Intercritical Heat Research Articles

Effect of peak temperature on microstructure and mechanical performances of ART-Flash processed medium Mn steel

The combination of ART and Flash annealing has been utilized to enhance the mechanical properties of medium Mn AHSS, demonstrating significant effectiveness. However, the industrial application was constrained by the absence of research on the impact of critical processing variables. In this work, the peak temperature of the flash heating was varied in the intercritical field to manipulate the microstructure and mechanical response of a 5 wt% Mn steel. The mechanisms of microstructural evolution during heat treatment and deformation were thoroughly discussed through interrupted tensile testing. A collection of ultrafine multiphase structures, consisting of retained austenite (RA), ferrite, and martensite with flexible phase constituents, were constructed, resulting in an ultrahigh YS increment (∼450 MPa) and exceptional strength-ductility combination (YS: 1125 MPa, UTS: 1544 MPa, TE: ∼21 %). The significant strengthening is primarily attributed to the increase in α′-martensite, while the sustained TRIP effect induced by stable retained austenite is responsible for the appropriate ductility. The interaction between austenite and adjacent phases and grain size exhibit a crucial influence on the mechanical stability of austenite. Benefiting from the “shielding” effect provided by the surrounding martensite, the Flash-810 sample achieved great ductility, despite possessing only a 5 % volume fraction of retained austenite. The YS of the experimental steels is sensitive to peak temperature, while the UTS and ductility remains relatively stable. Our work suggests the substantial potential of intercritical flash heating in enhancing the mechanical response of medium Mn steels and the profound significance of controlling the peak temperature.

The corrosion analysis of X80 pipeline steel welded joint using wire beam electrode and numerical simulation methods

PurposeThe purpose of this study is to characterize the galvanic corrosion behavior of a simulated X80 pipeline steel welded joint (PSWJ) reconstructed by the wire beam electrode (WBE) and numerical simulation methods.Design/methodology/approachThe galvanic corrosion of an X80 PSWJ was studied using WBE and numerical simulation methods. The microstructures of the coarse-grained heat affected zone, fine-grained heat affected zone and intercritical heat affected zone were simulated in X80 pipeline steel via Gleeble thermomechanical simulation processing.FindingsComparing the corrosion current density of coupled and isolated weld metal (WM), base metal (BM) and heat-affected zone (HAZ), the coupled WM exhibited a higher corrosion current density than isolated WM; the coupled BM and HAZ exhibited lower corrosion current densities than isolated BM and HAZ. The results exhibited that the maximum anodic galvanic current fitted the Gumbel distribution. Moreover, the numerical simulation results agreed well with the experimental data.Originality/valueThis study provides insight into corrosion evaluation of heterogeneous welded joints by a combination of experiment and simulation. The method of reconstruction of the welded joint has been proven to be a feasible approach for studying the corrosion behavior of the X80 PSWJ with high spatial resolution.

Effect of Intercritical Heat Treatment and Pre-tempering on Mechanical Properties of SA508 Gr . 1A Low Alloy Steels

Effect of Intercritical Heat Treatment and Pre-tempering on Mechanical Properties of SA508 Gr . 1A Low Alloy Steels

Austenite formation and solute redistribution during double soaking of a 7Mn-steel

