Large Strain Warm Deformation Research Articles

On the Effect of Manganese on Grain Size Stability and Hardenability in Ultrafine-Grained Ferrite/Martensite Dual-Phase Steels

Two plain carbon steels with varying manganese content (0.87 wt pct and 1.63 wt pct) were refined to approximately 1 μm by large strain warm deformation and subsequently subjected to intercritical annealing to produce an ultrafine grained ferrite/martensite dual-phase steel. The influence of the Mn content on microstructure evolution is studied by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The Mn distribution in ferrite and martensite is analyzed by high-resolution electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD) combined with energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX). The experimental findings are supported by the calculated phase diagrams, equilibrium phase compositions, and the estimated diffusion distances using Thermo-Calc (Thermo-Calc Software, McMurray, PA) and Dictra (Thermo-Calc Software). Mn substantially enhances the grain size stability during intercritical annealing and the ability of austenite to undergo martensitic phase transformation. The first observation is explained in terms of the alteration of the phase transformation temperatures and the grain boundary mobility, while the second is a result of the Mn enrichment in cementite during large strain warm deformation, which is inherited by the newly formed austenite and increases its hardenability. The latter is the main reason why the ultrafine-grained material exhibits a hardenability that is comparable with the hardenability of the coarse-grained reference material.

Deformation and fracture mechanisms in fine- and ultrafine-grained ferrite/martensite dual-phase steels and the effect of aging

Three ferrite/martensite dual-phase steels varying in the ferrite grain size (12.4, 2.4 and 1.2 μm) but with the same martensite content (∼30 vol.%) were produced by large-strain warm deformation at different deformation temperatures, followed by intercritical annealing. Their mechanical properties were compared, and the response of the ultrafine-grained steel (1.2 μm) to aging at 170 °C was investigated. The deformation and fracture mechanisms were studied based on microstructure observations using scanning electron microscopy and electron backscatter diffraction. Grain refinement leads to an increase in both yield strength and tensile strength, whereas uniform elongation and total elongation are less affected. This can be partly explained by the increase in the initial strain-hardening rate. Moreover, the stress/strain partitioning characteristics between ferrite and martensite change due to grain refinement, leading to enhanced martensite plasticity and better interface cohesion. Grain refinement further promotes ductile fracture mechanisms, which is a result of the improved fracture toughness of martensite. The aging treatment leads to a strong increase in yield strength and improves the uniform and total elongation. These effects are attributed to dislocation locking due to the formation of Cottrell atmospheres and relaxation of internal stresses, as well as to the reduction in the interstitial carbon content in ferrite and tempering effects in martensite.

Effect of grain refinement to 1 μm on strength and toughness of dual-phase steels

Large strain warm deformation at different temperatures and subsequent intercritical annealing has been applied to obtain fine grained (2.4 μm) and ultrafine grained (1.2 μm) ferrite/martensite dual-phase (DP) steels. Their mechanical properties were tested under tensile and impact conditions and compared to a hot deformed coarse grained (12.4 μm) reference material. Both yield strength and tensile strength follow a Hall–Petch type linear relationship, whereas uniform elongation and total elongation are hardly affected by grain refinement. The initial strain hardening rate as well as the post-uniform elongation increase with decreasing grain size. Ductile fracture mechanisms are considerably promoted due to grain refinement. Grain refinement further lowers the ductile-to-brittle transition temperature and leads to higher absorbed impact energies. Besides the common correlations with the ferrite grain size, these phenomena are explained in terms of the martensite particle size, shape and distribution and the more homogeneous dislocation distribution in ultrafine ferrite grains.

Mechanical Properties of Ultrafine Grained Steels Processed by Large Strain-High Z Deformation - A Review

Ultrafine-grained steels with a grain size of about one micron offer the prospect of high strength coupled with high toughness among conventional steel compositions and are attracting the attention of researchers worldwide. Application of these ultrafine-grained steels to potential engineering structures demands extensive study of their mechanical properties. While there are many studies on the development of ultrafine-grained microstructures through various deformation processing techniques on a spectrum of compositions, fewer studies were reported on the more important aspect of evaluating their mechanical properties. This is to verify the basic assumption that the microstructural refinement at bulk level indeed improves the mechanical properties offering the prospect of a realistic replacement of the existing conventional steels in the near future. As we move towards the ultimate goal of applying these advanced high strength materials, this review article attempts to present a comprehensive picture on the mechanical properties of ultrafine-grained steels with varying carbon contents fabricated by large strain warm deformation. Finally, it is believed that time is ripe for exploring the possible applications of these materials for structural applications.

Microstructure–Mechanical Properties Correlation in Ultrafine Grained Steels Processed by Large Strain Warm Deformation

Ultrafine-grained steels with grain size of about 1 μm offer the prospect of high strength coupled with high toughness among conventional steel compositions and are attracting the attention of researchers worldwide. Application of these ultrafine grained steels to the fabrication of potential engineering structures demand extensive study of their mechanical properties and reasons for the improvement in order to get detailed insight into their behaviour under operating conditions. While there are many studies on the development of ultrafine grained microstructures per se, fewer studies were reported on the more important aspect of evaluating their mechanical properties. This is to verify the basic assumption that the microstructural refinement at bulk level indeed improves the properties offering the prospect of a realistic replacement of the existing conventional steels in the near future. This review article attempts to present a comprehensive picture on the microstructure-mechanical properties correlation of ultrafine grained steels fabricated by large strain warm deformation and reasons behind the improved properties from a micromechanics point of view.

