Masataka Yoshino

Influence of normalizing heat treatment on precipitation behaviour in modified 9Cr–1Mo steel

Abstract Precipitation behaviour during normalizing heat treatment has been investigated on modified 9Cr – 1Mo steel. Heterogeneously distributed spherical MX particles and platelet M3C were observed in the as-normalized condition. The number of the precipitates decreased with increasing normalizing temperature and no precipitates was observed after normalizing at 125°C. The size of MX increased with an increase in normalizing temperature up to 1200°C. For MX, not only size, but also composition of metallic elements was influenced by the normalizing temperature. Since equilibrium composition of MX depends on temperature, an MX particle with non-equilibrium composition dissolves and precipitation of it takes place with its equilibrium composition at the normalizing temperature. A phase field diagram of NbX–VX quasi binary system in modified 9Cr –1Mo steel was experimentally determined. It has been supposed that precipitation of M3C takes place during cooling from normalizing temperature in the surrounding area of MX particles where the concentration of niobium and vanadium in matrix is poor.

Evaluation of Hydrogen Embrittlement for High Strength Steel Sheets

Steel sheets for automobiles are usually formed into various parts by cold working. Therefore, plastic strain introduced by the cold working must be considered as a factor affecting the hydrogen embrittlement in addition to the applied stress and the content of diffusible hydrogen entered into steels, which are considered as factors in the studies of high strength steel bolts. However, there are few detailed reports investigating the influence of these factors on hydrogen embrittlement of steel sheets quantitatively. In this study, the influence of plastic strain, as well as stress and diffusible hydrogen content, on hydrogen embrittlement of steel sheet was quantitatively studied to evaluate the hydrogen embrittlement susceptibility of steel sheet by using an 1180 MPa grade cold rolled dual phase steel sheet. Plastic strain was introduced by U-shape bending, and stress was applied by tightening the bent specimen with a bolt. Then, hydrogen was introduced by dipping in hydrochloric acid, and the time to fracture and the content of diffusible hydrogen entered into steel during dipping were investigated. The fracture was promoted by severe deformation near the bending limit, and it seemed to be caused by the presence of micro cracks and/or micro voids. The hydrogen cracking conditions region of the steel sheet were mapped in the three-dimensional space with the axes of applied strain, applied stress and diffusible hydrogen content. It was considered that the evaluation of the risk of delayed fracture of automotive parts made of the steel sheet under service environment was possible by a comparison of the 3D map and the service conditions of the parts.

Influence of Grain Size on Work-Hardening Behavior in 12Cr Stainless Steel

Grain refinement is attracting attention as a strengthening method which does not depend on the alloying elements added to steels. Many reports have described the manufacturing methods and mechanical properties of ultra-fine grained steels. In ultra-fine grained steels, it is well known that yielding stress drastically increases in accordance with the Hall-Petch relationship, while uniform elongation significantly decreases. These tendencies imply that grain size affects not only yielding but also work-hardening behavior. However, the influence of grain size on work-hardening behavior has not been clearly understood. Therefore, in this study, we investigated the work-hardening behavior during tensile deformation of 12Cr stainless steel with various grain sizes. Grain refining was conducted by cold-rolling of annealed and quenched steel specimens, followed by recrystallization annealing. The grain size of the specimens decreased as the cold-rolling reduction rate increased. The minimum grain size obtained by this method was approximately 5 μm. With decreasing grain size, 0.2% proof stress increased and the strain which reached the plastic instability condition decreased. In the session, we report the dislocation accumulation behavior estimated by grain hardness and XRD and the dynamic recovery behavior assessed by the Kocks-Mecking model.

Effect of Ausageing on the Precipitation Behavior of MX Carbonitride in Modified 9Cr-1Mo Steel

The precipitation behavior of MX carbonitride during a normalizing heat treatment with and without ausageing was investigated in a modified 9Cr-1Mo steel. The normalizing heat treatment was performed at 1150 oC for 1800 s. Ausageing was conducted at 765 and 500 oC for 1800 to 86400 s during the cooling from the heat treatment. The matrix of the steel was austenite single phase during normalizing and ausageing, except for that ausaged at 765 oC for 86400 s. The initial austenite grain size and hardness were not influenced by ausageing, except for the sample ausaged at 765 oC for 86400 s. Although Nb-rich MX (NbX) and cementite were observed, V-rich MX (VX) was not observed under any of the conditions investigated. The amount of NbX in the steel ausaged at 500 oC was at least twice as large as that under the other conditions, and the amount in the steel ausaged at 760 oC was slightly larger than that in the steel that did not undergo ausageing. The precipitation of NbX took place during ausageing in the austenite matrix. On the other hand, it is well known that VX precipitates during tempering. An equilibrium mole fraction of VX in the austenite matrix calculated by Thermo-Calc. was larger than that of NbX at the ausageing temperatures. It is proposed that VX is an equilibrium phase at the ausageing temperature; however, VX nucleation takes much longer in the austenite matrix. It is postulated that the precipitation of VX is more strongly influenced by the interfacial energy rather than supersaturation. It is concluded that the precipitation of MX carbonitride, especially NbX, can be controlled by ausageing during cooling after a normalizing heat treatment.