In this work, the influence of secondary soaking parameters on microstructural evolution in medium manganese steels is evaluated with a specific focus on the mechanisms driving austenite formation and solute partitioning at an intermediate secondary soaking temperature of 750 °C. The secondary soaking heat treatment represents the latter step of the double soaking heat treatment where it is used, after an initial intercritical annealing heat treatment, to form additional, solute-lean austenite. Here, data are obtained on a 0.14C-7.17 Mn steel for secondary soaking temperatures between 700 °C and 800 °C, and for times up to 1200 s. Austenite formation during secondary soaking is characterized using dilatometry and XRD, while Mn redistribution is experimentally observed using STEM-EDS. Manganese partitioning during secondary soaking, as well as calculated changes in carbon partitioning, are further explored through a DICTRATM model. Experimental and simulation results suggest that the ferrite-to-austenite transformation during the secondary soaking step may proceed under a partitioning, diffusional transformation at the 750 °C secondary soaking temperature. Manganese partitioning was demonstrated to primarily occur from ferrite to newly formed secondary austenite, while carbon diffusion principally occurred from primary to secondary austenite. Transformation of secondary austenite to martensite upon quenching along with some fraction of primary austenite, whose transformation was attributed to a reduction in C concentration, was shown demonstrated. The results of this study are expected to be of interest to those seeking to design multi-step heat treatments which produce austenite of variable solute concentrations and stabilities.

Effect of Si Content on Microstructure and Properties of Low-Carbon Medium-Manganese Steel after Intercritical Heat Treatment

Effect of Si Content on Microstructure and Properties of Low-Carbon Medium-Manganese Steel after Intercritical Heat Treatment

In-depth understanding in the effect of hydrogen on microstructural evolution, mechanical properties and fracture micro-mechanisms of advanced high-strength steels welded joints

The hydrogen embrittlement (HE) mechanism of QP980 steels laser welded joints with complex microstructures is unclear. The joint with hydrogen pre-charging fractured at the inter-critical heat affected zone (ICHAZ) in slow strain rate tensile test, and the relative loss of elongation amounted to 84.8 %. Hydrogen-induced microcracks mainly initiated inside martensite (∼ 60 %). Hydrogen-induced crack propagation paths of the joint were transgranular propagation of martensite and intergranular propagation of ferrite/martensite interface. The HE mechanism of the joint was the combination of the effects in hydrogen-enhanced localized plasticity (HELP) and hydrogen-enhanced decohesion (HEDE).

An improved method for the quantification of microstructures via optical microscopy

Quantitative optical microscopy is a powerful tool for microstructural characterization of relatively large areas of multiphase materials, but accurate quantification often requires skillful sample preparation, imaging, and analysis techniques. Measuring phase fractions in a microstructure is done by segmenting images between features of interest and everything else and can be accomplished by a variety of techniques. With existing methods, in many cases, optimal contrast between the features of interest and the surrounding microstructural constituents is difficult to obtain and inconsistent across both individual images and a sample surface due to normal variations in materials and equipment, which can introduce measurement errors. A new machine-learning tool, the Labkit ImageJ plugin, provides a user-friendly method for training models for quantitative metallography and can be generally applied to study a wide variety of multiphase materials. Sørensen–Dice Indices were calculated to provide accuracy metric and show the improvement in image segmentation using Labkit to other common contrast-based thresholding methods versus manually-segmented representative images throughout the temperature range of this study. An example using intercritically heat treated HY-80 steel containing a duplex microstructure is presented using three different optical microscopy quantitative methods to show the improvement in reliability from the Labkit plugin. These quantitative measurements are augmented by differential scanning calorimetry and compared to CALculation of PHAse Diagram (CALPHAD) models to highlight the importance of experimental data for the design of heat treatments. A method for calibrating CALPHAD models to better predict industrial heat treatments is presented and shown to improve the accuracy of phase-fraction predictions, which is crucial for execution of intercritical heat treatments of steels.

Microstructure and deformation behavior of rapid cooling friction stir welded Q&P1180 steel joint

In this work, Q&P1180 steels were butt welded by friction stir welded (FSW) and rapid cooling FSW (RCFSW), aiming to investigate the influence of rapid cooling on the microstructure and deformation behavior of joints. The results showed that for FSW and RCFSW joints, stir zone (SZ) composed of martensite phase, and inter-critical heat affected zone (ICHAZ) composed of ferrite/martensite dual-phase microstructure, and subcritical heat affected zone (SCHAZ) consisted of ferrite, martensite, carbide and residual austenite phases. Compared with FSW joint, the grain of HAZ was refined, the contents of residual austenite and ferrite increased, while the content of cementite decreased in RCFSW joint. The tensile strength and elongation of FSW joint were 1292 MPa and 7.5 %, respectively. Compared to FSW joint, the tensile strength of RCFSW joint slightly decreased (1237 MPa), while the elongation greatly increased to 13.5 %. During tensile deformation, the strain was mainly concentrated in HAZ of FSW joint, while the strain transferred from HAZ to basal material (BM) of RCFSW joints, and finally fractured in BM.

