Production and Characterization of an Economical 1100 MPa Advanced High-Strength Silicon-Containing Steel

Abstract

AbstractIn this investigation, an attempt has been made to identify the metallurgical properties with the change of silicon contents, either theoretically by utilizing Thermo-Calc (the Scheil–Gulliver model implemented in the Thermo-Calc software) or JMatPro software, as a computational prediction technique, in addition to experimental examinations by dilatometer. Microstructures of investigated steels were evaluated optically at low magnification using optical microscopy. Scanning electron microscopy was used to study the observed microstructure at high magnification. ASTM standard specification E-8 was utilized for measuring the tensile property values, while fracture surfaces of the tensile samples were inspected by EDS (point-analyzer) employed in scanning electron microscopy. The investigated steel’s as-polished surface was studied using the experimental results, which revealed that the steel microstructure ranged from full-bainitic to full-pearlitic structures according to the variation of silicon contents. The count of non-metallic inclusions decreased and vice versa by the area occupied by non-metallic inclusions with the rising silicon content. The steel containing silicon of 0.87 wt.% has the best toughness combined with high tensile strength and hardness incomparable with conventional steel. Elongation (16.2%) combined with an ultimate tensile strength (1113 MPa) was achieved for the steel containing 0.87 wt.% Si.