Effect of compressive deformations on the final microstructure of a low carbon high silicon bainitic steel thermomechanically processed

Due to a combination of advantages, high-performance steel components, especially for automotive manufacturing applications, are generally forged parts. In the forging industry, bainitic steels are being increasingly used, because they can reduce the processing chain and energy consumption. In this case, the bainitic microstructure can be obtained immediately after forging, with controlled cooling, and without any subsequent heat treatment. In the present work, the effect of thermomechanical routes performed in the austenitic and bainitic fields on the final microstructure and final hardness of 18MnCrSiMo6-4 bainitic steel has been discussed. Thermomechanical processing routes were tested and evaluated in a Gleeble® 3800 testing machine with one and two-step deformation. In both cases, the sample had its height reduced by 40% and the strain rate used was 0.1s-1. It could be shown that the plastic deformation promoted in the bainite field induces the bainite transformation. The results also show a strong dependence of bainite morphology concerning the deformation temperature of the steel. Moreover, the knowledge of the hot and warm stress-strain curves is an important result because it allows estimating the necessary stress and the energy consumption per volume unit to deform the material

Austenitic grain size prediction in hot forging of a 20MnCr5 steel by numerical simulation using the JMAK model for industrial applications

Yield strength and toughness in steels are directly associated with hot forging processes, especially by controlling austenitic grain size and cooling conditions. The phenomenological JMAK model in macroscale has been applied in different material classes to predict grain size after hot forming. However, on an industrial application, there is still a lack of understanding concerning the synergic effects of strain rate and temperature on recrystallization. This preliminary study aimed at investigating the applicability of coupled semi-empirical JMAK and visco-elastoplastic models in numerical simulation to predict austenitic grain size (PAGS). Hot forging of cylindrical samples of a ferritic-perlitic DIN 20MnCr5 steel was performed followed by water quenching. The main influences, such as temperature, strain and strain rate fields following the recrystallization model were investigated using the subroutine of FORGE NxT 2.1 software. The results were evaluated by comparing experimentally measured and simulated PAGS at process end. The forging process generates different strain and strain rate fields in the workpiece, which in turn lead to a variation in the PAGS and recrystallization fractions. The simulation was able to detect the PAGS variation showing a good agreement between the experimental forging results and the applied model

Constitutive modelling of high temperature flow behaviour for a low carbon high silicon bainitic steel

It is well recognized the importance of the rheological characterization for the development of the steel in thermomechanical treatments, especially for the mechanical properties improvement of bainitic steels in subsequent hot forging optimization. Therefore, the plastic strain behaviour of a low carbon high silicon bainitic steel was studied through isothermal compression tests using a thermomechanical simulator at temperatures of 1123 K – 1423 K and strain rates of 0.1 – 5 s-1. Arrhenius equation was used to obtain the constitutive constants, which represents the material behaviour of flow stress in high temperature. Besides, work hardening, dynamic recovery, and the JMAK model in the dynamic recrystallization (DRX) of the steel parameters were determined. The second part of this research compared two proposed modified models from the literature, which showed the differences in modelled flow curves behaviour when they are applied for high strain levels. The flow curves were modelled in high strain levels for further implementation in numerical simulation, thus allowing an adjustment of parameters in hot forming processes for this bainitic steel. The proposed models presented an agreement with experimental values. However, only the Avrami equation to DRX showed the dynamic recovery mechanism in high strain levels, which has represented physical behaviour during the thermomechanical process

In situ investigation of the bainitic transformation from deformed austenite during continuous cooling in a low carbon Mn-Si-Cr-Mo steel

The effects of hot deformation on the bainitic transformation of a low carbon steel during continuous cooling were comprehensively studied through in situ high-energy synchrotron X-ray diffraction, dilatometry, and ex situ microstructural characterizations. The obtained results indicated that the prior deformation of austenite at 950 C accelerates the bainite formation at the early stages. During the ongoing of the transformation, both the overall kinetics of bainite and carbon enrichment of austenite are lower in deformed austenite. The bainitic microstructure developed from deformed austenite is more refined and presents the same retained austenite content at room temperature with slightly lower carbon content when compared with the undeformed sample. Besides, a significant higher dilatation strain was measured during the bainitic transformation in the deformed sample, which can be explained by the crystallographic texture in hot deformed austenite. The evolution of the peak broadening of the {220}c and {211}a reflections during bainitic transformation are discussed in detail

Investigation of the influence factors on distortion in induction-hardened steel shafts manufactured from cold-drawn rod

In this study, the distortion of steel shafts was investigated before and after induction hardening. Several essential influencing factors in the manufacturing process chain regarding cold drawing, cutting method, notches on the shafts, and induction hardening were analyzed by design of experiment (DoE). Further necessary examinations of microstructures, hardness profile, segregation of chemical composition, and residual stress state were conducted for understanding the distortion behavior. The results of the statistical analysis of the DoE showed that the drawing process is the most important factor influencing distortion. The surface hardening depth of induction hardening is the second main factor. The relationship between inhomogeneities in the work pieces and the distortion was finally discussed

Surface processing to improve the fatigue strength of bainitic steels : an overview