Micro-Alloying Effect on the Inter-Critical Grain Coarsened Heat Affected Zone of a S355 Steel Welded Joint

The inter-critical heat affected zone (ICHAZ) appears to be one of the most brittle sections in the welding of high-strength micro-alloyed steels (HSLA). Following repeated heating cycles in in with temperature ranging Ac1 /Ac3, the ICHAZ will face with an evident toughness and fatigue behavior reduction especially due to martensite-austenite constituent (MA) formation. Microalloying in high strength steels causes the generation of some phases in the matrix able to increase the mechanical properties of the joint. In this paper we report an investigation related to 1000 ppm vanadium addition in the welded joint of a structural S355 steel. The inter-critical zone of ta double pass welded joint is here reproduced by dilatometer, with second peak temperature ranging 720°C-790°C. The residual austenite dependence on inter-critical temperature is analyzed and related to the hardness behavior.

Achieving High Plasticity and High Toughness of Low-Carbon Low-Alloy Steel through Intercritical Heat Treatment

Medium manganese steel has excellent comprehensive properties due to the TRIP effect of retained austenite, but its welding performance is unsatisfactory for its high alloy content. This study obtained retained austenite in low-carbon low-alloy steel with low contents of silicon and manganese elements through intercritical heat treatment. The influence of intercritical quenching temperature on the content and characteristics of the retained austenite, as well as the functional mechanism of the retained austenite during low-temperature impact, was studied. The results showed that the content of the retained austenite increased from 12% to 17%, and its distribution extended from grain boundaries to martensite lath boundaries, with increasing intercritical quenching temperature. The retained austenite on the grain boundaries was in blocks, and that on the martensitic lath boundaries formed slender domains. The stability of the retained austenite was achieved through the enrichment of C and Mn during intercritical heat treatment. The contribution of retained austenite to low-temperature mechanical properties was closely related to its stability. The retained austenite with poor stability underwent martensite transformation at low temperatures, and the high-carbon martensite was a brittle phase that became the nucleation site of cracks or the path of crack growth during impact. Stable retained austenite passivated crack tips and hindered crack propagation during impacts, which improved the impact performance of the steel.

Effects of Intercritical Heat Treatment on the Temper Embrittlement of SA508 Gr.4N Ni-Cr-Mo High Strength Low Alloy Steels for Reactor Pressure Vessels

To analyze the effects of intercritical heat treatment on the temper embrittlement of SA508 Gr.4N steels, two model alloys with different phosphorus (P) contents were fabricated. Each sample was heat treated by applying a conventional heat treatment process (quenching-tempering) with/without an intercritical heat treatment process (IHT) and a step-cooling heat treatment for temper embrittlement. Then their microstructure and mechanical properties were evaluated. The microstructure of the SA508 Gr.4N model alloy was composed of tempered lower bainite and martensite, and nano-sized precipitates formed both inside and at boundaries. The grain size was reduced when IHT was applied. There was a small difference in tensile properties according to the heat-treatment conditions and P contents, but the difference in Charpy impact properties was large. The heat treatment for temper embrittlement (TE) increased the impact transition temperature, and a very significant increase was observed in steels with a high P content. The increase in transition temperature owing to TE was reduced when IHT was applied. The fractograph analysis of Charpy fractured specimens at transition temperatures showed that an increase in intergranular fracture was main reason for the TE, and that IHT reduced the formation of intergranular fracture. The AES results showed that P-Ni was segregated at grain boundaries, and the level of segregation was reduced by applying IHT. This occurred because the formation of prior austenite grain boundaries by IHT dispersed the P at grain boundaries, and reduced the amount of P segregation.

