Microstructure and mechanical properties of thermomechanically processed TRIP steel

The strengthening mechanism responsible for the unique combination of ultimate tensile strength and elongation in a multiphase Fe-0.2C-1.5Mn-1.2Si-0.3Mo-0.6Al-0.02Nb (wt%) steel was studied. The microstructures with different volume fractions of polygonal ferrite, bainite and retained austenite were simulated by controlled thermomechanical processing. The interrupted tensile test was used to study the bainitic ferrite, retained austenite and polygonal ferrite behaviour as a function of plastic strain. X-ray analysis was used to characterise the volume fraction and carbon content of retained austenite. Transmission electron microscopy was utilised to analyse the effect of bainitic ferrite morphology on the strain induced transformation of retained austenite and retained austenite twinning as a function of strain in the bulk material. The study has shown that the austenite twinning mechanism is more preferable than the transformation induced plasticity (TRIP) mechanism during the early stages of deformation for a microstructure containing 15% polygonal ferrite, while the transformation induced plasticity effect is the main mechanism when there is 50% of polygonal ferrite in the microstructure. The bainitic ferrite morphology affects the deformation mode of retained austenite during straining. The polygonal ferrite behaviour during straining depends on dislocation substructure formed due to the deformation and the additional mobile dislocations caused by the TRIP effect. Operation of TRIP or twinning mechanisms depends not only on the chemical and mechanical stability of retained austenite, but also on the interaction of the phases during straining

Observation of Precipitation Evolution in Fe-Ni-Mn-Ti-Al Maraging Steel by Atom Probe Tomography

We describe the full decomposition sequence in an Fe-Ni-Mn-Ti-Al maraging steel during isothermal annealing at 550 °C. Following significant pre-precipitation clustering reactions within the supersaturated martensitic solid solution, (Ni,Fe)3Ti and (Ni,Fe)3(Al,Mn) precipitates eventually form after isothermal aging for ~60 seconds. The morphology of the (Ni,Fe)3Ti particles changes gradually during aging from predominantly plate-like to rod-like, and, importantly, Mn and Al were observed to segregate to these precipitate/matrix interfaces. The (Ni,Fe)3(Al,Mn) precipitates occurred at two main locations: uniformly within the matrix and at the periphery of the (Ni,Fe)3Ti particles. We relate this latter mode of precipitation to the Mn-Al segregation

Strengthening mechanisms in thermomechanically processed NbTi-microalloyed steel

The effect of deformation temperature on microstructure and mechanical properties was investigated for thermomechanically processed NbTi-microalloyed steel with ferrite-pearlite microstructure. With a decrease in the finish deformation temperature at 1348 K to 1098 K (1075 °C to 825 °C) temperature range, the ambient temperature yield stress did not vary significantly, work hardening rate decreased, ultimate tensile strength decreased, and elongation to failure increased. These variations in mechanical properties were correlated to the variations in microstructural parameters (such as ferrite grain size, solid solution concentrations, precipitate number density and dislocation density). Calculations based on the measured microstructural parameters suggested the grain refinement, solid solution strengthening, precipitation strengthening, and work hardening contributed up to 32 pct, up to 48 pct, up to 25 pct, and less than 3 pct to the yield stress, respectively. With a decrease in the finish deformation temperature, both the grain size strengthening and solid solution strengthening increased, the precipitation strengthening decreased, and the work hardening contribution did not vary significantly

On the decomposition of Martensite during bake hardening of thermomechanically processed transformation-induced plasticity steels

Thermomechanically processed (TMP) CMnSi transformation-induced plasticity (TRIP) steels with and without additions of Nb, Mo, or Al were subjected to prestraining and bake hardening. Atom probe tomography (APT) revealed the presence of fine C-rich clusters in the martensite of all studied steels after the thermomechanical processing. After bake hardening, the formation of iron carbides, containing from 25 to 90 at. pct C, was observed. The evolution of iron carbide compositions was independent of steel composition and was a function of carbide size

Observations of decomposition of martensite during heat treatment of steels using atom probe tomography

The decomposition of martensite during tempering or ageing is an important phenomenon as it leads to changes in the mechanical properties. These changes could take place during both steel manufacturing or in-service. Thus, their understanding is required to predict the material performance. Recent advances in the development of local electrode atom probes has led to a significant increase in the analysed volume of material (up to 100 millions of atoms) and at the same time reduced the acquisition times. This allows improvement in data statistics when investigating fine nanoscale features, such as solute segregation, clustering and ultrafine precipitation. Selected results of atom probe studies on the decomposition of martensite from bake hardening of a pre-strained Transformation Induced Plasticity (TRIP) steel and ageing of FeNiTiMnAl maraging steel are presented. Note to the reader: On page 02027-p2 several mistakes have been corrected on October 19, 2009

Understanding the behavior of advanced high-strength steels using atom probe tomography

The key evidence for understanding the mechanical behavior of advanced high strength steels was provided by atom probe tomography (APT). Chemical overstabilization of retained austenite (RA) leading to the limited transformation-induced plasticity (TRIP) effect was deemed to be the main factor responsible for the low ductility of nanostructured bainitic steel. Appearance of the yield point on the stress-strain curve of prestrained and bake-hardened transformationinduced plasticity steel is due to the unlocking from weak carbon atmospheres of newly formed during prestraining dislocations

The effect of processing parameters on the dynamic recrystallisation behaviour of API-X70 pipeline steel

The effect of deformation temperature and strain rate on the dynamic recrystallisation (DRX) behaviour of X70 pipeline steel was investigated. DRX parameters such as the critical and peak stresses and strains as well as the deformation activation energy were determined in the temperature range between 925°C and 1125°C for strain rates of 0.1, 1 and 5s-1. The relationship between the peak stresses and strains with the Zener-Hollomon parameter was determined. The dynamically recrystallised volume fraction was computed as a function of the different temperatures and strain rates. The APRGE software was applied for the first time on electron back-scattering diffraction data of dynamically recrystallised microstructures in order to reconstruct the prior austenite from the as-quenched martensite phase. The dynamically recrystallised flow stress curves and microstructure were also predicted using cellular automata modelling. The results show an earlier onset of DRX with a decrease in strain rate or an increase in deformation temperature. The dynamically recrystallised grain size is also found to decrease with an increase in strain rate and a lowering of deformation temperature. © 2013 Elsevier B.V

Deep drawing behaviour of ultrafine grained copper : modelling and experiment

Ultrafine grained materials produced by severe plastic deformation methods possess attractive mechanical properties such as high strength compared with traditional coarse grained counterparts and reasonable ductility. Between existing severe plastic deformation methods the Equal Channel Angular Pressing is the most promising for future industrial applications and can produce a variety of ultrafine grained microstructures in materials depending on route, temperature and number of passes during processing. Driven by a rising trend of miniaturisation of parts these materials are promising candidates for microforming processes. Considering that bi-axial deformation of sheet (foil) is the major operation in microforming, the investigation of the influence of the number of ECAP passes on the bi-axial ductility in micro deep drawing test has been examined by experiments and FE simulation in this study. The experiments have showed that high force was required for drawing of the samples processed by ECAP compare to coarse grained materials. The limit drawing ratio of ultrafine grained samples was in the range of 1.9&ndash;2.0 with ECAP pass number changing from 1 to 16, while a higher value of 2.2 was obtained for coarse grained copper. However, the notable decrease in tensile ductility with increase in strength was not as pronounced for bi-axial ductility. The FE simulation using standard isotropic hardening model and von Mises yielding criterion confirmed these findings. <br /