Currently, one of the major challenges for automotive industries is to reduce the weight and energy consumption of vehicles by using stronger and advanced low-cost materials. Conventional solutions using quenched and tempered steels not always fulfill the desired technical, economic and environmental requirements. Modern continuous cooling bainitic steels can provide a good combination of mechanical strength and toughness, being considered an excellent alternative to replace quenched and tempered martensitic steels in the manufacture of forged components. To meet the desired industry standards in highly loaded components, properties like surface hardness, fatigue strength, wear and friction resistance of these steels can be further improved by subsequent mechanical and thermochemical treatments. Therefore, this paper presents the state of the art in the use of continuous cooling bainitic steels for forging and low energy consumption surface improvement techniques such as: deep rolling and plasma nitriding. Finally, case studies are presented, and conclusions drawn on the current trends and reported practices. Surface modification techniques must be carefully controlled and combined with the material of interest to ensure that undesirable characteristics are not introduced during the manufacturing of the components. The development of processes based on the use of forged continuous cooling bainitic steels can be an excellent alternative to replace the conventional quenching and tempering treatment with considerable reduction of the energy consumption

Influence of hot forging parameters on a low carbon continuous cooling bainitic steel microstructure

Thermomechanical processing of low carbon bainitic steels is used to obtain a bainitic microstructure with good strength and toughness by continuous cooling after forging without the need of further heat treating, hence reducing manufacturing costs. However, hot forging parameters can significantly influence the microstructure in the forged material. A series of heat treating and forging experiments was carried out to analyze the effect of austenitizing time and temperature on the grain growth and the effect of forging temperature on the Prior Austenite Grain Size (PAGS) and continuously cooled microstructure. The forged microstructures were characterized by optical microscopy, microhardness tests, and X-ray diffraction. The results indicate that at 1200 ◦C austenitizing temperature abnormal grain growth takes place. Forging temperature significantly affects the PAGS and the subsequently formed microstructure. At high forging temperature (1200 ◦C), an almost fully bainitic microstructure was obtained. As the forging temperature was reduced to 1100 and 1000 ◦C, the PAGS refined, while the polygonal ferrite faction increased and the amount of retained austenite decreased. Further evaluations showed that a decrease in the forging temperature results in a higher carbon concentration in solution in the retained austenite leading to a stabilization effect

Two-step continuous cooling heat treatment applied in a low carbon bainitic steel

Thermo-mechanical treatments using continuous cooling after forging are an established method for producing bainitic steels, mainly because of the elimination of energy intensive additional heat treatment processes. The cooling is usually employed in an uncontrolled manner in the industrial sector, which can be detrimental to the resulting microstructural morphology and, consequently, to the final product properties. In this study, a new controlled two-step cooling route based on the principles of bainitic displacive growth was designed and applied in a 0.18C (wt-%) steel. Inverse finite element method was used on the cooling data to obtain the evolution of temperatures for the samples during cooling, allowing to assess point to point cooling rates. Investigations via X-ray diffraction, optical microscopy analysis and hardness testing revealed a variation of bainitic morphology, namely, the transition from granular bainite to lath-like bainite with relatively high hardness and constituents/phase boundaries than the pre-treated microstructure

Budgetary change in authoritarian and democratic regimes

We compare patterns of change in budgetary commitments by countries during periods of democracy and authoritarianism. Previous scholarship has focused almost exclusively on democratic governments, finding evidence of punctuated equilibria. Authoritarian regimes may behave differently, both because they may operate with fewer institutional barriers to choice and because they have fewer incentives to gather and respond to policy-relevant information coming from civil society. By analysing public budgeting in Brazil, Turkey, Malta and Russia before and after their transitions from or to democracy, we can test punctuated equilibrium theory under a variety of governing conditions. Our goal is to advance the understanding of the causes of budgetary instability by leveraging contextual circumstances to push the theory beyond democracies and assess its broader applicability

Microestrutura e Propriedades de Desgaste do Aço Bainítico de Resfriamento Contínuo DIN 18MnCrSiMo6-4 Nitretado a Plasma em Diferentes Temperaturas

Os novos aços bainíticos de resfriamento contínuo (CCBS) são uma excelente alternativa quando se requer elevada dureza, tenacidade e resistência à fadiga. Contudo, estima-se que a taxa de desgaste dos CCBS seja insuficiente para aplicação em componentes com alta solicitação mecânica, sendo necessário aprimorar suas propriedades de superfície. O objetivo deste estudo é o de analisar os efeitos da nitretação a plasma sobre à microestrutura e propriedades de desgaste do aço bainítico de resfriamento contínuo DIN18MnCrSiMo6-4. Portanto, tratamentos com duração de 6 horas foram conduzidos com pressão de 3 mbar, mistura gasosa composta por 76% N2 + 24% H2, e temperaturas de 400, 450, 500 e 550 °C, respectivamente. As amostras foram analisadas através de microscopia eletrônica de varredura, difração de raios-X, microdureza e ensaios de desgaste por deslizamento recíproco. Nas condições investigadas, foi possível obter uma camada de compostos e atingir um aumento de até 393% na dureza superficial, entretanto, o uso de temperaturas mais elevadas durante os tratamentos favoreceu a formação de camadas mais profundas. Em todas as amostras nitretadas, constatou-se a formação predominante da fase de nitretos ε-Fe2-3N e, em menor quantidade, da fase de nitretos γ’-Fe4N. Nos ensaios de deslizamento recíproco houve diminuição do desgaste das amostras nitretadas na temperatura de 550°C. Palavras-chave: Aços Bainíticos de Resfriamento Contínuo, Nitretação a Plasma, Microestrutura e Propriedades de Desgaste