Ludmila Kučerová

Effect of Quenching and Partitioning Temperatures in the Q-P Process on the Properties of AHSS with Various Amounts of Manganese and Silicon

The use of the combined influence of retained austenite and bainitic ferrite to improve strength and ductility has been known for many years from the treatment of multiphase steels. Recently, the very fine films of retained austenite along the martensitic laths have also become the centre of attention. This treatment is called the Q-P process (quenching and partitioning). In this experimental program the quenching temperature and the isothermal holding temperature for diffusion carbon distribution for three advanced high strength steels with carbon content of 0.43 % was examined. The alloying strategies have a different content of manganese and silicon, which leads to various martensite start and finish temperatures. The model treatment was carried out using a thermomechanical simulator. Tested regimes resulted in a tensile strength of over 2000MPa with a ductility of above 14 %. The increase of the partitioning temperature influenced the intensity of martensite tempering and caused the decrease of tensile strength by 400MPa down to 1600MPa and at the same time more than 10 % growth of ductility occurred, increasing it to more than 20%.

The Effect of Mn and Si on the Properties of Advanced High Strength Steels Processed by Quenching and Partitioning

The concepts new types of materials are, for economic reasons, focused mainly on low alloyed steels with a good combination of strength and ductility. Suitable heat and thermo-mechanical treatments play an important role for the utilization of these materials. Different alloying strategies are used to influence phase transformations. The quenching and partitioning process (Q-P Process) is one of the heat treatment methods which can result in a high ultimate strength as well as a good ductility. However, these good properties can be obtained only if a sufficient amount of retained austenite is stabilized. The influence of different contents of manganese, silicon and chromium on microstructural development and mechanical properties were experimentally tested. Alloying elements were used to stabilize the retained austenite in the final microstructure and also to strengthen the solid solution. Ultimate strengths of over 2000MPa with ductility over 10% were reached after the optimization of the Q-P Process. The microstructures were analyzed using several microscopic methods; mechanical properties were determined by a tensile test and the volume fraction of the retained austenite was established by X-ray diffraction phase analysis.

Rapid Spheroidization and Grain Refinement Caused by Thermomechanical Treatment for Plain Structural Steel

The cold formability of ferritic-pearlitic steels is one of the base parameters for material choice for different forming parts. One of the key factors is the pearlite morphology, which is strongly dependent on chemical composition and previous treatment history. The carbides in pearlite occur mainly in the lamellar form. One of the ways of improving the ductility along with formability is the change of lamellar carbides to globular carbides. This can be conventionally done by soft annealing, which is characterised by long processing times and high energy costs. This paper presents a new processing modification which can lead on the one hand to significant shortening of carbide spheroidization times and on the other hand to intensive refinement of grain size even for low-carbon steels. Low temperature thermomechanical treatment with variation of the heating temperature around Ac1 and incremental deformation was examined on low carbon plain RSt-32 steel. After the thermomechanical treatment conditions were optimized, the refinement of the ferritic grains from an initial 30 μm to circa 5 μm took place, and the time necessary for carbide spheroidization was shortened from several hours to several seconds.

The Effect of Alloying Elements on Microstructure of 0,2%C TRIP Steel

Three low alloyed transformation induced plasticity (TRIP) steels with 0.2%C were used in this work. The first one was based on the most common and popular 0.2%C - 1.5%Mn - 1.8%Si concept and was used as a reference material. The second steel was further micro-alloyed by 0.06% of Niobium. The third steel was designed with lower manganese content of 0.6% and additional alloying by 0.8% of Chromium. Thermo-mechanical processing with incorporated incremental deformation was applied to each steel. Various cooling rates and numbers of deformation steps were tested with regard to final microstructure and properties. After this optimization, microstructures with the potential to utilize TRIP effect were achieved for all steels. Very good mechanical properties were obtained with ductility typically in the interval of 30-40% and the tensile strengths in the range of 680-835 MPa.

High ductility of bainite-based microstructure of middle carbon steel 42SiMn

Heat and thermo-mechanical treatments with various processing parameters were applied to middle carbon low alloyed 42SiMn steel. The aim of the treatment was to obtain multiphase microstructure typical for TRIP (Transformation induced plasticity) steel and to achieve the best combination of ultimate tensile strength and ductility. TRIP steels typically possess about 5-15% of metastable retained austenite, which can transform to martensite during plastic deformation. The gradual phase transformation during loading postpones the onset of necking, thus increasing ultimate tensile strength and ductility at the same time. Manganese and silicon, used as the main alloying elements of the experimental steel, are employed to increase austenite stability and to hinder cementite precipitation during the treatment. All proposed methods of heat and thermo-mechanical treatment contain bainitic hold at 400 °C or 425 °C. The final microstructures were very complex, consisting of bainite, ferrite, very small areas of extremely fine perlite lamellas, about 10% of retained austenite and M-A constituent (austenitic islands partially transformed to martensite). Even though pearlite and martensite are undesirable microstructure in TRIP steel, the tensile strength ranged from 850 to 1065 MPa and ductility A5mm from 26 to 47 %.

