Leyu Zhou

Secondary Hardening, Austenite Grain Coarsening and Surface Decarburization Phenomenon in Nb-Bearing Spring Steel

The secondary hardening, the austenite grain coarsening and the surface decarburization phenomenon of Nb-bearing spring steel were investigated, and the effects of niobium on tempered microstructure was studied using scanning electron microscope. The results show that the micro-addition of niobium increases the tempering resistance and produces secondary hardening. The effect of niobium on the size and distribution of cementite particles is one of the primary reasons to increase the hardness after tempering. The grain-coarsening temperature of the spring steel is raised 150 °C due to Nb-addition. Furthermore, both the secondary hardening and the austenite grain coarsening phenomenon congruously demonstrate niobium begins observably dissolving above 1100 °C in the spring steel. Besides, niobium microalloying is an effective and economy means to decrease the decarburization sensitivity of the spring steels.

Influence of silicon on the microstructures, mechanical properties and stretch-flangeability of dual phase steels

Uniaxial tension tests and hole-expansion tests were carried out to determine the influence of silicon on the microstructures, mechanical properties, and stretch-flangeability of conventional dual-phase steels. Compared to 0.03wt% silicon, the addition of 1.08wt% silicon induced the formation of finer ferrite grains (6.8 μm) and a higher carbon content of martensite (Cm ≈ 0.32wt%). As the silicon level increased, the initial strain-hardening rate (n value) and the uniform elongation increased, whereas the yield strength, yield ratio, and stretch-flangeability decreased. The microstructures were observed after hole-expansion tests. The results showed that low carbon content martensite (Cm ≈ 0.19wt%) can easily deform in coordination with ferrite. The relationship between the mechanical properties and stretch-flangeability indicated that the steel with large post-uniform elongation has good stretch-flangeability due to a closer plastic incompatibility of the ferrite and martensite phases, which can effectively delay the production and decohesion of microvoids.

Dynamic Recrystallization Behavior of GCr15SiMn Bearing Steel during Hot Deformation

The hot deformation behavior of GCr15SiMn steel was studied through high temperature compression tests on the Gleeble-1500 thermal-mechanical simulator. The initiation and evolution of dynamic recrystallization (DRX) were investigated with microstructural analysis and then the process variables were derived from flow curves. In the present deformation conditions, the curves of strain hardening exponent (n) and the true strain (ɛ) at the deformation temperature of 1423 K and strain rates of 0.1, 1 and 10 s−1 exhibit single peak and single valley. According to Zener-Hollomon and Ludwik equation, the experimental data have been regressed by using linear method. An expression of Z parameter and hot deformation equation of the tested steel were established. Moreover, the Q values of GCr15SiMn and GCr15 steels were compared. In order to determine the recrystallization fraction under different conditions, the volume fraction of DRX as a function of process variables, such as strain rate (ɛ), temperature (T), and strain (ɛ), was established. It was found that the calculated results agreed with the microstructure of the steel at any deformation conditions.

Forming condition and control strategy of ferrite decarburization in 60Si2MnA spring steel wires for automotive suspensions

The ferrite decarburization behavior of 60Si2MnA spring steel wires for automotive suspensions, including the forming condition and the influence of heating time and cooling rate after hot rolling, was investigated comprehensively. Also, a control strategy during the reheating process and cooling process after rolling was put forward to protect against ferrite decarburization. The results show that ferrite decarburization, which has the strong temperature dependence due to phase transformation, is produced between 675 and 875°C. The maximum depth is found at 750°C. Heating time and cooling rate after rolling have an important influence on decarburization. Reasonable preheating temperature in the billet reheating process and austenitizing temperature in the heat-treatment process are suggested to protect against ferrite decarburization.

