Effect of interpass time on austenite grain refinement by means of dynamic recrystallization of austenite

A 0.06 pct C-0.3 pct Mn and a 0.07 pct C-0.6 pct Mn-0.028 pct Nb steel were deformed in torsion at a constant strain rate of 2/s. Two schedules were used. In schedule A, seven roughing passes executed between 1260°C and 1130°C were followed by a single large finishing pass with a strain of 3.5 at constant temperatures between 1010°C and 840°C. The time between roughing and finishing was 200 seconds. In schedule B, the seven roughing passes were followed by 10 finishing passes, again applied isothermally, with strains of 0.3 and interpass times of 0.6, 2, and 10 seconds. The results indicate that for the Nb steel, low rolling temperatures (870°C) and strains above 2 are required for complete dynamic recrystallization, which results in austenite grain sizes under 6μm. Cooled at a rate of 10°C/s, the dynamically recrystallized austenite grain structures transform into ferrite with grain sizes under 4 μ. Extrapolations from the present data suggest that at industrial strain rates and cooling rates, ferrite grain sizes under 2 μm should be achieved. Y.W. BOWDEN, formerly CSIRA Research Associate, Department of Mining and Metallurgical Engineering, McGill University     

Intercritical Austenitization of Two Fe-Mn-C Steels

With the introduction of dual phase steels, it is increasingly becoming important to obtain a thorough understanding of intercritical austenitization phenomena. Quantitative microscopy techniques were used to study the process of intercritical austenitization (740°C) of two Fe-Mn-C steels, one of them being microalloyed with Nb. The two steels showed essentially the same kinetics,viz., three stages of intercritical austenitization: (i) austenite growth into pearlite until complete pearlite dissolution, (ii) growth of austenite into ferrite, and (iii) equilibration of ferrite and austenite. However, compared to data published by other researchers, the maximum amount of austenite, in our case, was reached much faster. Ferrite-ferrite interface processes and preferred nucleation at particles in the ferrite boundaries accelerated the austenite growth. Austenite growth out of pearlite colonies was asymmetric due to the fast ferrite-ferrite interface processes.     

Effect of Annealing Time on Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of Cold-Rolled Niobium and Titanium Bearing Micro-alloyed Steel Strips

Effects of annealing time on microstructure of cold-rolled niobium-titanium bearing micro-alloyed steel strips were investigated by optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, electron back-scatter diffraction (EBSD) and transmission electron microscopy. The complete recrystallization annealing temperature of 670 °C and complete annealing time of 9 min were determined using Vickers-hardness testing and EBSD analysis. The ferrite microstructure with spheric cementite particles and nano-scale precipitates of Nb(C, N) in matrix was obtained. The kinetics of the ferrite grain growth is lowered due to ferrite grain boundaries pinned by the cementite particles, so the ferrite grain size of 5. 5 μm remains unchanged among the annealing time ranging from 9 to 30 min. In addition, the strength of tested steel also keeps unchanged with the increase of annealing time. The higher yield strength of approximately 420 MPa can be obtained by grain refinement and precipitation hardening and the higher elongation of approximately 40% and work-hardening exponent of approximately 0. 2 can be gained due to grain refinement and presence of cementite particles, indicating that the balance of strength, ductility and forming property is realized.