Druce P Dunne

Review: Interaction of precipitation with recrystallisation and phase transformation in low alloy steels

Abstract The processes of precipitation, restoration and phase transformation can interact in complex ways during thermomechanical processing of microalloyed steels to profoundly alter their structures and properties. Precipitation in austenite during hot deformation can strongly modify the kinetics of recovery and recrystallisation, subsequently affecting the nucleation and growth of ferrite during cooling. For steels containing strong carbide/nitride formers, interphase precipitation (IP) can occur in ferrite at the austenite/ferrite interface, conferring significant coherency strengthening. Much of what is known about this phenomenon is attributable to the impressive research efforts of Robert Honeycombe and his colleagues at Cambridge.

Effect of Grain Size on the Hydrogen Diffusion Process in Steel Using Cellular Automaton Approach

The role of microstructure in susceptibility to hydrogen uptake and property degradation is being evaluated using a number of high strength pipeline steels. To do so, a cellular automaton (CA) model has been used to examine the effect of grain size, as a first step in assessing the influence of microstructure. The simulation results of hydrogen diffusion into microstructures with different grain sizes are presented.

Shape memory in ferrous alloys

Abstract: Iron-based shape memory alloys have been studied intensively over the last few decades by several research groups, notably those led by Maki (Kyoto university), Hsu (Shanghai Jiao Tong university), Sato (Tokyo Institute of Technology) and Kajiwara (NIMS, Tsukuba). These researchers have published authoritative reviews of this topic and the present contribution draws on these and other significant publications to analyse fundamental factors that are important in producing shape memory. Although steels have generally not matched the performance of non-ferrous alloys, design strategies are proposed in this review that could lead to improved ferrous shape memory alloys.

Laser Cladding of Stainless Steel Substrates with Stellite 6

Stellite 6 coatings were produced using laser cladding of two different steel substrates (martensitic and austenitic stainless steels). The chemical composition and microstructure of these coatings were characterized by atomic absorption spectroscopy, optical microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. The microhardness of the coatings was measured and the wear mechanism of the coatings was examined using a pin-on-plate (reciprocating) wear testing machine. The results showed less cracking and pore development for Stellite 6 coatings applied to the martensitic stainless steel (SS) substrate. The wear test results showed that the weight loss for the coating on martensitic SS was significantly lower than for the austenitic SS substrate. It is concluded that the higher hardness of the coating on the martensitic SS, together with the harder and more rigid substrate increase the wear resistance of the Stellite 6 coating.

Effect of gaseous hydrogen charging on the tensile properties of standard and medium Mn X70 pipeline steels

The tensile properties of two X70 steels with high (1.14 wt-%) and medium (0.5 wt-%) Mn contents have been investigated by testing at 25°C of tubular specimens charged with an internal gas pressure of 10 MPa of hydrogen or argon. The hydrogen-charged samples were additionally tested at 50 and 100°C. Tensile testing showed that the equiaxed ferrite–pearlite microstructure of higher Mn steel was most sensitive to hydrogen embrittlement and that the banded ferrite–pearlite microstructure of the higher Mn strip was more susceptible to hydrogen embrittlement than the medium Mn strip. The more highly banded ferrite–pearlite microstructure in the higher Mn steel provided numerous sites for concentration of hydrogen to levels that promoted crack initiation and growth. Test temperatures up to 100°C reduced the yield and tensile strengths, increased the total elongation and decreased the extent of hydrogen embrittlement because of enhanced dislocation mobility and less effective hydrogen trapping.

Prediction of weld metal microstructure of self-shielded arc hardfacing welds resistant to metal-to-metal wear

Mixed microstructures of δ-ferrite, martensite and bainite are common in the weld metals produced by self-shielded arc welding (SSAW) for the purpose of hardfacing weld repair. This paper describes the development of a Schaeffler-type diagram for predicting the weld metal microstructure, thereby providing guidance on weld filler metal design to produce the optimum microstructure for industrial hardfacing applications.

Wear Behaviour of Stellite 6 Coatings Produced on an Austenitic Stainless Steel Substrate by Laser Cladding Using Two Different Heat Inputs

Stellite 6 was deposited by laser cladding on an austenitic stainless steel substrate (ASS) with energy inputs of 1 kW (ASS 1) and 1.8 kW (ASS 1.8). The chemical compositions and microstructures of these coatings were characterized by atomic absorption spectroscopy, optical microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. The microhardness of the coatings was measured and the wear mechanism of the coatings was assessed using a pin-on-plate (reciprocating) wear testing machine. The results showed less cracking and pore development for Stellite 6 coatings applied to the austenitic stainless steel substrate with the lower heat input (ASS 1). Further, the Stellite coating for ASS 1 was significantly harder than that obtained for ASS 1.8. The wear test results showed that the weight loss for ASS 1 was much lower than for ASS 1.8. It is concluded that the lower hardness of the coating for ASS 1.8, together with the softer underlying substrate structure, markedly reduced the wear resistance of the Stellite 6 coating.

Laser Cladding of Wear Resistant Stellite 6 Coating on P22 Steel Substrate with Two Different Energy Inputs

Stellite 6 was deposited by laser cladding on a P22 steel substrate with energy inputs of 1 kW (P22-1) and 1.8 kW (P22-1.8). The chemical compositions and microstructures of these coatings were characterized by atomic absorption spectroscopy, optical microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. The microhardness of the coatings was measured and the wear mechanism of the coatings was examined using a pin-on-plate (reciprocating) wear testing machine. The results showed less cracking and pore development for Stellite 6 coatings applied to the P22 steel substrate with the lower heat input (P22-1). Further, the Stellite coating for P22-1 was significantly harder than that obtained for P22-1.8. The wear test results showed that the weight loss for P22-1 was much lower than for P22-1.8. It is concluded that the lower hardness of the coating for P22-1.8, markedly reduced the wear resistance of the Stellite 6 coating.

Structural and Hardness Gradients in the Heat Affected Zone of Welded Low Carbon Martensitic Steels

Welding of low carbon martensitic steels with yield strengths above 690 MPa requires careful attention to the welding procedure to avoid hydrogen assisted cold cracking (HACC) and to minimise degradation of the mechanical properties of the weldment. Investigations of the microstructural and hardness gradients in the heat affected zone (HAZ) of these types of steels revealed that the peak hardness does not occur in the grain coarsened heat affected zone (GCHAZ) adjacent to the fusion boundary, as normally observed for ferritic steels, but is displaced towards the grain refined region (GRHAZ). This phenomenon, referred to as the displaced hardness peak (DHP) effect, is considered to arise when the hardenability of the steel is sufficiently high to produce the same microstructure in the both the GC and GR heat affected zones, but the enhanced structural refinement of the GRHAZ increases the hardness and strength above that of the GCHAZ. Implications relative to the susceptibility of the weldments to HACC are discussed.

Role of microstructure in susceptibility of X70 pipeline steel to hydrogen embrittlement

In order to investigate the susceptibility of steels to hydrogen embrittlement as a function of their microstructure X70 steel was chosen in different conditions: normalized transfer bar, as-received hot rolled strip and heat affected zone (HAZ). Notched and fatigue pre-cracked samples were subjected to electrochemical hydrogen charging to achieve 2 ppm hydrogen content. Three point bend tests were conducted on as-received and hydrogen charged samples. The results showed that HAZ samples are more susceptible to hydrogen embrittlement than the others. This was supported by fracture surface observations.