Creep-fatigue assessment of martensitic welds based on numerically determined local deformation

Abstract The low cycle fatigue and creep-fatigue behavior of base material and similar welded joints of martensitic steel Grade 92 were examined in this work. Several low cycle fatigue tests with different loading scenarios: fatigue tests with strain-controlled hold time, fatigue tests with strain-controlled amplitudes, and load-controlled hold times, were performed at 873 K. The tests were evaluated with regard to fatigue lifetime, peak stress, the evolution of relaxation stress or creep strain, and failure location. The effect of amplitude level, hold time modus and hold time length on the lifetime of the specimens was investigated using lifetime and damage assessment methods based on strain energy approaches. The numerical simulations for the determination of the evolution of local strains and stresses were done using a viscoplastic material model of Chaboche type, including a strain energy based damage formulation. For the parameter identification, tests were carried out on the specimens made of base metal, welded joint, weld metal, and with microstructure simulated specimens aiming to obtain representative microstructures of the fine grain, intercritical, and coarse grain heat affected zone. The numerical assessment of the local stress, strain, and damage distribution explains the smaller lifetime of the welded joint specimens.

Corrosion and tensile behavior of intercritically heat-treated and cathodically polarized prestressing steel wires

The effect of the intercritical heat treatments producing various martensite volume fractions on the corrosion and tensile behavior of the cathodically polarized prestressing steel wires has been investigated. Potentiodynamic polarization and constant extension rate technique (CERT) tests are conducted to clarify these effects and to determine the mode of failure of the prestressing steel wires since the presence of the martensite in the prestressing steel wire microstructure results in the failure and breakage during the corrosion and cold drawing. The electrochemical data measurements reveal that the intercritically heat-treated and cathodically polarized prestressing steel wires containing higher volume fractions of martensite exhibit the lowest corrosion potentials and current densities which indicate higher corrosion rates. A significant decrease in the tensile strength and ductility by the accelerated corrosion tests is observed in the intercritically heat-treated and cathodically polarized prestressing steel wire specimens containing higher martensite volume fractions. The fracture surfaces of the intercritically and cathodically prestressed steel wire specimens containing higher fractions of martensite of 68% exhibit a mixed mode of failure, i.e., quasi-cleavage and microvoid coalescence after potentiodynamic polarization. Moreover, the brittleness due to the residual stresses induced by the formation of martensite and the generation of the galvanic corrosion cell between the martensite and pearlite is noted to be increased with increasing the amount of martensite in the prestressed steel wire specimens.

The analysis of internal stresses on a welded joint in Grade 91 steel under creep test loading: Synchrotron X-ray diffraction measurements and modelling

The analysis and understanding of creep damage of Grade 91 steel welded joints is an important topic in the energy industry. Creep tests on welded joints were carried out at 600∘C, 100MPa and then interrupted at 0%, 10%, 30%, 50%, 80% of the expected life and after failure. Creep damage is characterised by cavity bands located exclusively in the core of the sample in the InterCritical Heat Affected Zone (ICHAZ). These samples were tested using in situ synchrotron X-ray Diffraction (XRD) along the welded joint under creep conditions for the different creep times. The experimental results show a significant evolution of strain and creep damage characteristics on the welded joint, with a local maximum at the Heat Affected Zone (HAZ). Subsequently, a finite element creep strain analysis was performed for comparison with the experimental results.

Effect of Intercritical Temperature on the Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of a Ferritic-Martensitic Dual-Phase Low-Alloy Steel with Varying Nickel Content.

