Influence of heating rate and temperature on austenite grain size during reheating steel

Abstract

Controlling the final microstructure is one effective way to get HSLA steel with good mechanical properties. The structure of the desired item on the final microstructure depends on the initial grain size formed during the initial heating process, where to get super fine ferrite grains, it should form the initial austenite grain smooth during the heating process. Austenite grain size at the beginning of the heating process is important in order to obtain the size of the final microstructure that provides maximum mechanical properties. In this study, HSLA steel reheated to a temperature of 960°C, 1060°C and 1120°C with holding time variation of 10, 30 and 60 minutes at a heating rate of 5°C/minute, 7.5°C/minute and 10°C/minute, then water quenching. The austenite saw by using optic microscope and count by ASTM E112 method. From the results it is concluded that there is a relationship between temperatures interrelated heating, heating rate and holding time on the growth of austenite grain. The higher the temperature, the heating occur austenite grain size. While the most optimal results obtained for reheated temperature 1060°C with a heating rate 7.5°C/minute and the heating temperature 1120°C with a heating rate 5°C/minute.