The effect of chemical composition on microstructure and properties of TRIP steels

Purpose: Various alloying strategies can be used to produce advanced high strength steels and this work offers comparison of results achieved for four different low alloyed steels with 0.2-0.4 %C, 0.5-2 %Si, 0.6-1.5 %Mn, 0.03-0.06 %Nb and with 0.8-1.33 %Cr. Microstructures obtained by two methods of thermo-mechanical treatment were analysed for each steel and compared with theoretical predictions of TTT (time temperature transformation) diagrams calculated by JMatPro. Design/methodology/approach: Thermo-mechanical treatment of all steels was carried out at thermo-mechanical simulator. Resulting microstructures were analyses by the means of scanning electron microscopy, mechanical properties were measured by tensile test. Findings: It was found out that microstructures typical for TRIP (transformation induced plasticity) steels can be obtained easily for low carbon steels alloyed by silicon or aluminium-silicon and micro-alloyed by niobium. Chromium addition influenced austenite decomposition causing intensive pearlite formation in low carbon steel and predominantly martensitic microstructure in middle carbon steel. These microstructures were not in agreement with calculated TTT diagrams. Research limitations/implications: To obtain ferritic-bainitic microstructure with retained austenite typical for TRIP steels, chromium alloyed steels require substantial optimisation of processing parameters. This issue should be addressed in future work. Practical implications: JMatPro software is well equipped to calculate TTT diagrams for steels alloyed by manganese, silicon and niobium, however further chromium addition changed behaviour of the steel in a way that the software was not able to predict. Originality/value: Obtained results could be useful for consideration of chemical composition of low alloyed steels with respect to resulting microstructures and properties.

The Effect of Isothermal Hold Temperature on Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of TRIP Steel

TRIP (transformation induced plasticity) steels are low alloyed low carbon steels with complex microstructures consisting of ferrite, bainite and retained austenite. This complex microstructure provides them with excellent strength to ductility balance, making them a member of advanced high strength steels (AHSS) group. Suitable microstructure can be obtained by either heat or thermo-mechanical treatment. A hold in bainite transformation region is an integral part of any form of commercial TRIP steel processing route, as it enables formation of sufficient volume fraction of bainite and also stabilization of retained austenite in the final microstructure. Various bainitic hold temperatures ranging from 350 °C to 500 °C were tested within thermo-mechanical treatment of 0.2C-1.5Mn-0.6S-1.5Al steel and the final microstructures were evaluated with regard to the suitability to TRIP effect and achieved mechanical properties. The microstructures were analyzed by scanning electron microscopy and mechanical properties measured by tensile test.

Preparation of Samples for In Situ Deformation Testing and Analysis of Microstructure Development

In- situ testing is a new and progressive method of material analysis, which can offer new information about behavior of individual phases and structural components in metals. Local mechanical properties or strain distribution can be directly obtained for fine multiphase microstructures. The second application of in-situ stages lies in observation of phase transformations that occur either during heating, cooling or straining of metals. EBSD analysis can be also performed during in-situ testing if the stage allows tilting of the sample toward EBSD detector. Preparation of samples for in-situ testing is of the utmost importance for successful analysis. This work concentrated on sample preparation techniques used for flat samples of 42SiCr steel. Preliminary in-situ cold deformation tests of this steel with EBSD acquisition and observation of microstructure development were also carried out.

Evaluation of in-situ deformation experiments of TRIP steel

The paper reports on the behaviour of low alloyed TRIP (transformation induced plasticity) steel with Niobium during tensile test. The structures were analysed using in-situ tensile testing coupled with electron backscattering diffraction (EBSD) analysis carried out in scanning electron microscope (SEM). Steel specimens were of same chemical composition; however three different annealing temperatures, 800 °C, 850 °C and 950 °C, were applied to the material during the heat treatment. The treatment consisted of annealing for 20 minutes in the furnace; cooling in salt bath after the heating and holding at 425 °C for 20 minutes for all the samples. Untreated bar was used as reference material. Flat samples for deformation stage were cut out of the heat-treated bars. In situ documentation of microstructure and crystallography development were carried out during the deformation experiments. High deformation lead to significant degradation of EBSD signal.

Obtaining a TRIP microstructure by thermomechanical treatment without isothermal holding

The contemporary development of technological processes for the production of modern multiphase steels can be characterized by the need for precise control of their technological parameters. The design of modern technological processes that allow sophisticated microstructures to be obtained usually cannot be carried out on real production equipment for technical as well as economical reasons. Therefore, new processes and test devices are continuously being developed to make it possible to simulate and model thermomechanical treatments on small specimens with precise control and monitoring of process parameters. A simulator for experimental modelling of thermomechanical processes has been developed at the University of West Bohemia. In this paper, to demonstrate the feasibility of simulating thermomechanical treatments with this setup on a lab scale, we discuss the thermomechanical treatment of TRIP steels without isothermal holding - a processing route that is difficult to handle and thus poses several technological as well as economic problems. The realistic processing of wire rolling with different cooling strategies is tested on the TRIP CMnSiNb steel. Our results show that the processing route without isothermal holding allows to obtain multiphase microstructures with a tensile strength of up to 835 MPa and a ductility A5mm = 25%.