Dual-phase low-alloy steels combine a soft ferrite phase with a hard martensite phase to create desirable properties in terms of strength and ductility. Nickel additions to dual-phase low-alloy steels can increase the yield strength further and lower the transformation temperatures, allowing for microstructure refining. Determining the correct intercritical annealing temperature as a function of nickel content is paramount, as it defines the microstructure ratio between ferrite and martensite. Likewise, quantifying the influence of nickel on the intercritical temperature and its synergistic effect with the microstructure ratio on mechanical properties is vital to designing dual-phase steels suitable for corrosive oil and gas services as well as hydrogen transport and storage applications. In this work, we used a microstructural design to develop intercritical annealing heat treatments to obtain dual-phase ferritic-martensitic low-alloy steels. The intercritical annealing and tempering temperatures and times were targeted to achieve three different martensite volume fractions as a function of nickel content, with a nominal content varying between 0, 1, and 3-wt% Ni. Mechanical properties were characterized using tensile testing and microhardness measurements. Additionally, the microstructure was studied using scanning electron microscopy coupled with electron backscatter diffraction analysis. Tensile strength increased with increasing martensite ratio and nickel content, with a further grain refinement effect found in the 3-wt% Ni steel. The optimal heat treatment parameters for oil and gas and hydrogen transport applications are discussed.

Effect of distribution characters of ferrite/bainite on deformation compatibility in dual-phase pipeline steel: Experimental and numerical study

The morphology distribution of microstructure has an important influence on the match of the strength and plasticity of dual-phase pipeline steel. Bainite and PF dual-phase steels with layered and network morphology were obtained by combining the Thermomechanical Control Process (TMCP) and inter-critical isothermal heat treatment. A novel experimental-numerical methodology studied the effect of phase distribution characters on the deformability of PF and bainite dual-phase pipeline steel. The plastic damage features and microscopic strain and stress distribution in both network and layered microstructure were clarified. The obvious differences in the microstructure evolution for both samples were captured by a quasi-situ tensile test. The PF phase in the network morphology sample was believed the main deformation phase, but the deformation of the PF phase in the layered morphology sample was restrained. Two three-dimensional (3D) crystal plasticity finite element models (CPFEMs) were established based on the electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD) data. The simulation results indicated that the strain field in layered microstructure was more uniform than that in network microstructure, and the continuous internal stress relaxation (ISR) in the bainite phase led to plastic damage at low tensile strain level; The strain field in network microstructure mainly existed in the PF phase, the deformation of the PF phase can be fully utilized. When changing the tensile x-direction of the layered microstructure to the z-direction, the strain field showed an obvious anisotropy, and loading in the z-direction increased the risk of interlaminar crack formation. • Quasi-situ tensile test was used to study the deformation behavior • Strain/stress distribution characteristics were clarified using CPFEM method • Uniform strain distribution and ISR in layered microstructure decreased its plasticity • z-axis loading increased the risk of interlaminar crack for layered microstructure

A new morphology of retained austenite obtained by intercritical tempering of 13Cr-4Ni martensitic stainless steel

This research investigates the effect of various intercritical tempering in a 13Cr-4Ni stainless steel on the morphology, size, and γ-stabilizer elements enrichment of the retained austenite, i.e. the austenite retained at room temperature after intercritical heat treatments. A comparative microstructural and chemical composition study was conducted on AISI415 steel using scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, and micro hardness measurements for three tempering conditions giving the same retained austenite volume fraction (10%). These tempering conditions were: 620 °C 1 h, 600 °C 4 h, and 580 °C 10 h. The intercritical tempering at low temperature does not provide greater γ-stabilizer elements enrichment of the austenite. In this condition, the morphology of the formed retained austenite can be described as thin hollow particles with short lamellae shapes, which is significantly different than the morphology obtained at higher temperatures; the latter being characterised by thick and long lamellae. The retained austenite produced by tempering at low temperature is surrounded from both internal and external sides by martensite phases. Furthermore, it increases the austenite-martensite interfacial area that contributes to increase the barrier energy to martensitic transformation induced plasticity (TRIP).

