Eric J. Palmiere

Modelling the kinetics of strain induced precipitation in Nb-microalloyed steels

Strain induced precipitation is a key phenomenon that controls the microstructure evolution during the finish rolling stages of microalloyed steels. Extensive research has shown that the precipitation of Nb(CN) delays the onset of recrystallisation. This paper presents a model to describe the precipitation kinetics during isothermal holding following high temperature deformation in Nb-containing steels. The model is based on the assumption that heterogeneous nucleation of precipitates on dislocations and enhanced coarsening due to pipe diffusion are responsible behind the accelerated kinetics observed in strain induced precipitation. Results show a very good agreement between reported experimental observations and predictions of the present model for precipitate size and volume fraction evolution.

Precipitation of NBC in a model austenitic steel

A model Fe–30 wt% Ni, 0.1 C, 1.61 Mn, 0.1 Nb microalloyed steel, that simulates conventional microalloyed C–Mn steels, but does not transform from the austenite phase on cooling, is reported. Plane strain compression testing was undertaken at 950°C at a constant true strain rate of 10 s−1. Samples were deformed in a two stage process. An initial true strain of 0.25–0.45 was followed by unloading, a hold of 1–1000 s and a final deformation to a total true strain of 0.5–0.9. A single deformation was undertaken under identical conditions, but to the total true strain of the double deformation tests. Electron spectroscopic imaging (ESI) in the TEM was used to determine precipitate size and distribution. A 1 s hold time between equal strains of ϵ=0.25 was sufficient for appreciable strain induced precipitation, although 40% static recrystallisation occurred during the hold time. Precipitation occurred entirely on dislocations, present principally as microband walls but also as a rudimentary cell structure within the microbands. No evidence was found for NbC precipitation in the matrix, which therefore remains supersaturated with Nb. NbC particle diameter was in the range 2.5–15 nm, with a density of 3.8×1021 particles/m3 for a 100 s delay period between two strains of ϵ=0.45 at 950°C. Both the size and number density are consistent with those observed in conventional microalloyed C–Mn steels. The behaviour of the model microalloyed Fe–30 Ni steel is discussed in relation to the data on conventional microalloyed steels.

Texture development in oxide scales on steel substrates

Abstract Oxide scale growth and microstructures on steels are complex and depend on a large number of variables e.g. temperature, time, atmosphere and alloying elements. The current study has illustrated that there is a complex crystallographic relationship between the scale layers, which also depends on these parameters.

A general method for coupling microstructural response with structural performance

The paper sets out the general principles of a method of coupling finite element for the representation of the structural response with array of cellular automata to encompass the associated microstructural behaviour. For the purpose of this paper, cellular automata is a discrete time–discrete space system consisting of cells which may take one of several states. The state of a cell depends on the states of the neighbouring cells as well as on some macroscopic field variables. The paper goes on to show how these principles can be used, by applying them to problems of oxide scale cracking and of dynamic recrystallization during the hot working of steel, and to the ductile-to-brittle transition in the fracture of ferritic steels.

Modelling Strain Induced Precipitation of Niobium Carbonitride during Multipass Deformation of Austenite

A new model of strain induced precipitation in niobium microalloyed austenite is proposed. This is based on the experimental observation of formation of microbands during hot deformation of iron – 30% nickel, which remains austenitic to room temperature. Precipitates are preferentially nucleated on nodes in the dislocation network in the microbands. This geometry enables features of earlier models to be simply explained, and facilitates extension of the model to multipass deformation. It is shown that the model captures all the essential features of previous experimental observations on microalloyed C – Mn steels. Currently, sensitivity analysis of the model and systematic experimental work are being undertaken to quantitatively validate the model.

New approach for modelling strain induced precipitation of Nb(C,N) in HSLA steels during multipass hot deformation in austenite

Abstract A new model for strain induced precipitation of Nb(C,N) is developed from the existing model for single pass hot deformation. This new model can be extended to multipass deformation to explain the microstructural evolution during the hot deformation of Nb supersaturated high strength low alloy (HSLA) steels. The key feature of this model is the microband geometry employed, which leads to determination of the local solute concentration at microbands, and hence the potential for carbonitride precipitation on the microbands. The model also validates the need for concurrent growth and coarsening processes, even at the early stages of precipitation. The evolution of the precipitate radius, number density and volume fraction are compared with the experimental results obtained from thin foil TEM micrographs on Fe–30 wt-%Ni alloys (that are austenitic at room temperature and are similar to HSLA steels in deformation behaviour) subjected to deformation by plane strain compression. The model predictions are in good agreement with experimental results.