Surface decarburization characteristics and relation between decarburized types and heating temperature of spring steel 60Si2MnA

The characteristics of complete and partial decarburizations in spring steel 60Si2MnA were systematically investigated, including the microstructure, the hardness gradient, and the formation mechanism. The relation between decarburized types and heating temperature of the steel was comprehensively discussed. It is found that heating temperature has an important influence on the decarburized types. With the rise of heating temperature, the decarburized types change from no decarburization to complete decarburization, complete and partial decarburizations, partial decarburization, and no decarburization.

Microstructure evolution, fracture and hardening mechanisms of quenched and tempered steel for large sized bearing rings at elevated quenching temperatures

Based on 42CrMo steel, a steel with a higher C and Ni content is developed for use in large sized bearing rings. The impact energy and hardness of the quenched and tempered steel increase with the quenching temperature, but then decrease when the temperature is above 925 °C. When the temperature is below 925 °C, some larger M23C6-type carbides (with average diameters of 255.6 μm) exist in the quenched and tempered microstructure. The number of carbides is reduced as the quenching temperature increases. At the same time, the fracture modes change from microvoid coalescence and quasi-cleavage to microvoid coalescence. The number of round quasi-cleavage fractures, which are formed around the carbides, decrease as the number of carbides decrease. The existence of larger M23C6-type carbides leads to round quasi-cleavage fractures and decrease the impact energy. The precipitation strengthening of M23C6-type carbides increases the hardness at a quenching temperature of 925 °C.

Effect of Strengthening Phase on Deformation Behaviour during Uniaxial Tension of Hot-rolled Dual Phase Steel

Two kinds of C-Si-Mn-Cr series tested steels were designed to obtain dual phase microstructures of ferrite (F) + martensite (M) or ferrite (F) + bainite (B) with different mechanical properties. Effects of strengthening phase on yielding and fracture behaviours during uniaxial tension of dual phase steel were discussed. Compared with hot-rolled martensite dual phase steel, ferrite-bainite dual phase steel has high ratio of yield strength to tensile strength (YS/TS) and low elongation. During necking process of uniaxial tension, microvoids of ferrite-martensite steel are generated by fracture of ferrite/martensite boundary or martensite islands with irregular shape. But ferrite matrix elongated remarkably along deformation direction, and strengthening phase also coordinated with ferrite matrix. Compatible deformation between ferrite and bainite is distinct. Ferrite-bainite dual phase steel has fine and less microvoid, and phase boundary of ferrite and bainite is beneficial for restraining generation and extending of microvoid.

Analysis of the Formation of Surface Crack on Crankshaft After Die Forging

The causes are investigated for the formation of surface crack on a crankshaft based on numerical simulation, light microscopy and SEM analysis in this study. It is concluded that inclusion is not the reason for the crack initiation. Coarse microstructure and shrinkage cavities were found in the centre of billet, and then were observed to flow to the crack by 3D simulation analysis of forging process. In order to identify the simulation result, the size and distribution of prior austenitic grain and shrinkage porosities at the crack on the crankshaft were analyzed. Results show that the size of prior austenitic grain and shrinkage porosities and the volume fraction of shrinkage porosity are larger at the crack compared with that at other part of the crankshaft. The work shows that the coarse microstructure and shrinkage cavities flowing from the centre of the billet is the cause of the surface crack during the induction hardening process.

Microstructure and texture evolution of cold-rolled deep-drawing steel sheet during annealing

In accordance with experimental results about the annealing microstructure and texture of cold-rolled deepdrawing sheet based on the compact strip production (CSP) process, a two-dimensional cellular automation simulation model, considering real space and time scale, was established to simulate recrystallization and grain growth during the actual batch annealing process. The simulation results show that pancaked grains form during recrystallization. {111} advantageous texture components become the main parts of the recrystallization texture. After grain growth, the pancaked grains coarsen gradually. The content of {111} advantageous texture components in the annealing texture increases from 55vol% to 65vol%; meanwhile, the contents of {112}〈110〉 and {100}〈110〉 texture components decrease by 4% and 8%, respectively, compared with the recrystallization texture. The simulation results of microstructure and texture evolution are also consistent with the experimental ones, proving the accuracy and usefulness of the model.