Evaluation of Adansonia Digitata (Baobab) Leaf and Root Extracts as Inhibitor on Dual Phase Steel (DPS) in 0.3M H2SO4

Purpose: In this work, the effect of indigenously sourced baobab leaf and root was experimented on the substrate of inter-critically developed dual phase steel in 0.3M H2SO4.
 Methodology: Standard techniques were adopted in carrying out the development and the corrosion experiments. Weight loss method was adopted and the corrosion rate eventually estimated following a standard route.
 Findings: From the results, it was observed that inter-critical heat treatment technique can be used to develop dual phase steel with a competing properties with the conventional dual phase steel. The use of baobab leaf and root extracts was also observed to serve as an organic inhibitor for dual phase steel having observed that the percentage inhibition efficiency (% IE) increases with increase in the soaking temperature of the developed DPS.
 Recommendation: The use of baobab leaf and root is thus recommended as alternative organic inhibitor to impede corrosion rate in DPS.

VANADIUM ALLOYING IN S355 STRUCTURAL STEEL: EFFECT ON RESIDUAL AUSTENITE FORMATION IN WELDED JOINTS HEAT AFFECTED ZONE

The inter-critical heat affected zone (ICHAZ) appears to be one of the most brittle sections in the welding of high-strength micro-alloy steels (HSLA). Following multiple heating cycles in the temperature range between Ac1 and Ac3, the ICHAZ undergoes a strong loss of toughness and fatigue resistance, mainly caused by the formation of martensite-austenite constituent (MA). The presence of micro-alloying elements in HSLA steels induces variations in the formation of some microstructural constituents, more or less beneficial, which allow to improve the mechanical performance of a welded joint. The behavior in the inter-critical region of a S355 grade steel with 0.1wt% V addition is reported in this paper. Five double-pass welding thermal cycles were simulated using a dilatometer, with the maximum temperature of the secondary peak in the inter-critical area, in the range between 720 ° C and 790 ° C. The residual austenite dependence on inter-critical temperature is analyzed and related to the hardness behavior.

Effect of intercritical heat treatment on microstructure, nano-size precipitation and mechanical properties of Fe–Ni–Cu–Al low carbon steel

In recent years, the co-precipitation of nanoscale Cu and Ni–Al particles in Fe–Ni–Cu–Al low-carbon steel provide an extremely high strengthening increment while minimizing the addition of carbon and alloy elements, however, the toughness and plasticity dramatically decreased. This research focuses on the improvement of toughness and plasticity utilizing an intercritical (Quenching-Lamellarization-Aging (QLA)-type) heat treatment for Fe–Ni–Cu–Al steel. The microstructure and nanoparticles precipitation of Fe–Ni–Cu–Al steel were characterized by TEM, HRTEM and phase analysis after a QLA treatment. The results indicate that the multi-phase microstructure consisting of maraging martensite, intercritical ferrite and austenite reversion were obtained by QLA treatment. With decreasing intercritical quenching temperature between 820 °C and 660 °C, −80 °C V-type impact energy and plasticity of Fe–Ni–Cu–Al steel was obviously improved due to the formation of intercritical ferrite and austenite reversion. Meanwhile, the coarsening of Ni3Al particles were markedly accelerated because of Ni segregation in matrix and abundant Fe atoms for the substitution of Al atoms within Ni3Al particles. The strengthening mechanisms of Ni3Al particles in Fe–Ni–Cu–Al steel was mainly Orowan bypassing strengthening after QLA treatment, and the corresponding strengthening increment was calculated as 89% (214 MPa) at the intercritical quenching temperature of 720 °C, which was 17% (259 MPa) lower than the value of order strengthening obtained by 820 °C primary quenching. The combination of multi-phase microstructure and co-precipitation strengthening contributed to excellent mechanical properties (yield strength>1050 MPa at 20 °C, the elongation>13%, a Charpy impact toughness of >80 J at −80 °C) during the intercritical quenching temperature of 720 °C–780 °C.