Effect of Warm Deformation on Ferrite Microstructure Evolution in a Ti-Microalloyed Steel

Abstract

Warm deformation is one of the promising hot rolling strategies for producing thin hot rolled steel strips. A better understanding of the microstructure evolution during warm deformation is important for a successful introduction of such processing into the industrial production. In the present research, the effect of deformation strain on the ferrite microstructure development in a low carbon Ti-microalloyed steel was investigated through warm torsion testing. Microstructural analysis with optical microscope and electron back-scattering diffraction was carried out on the warm deformed ferrite microstructures. The results show that at the early stage of deformation an unstable subboundaries network forms and low angle boundaries are introduced in the original grains. Then, with further straining, low angle boundaries transform into high angle boundaries and stable fine equiaxed ferrite grains form. It was considered that dynamic softening and dynamically formation of new fine ferrite grains, with high angle boundaries, were caused by continuous dynamic recrystallization of ferrite.