Ya-zheng Liu

Effects of Niobium and Vanadium on Hydrogen-Induced Delayed Fracture in High Strength Spring Steel

Influence of vanadium and/or niobium additions on delayed fracture behavior in high strength spring steel was studied by hydrogen permeation method and slow strain rate technique (SSRT), and its mechanism was analyzed. The results show that apparent diffusion coefficient of hydrogen in microalloyed spring steels Nb-V-steel and Nb-steel is lower than that in non-microalloyed steel 60Si2MnA. Percentage of strength reduction in SSRT in air after precharged hydrogen of the microalloyed steels is smaller than that of 60Si2MnA. Addition of the microalloys changes the fracture characteristics. Thence, vanadium and/or niobium additions are a very effective and economy means to improve the. hydrogen-induced delayed fracture resistance of high strength spring steel.

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.

Calculation Models of Interlamellar Spacing of Pearlite in High-Speed 82B Rod

With the investigated subject of 82B rod, the interlamellar spacings of pearlite at different isothermal transformation temperatures and different cooling rates during continuous cooling transformation were measured, and the effect of the isothermal transformation temperature and cooling rate on the interlamellar spacing was analyzed quantitatively. Moreover, the relationship models between undercooling and interlamellar spacing were presented by data regression. The experimental results show that the relationship between undercooling and reciprocal interlamellar spacing remains linear when the undercooling is not very large, or else, the interlamellar spacing tends to be constant and the relationship will deviate from linearity.

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.

Reheating Austenitizing Temperature of Spring Steel 60Si2MnA for Railway

The microsturctural transformation of austenite grain, pearlite interlamellar spacing, and lamellar cementite thickness of spring steel 60Si2MnA for railway were studied in the hot-rolled and reheated states. Furthermore, the effect of microstructural characterization on its final mechanical properties was discussed. The results showed that as far as 60Si2MnA, the pearlite interlamellar spacing determined the hardness, whereas, the austenite grain determined the toughness. Compared with microstructure and mechanical properties in the hot-rolled state, after reheating treatment at 950 °C , its average grain sizes are apparently fine and the pearlite interlamellar spacing and lamellar cementite thickness coarsen to some extent, but both hardness and impact toughness increase to HRC 48 and 8.5 J, respectively. In the course of making spring, the optimum reheating austenitizing temperature for the 60Si2MnA steel is 950 °C.

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.

Computer Simulation of Microstructure Evolution of 82B Rod at Different Cooling Rates

According to thermodynamics and kinetics of phase transformation, a mathematical model of phase transformation was proposed, and the microstructure evolution of an 82B rod at different cooling rates was simulated by using the FEM software Marc/Mentat, based on the measurement of time-temperature transformation (TTT) curves of the 82B rod. The simulated results were in good agreement with the actual measurements. From the results of computer simulation it was found that the cooling rate of the 82B rod, after laying, should be controlled within 5–8 °C/s. In the microstructure of rod there were over 95% of pearlite volume fraction and a small quantity of dispersive martensite (less than 5 %).

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.