Modelling Recrystallisation during Thermomechanical Processing Using CAFE

A common feature that stimulates modelling efforts across the various physical sciences is that complex microscopic behaviour underlies apparently simple macroscopic effects. Mathematical formulations attempt to capture the initial and evolving microstructural entities either implicitly or explicitly and link their effects to measurable macroscopic variables such as load or stress by averaging out any microscopic fluctuations. The implicit formulations that ignore the inherent spatial heterogeneity in the deforming domain form the basis of constitutive models for input to finite element (FE) systems. On the other hand, explicit formulations to capture and link microstructural entities rely on narrowing down the size of each finite element, thereby increasing the number of finite elements in the deforming domain, an effect accompanied by a rapid growth in computational time. The model described here, Cellular Automata based Finite Elements (CAFE), utilises the Cellular Automata technique to represent initial and evolving microstructural features (e.g., dislocation densities, grain sizes, etc.) in C-Mn steels at an appropriate length scale by linking the macro-scale process variables obtained using an overlying finite element mesh. Differences will be illustrated between single and two-pass hot rolling experiments.

Viscosity - shear rate relationship during the thixoforming of HP9/4/30 steel

Thixoforming involves shaping metal components in the semi-solid state. Work on the thixoforming of high temperature materials, such as steel, is still at its initial stage; this is mainly due to the high processing temperatures involved and the potential for oxidation. For thixoforming to be possible, it is preferable for an alloy to have an appreciable melting range and before forming the microstructure must ideally consist of solid metal spheroids in a liquid matrix. This paper discusses the thixoforming load versus displacement curves of HP9/4/30 steel semi-solid slugs under compression. The data from the corresponding load-displacement curves is converted into viscosity against shear rate adopting Stefan’s equation for flow between two parallel planes. The viscosity at processing conditions, i.e. at processing temperatures in the range of 1470 to 1480°C and zero to two minutes soak times, showed a rapid decrease initially, which corresponds to a rapid breakdown in the structure, followed by a steady decrease to a near constant value with increasing rate. The work shows pseudoplasticity (or shear-thinning) behaviour of the HP9/4/30 semi-solid slurries. This data would be required for modeling the die fill with these slurries.

The Effect of Strain Path Reversal during Austenite Deformation on Phase Transformation in a Microalloyed Steel Subjected to Accelerated Cooling

In the present study, monotonic and cyclical torsional deformations of an X-70 microalloyed steel were conducted at austenite temperatures below the recrystallisation-stop temperature (T5%). The austenite deformation is followed by accelerated continuous cooling to allow the investigation of the strain reversal effect on the subsequent phase transformation mechanisms. The transformation behaviours were studied by a dilatometry method, and the microstructures of the transformed products have been analysed using electron back scatter diffraction (EBSD). The results of this study shows that although subjected to the same total cumulative strain and the same cooling rate, strain path reversal by cyclical torsion produces lower temperature transformation products involving mainly a displacive mechanism, comparing to simple strain path deformation which leads to higher temperature transformation by a reconstructive mechanism.

Effect of friction on deformation during rolling as revealed by embedded pin technique

Abstract The paper investigates the effects of friction on the heterogeneity of deformation during rolling through studies using plane strain (2D) and three-dimensional (3D) finite element models designed to simulate the deformation of the embedded pin inserts during rolling. Redundant work due to friction is defined as a path function along the arc of contact. Since deformation during rolling is profoundly influenced by the amount of redundant work, which depends on friction as a path function along the arc of contact, the study has focused especially on methods of representing these frictional effects. The friction studied has been in one of two classes: the coefficient of friction being constant or varying parabolically along the arc of contact. The results show that the values of shear stress and normal pressure along the arc of contact depend upon the friction profile. The magnitude of these frictional effects is revealed by the through thickness variation of the relative pin insert displacement. This displacement changes in the 3D model because transverse spread reduces the amount of displacement along the axial direction. Comparison of the simulations with experimental pin insert shapes shows close agreement between the predicted and experimental results, while revealing the direction of further work needed to provide suitable mechanics models to interpret experimental pin insert data.