Ultrafine Grained Ferrite/Martensite Dual Phase Steel Fabricated by Large Strain Warm Deformation and Subsequent Intercritical Annealing

An ultrafine grained (UFG) ferrite/cementite microstructure was produced by use of large strain warm deformation in two plain C-Mn steels. In order to overcome the characteristic restricted tensile ductility of this steel, an intercritical annealing was applied to obtain an UFG ferrite/martensite dual phase (DP) steel. Suitable intercritical annealing parameters have been worked out using dilatometry. Microstructure evolution during intercritical annealing has been investigated by means of scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD). The study revealed that increasing the Mn content from 0.87 to 1.63 mass% was highly beneficial for the formation of martensite. This effect is explained by the enrichment of Mn in cementite which is partly inherited by austenite. The final microstructure consists of martensite islands embedded in an ultrafine grained polygonal ferrite matrix. The average grain size is 1-2 μm. Small amounts of retained austenite (<1 μm) are finely dispersed. The grain size is hardly affected by the intercritical annealing, whereas the fraction of high-angle grain boundaries in the ferrite matrix is reduced. Tensile tests revealed that strain hardenability is drastically improved by the introduction of martensite as a second phase. The UFG-DP steel exhibits a good combination of high strength and uniform elongation and considerable strain hardenability.

Dynamic softening of ferrite during large strain warm deformation of a plain-carbon steel

The evolution of dynamic ferrite softening in a plain-carbon steel was investigated by torsion tests during warm deformation at 810 °C, in the two-phase (ferrite + austenite) region, and strain rate of 0.1 s −1 with different strains up to 50. The warm flow behaviour and ferrite microstructural parameters, such as grain size, misorientation angle across ferrite/ferrite boundaries, and the fraction of high-angle and low-angle grain/subgrain boundaries were quantified using electron back scatter diffraction. The results show that with increasing strain up to ∼2, the ferrite grain size and fraction of high-angle boundaries rapidly decrease and the fraction of low-angle boundaries increases. However, these parameters remain approximately unchanged with increasing strain from ∼2 to 50. The dynamic softening mechanism observed during large strain ferritic deformation is explained by dynamic recovery and continuous dynamic recrystallization.

Characterization on ferrite microstructure evolution during large strain warm torsion testing of plain low carbon steel

Ferrite grain/subgrain structures evolution during the extended dynamic softening of a plain low carbon steel was investigated throughout the large strain warm deformation by hot torsion. Microstructural analysis with electron back-scattering diffraction (EBSD) scanning electron microscope (FEG/SEM) was carried out on the ferrite microstructural parameters. The results showed that the warm flow stress–strain curves are similar to those affected only by dynamic softening and an extended warm flow softening is seen during large strain deformation up to 30. Furthermore, with an increase in strain up to ∼1 the grain size of ferrite, misorientation angle and fraction of high-angle boundaries gradually decrease and fraction of low-angle boundaries increases. With a further increase in the strain beyond ∼2, these parameters remain approximately unchanged. No evidence of discontinuous dynamic recrystallisation involving nucleation and growth of new grains was found within ferrite. Therefore, the dynamic softening mechanism observed during large strain ferritic deformation is explained by continuous dynamic recrystallization (CDRX).

Mechanical properties of an ultrafine grained C–Mn steel processed by warm deformation and annealing

The mechanical properties of an ultrafine grained 0.2%C–Mn steel, processed by large strain warm deformation and subsequent annealing, have been investigated. The microstructure consists of spheroidized cementite particles in an ultrafine ferrite matrix (average grain diameter ≈1.3 μm). The steel shows an improved combination of strength and toughness when compared with corresponding coarse grained specimens. The reasonable ductility of the steel can be attributed to the finely dispersed cementite particles, which also effectively increase the work hardening rate by the accumulation of geometrically necessary dislocations in their vicinity. The lower shelf energy is significantly higher and the ductile-to-brittle transition temperature is lower in the ultrafine grained steel than in comparable coarse grained specimens. This may be due to the joint effect of grain refinement and delamination in the ultrafine grained steel processed by large strain deformation. The delaminations lead to a decrease in triaxiality of the stress state in the impact test samples. The upper shelf energy is slightly reduced in the ultrafine grained steel, which can be attributed to the effect of delamination.

Influence of Mn Content on the Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of Ultrafine Grained C-Mn Steels

The effect of Mn content on the microstructure and mechanical properties of two ultrafine grained 0.2%C-Mn steels has been investigated. The ultrafine grained microstructure was produced by use of large strain warm deformation and subsequent annealing. The final microstructure consists of fine cementite particles within an ultrafine grained ferrite matrix. The increase in the Mn content leads to a decrease in the average ferrite grain size (from 1.3 to 0.8 μm for an increase in the Mn content from 0.74 to 1.52 mass%). This can be attributed to the enrichment of Mn in the cementite particles, which becomes finer in the steel with a higher Mn content. The increase in the Mn content results in an increase in strength at equal ductility and toughness.

Microstructure and crystallographic texture of an ultrafine grained C–Mn steel and their evolution during warm deformation and annealing

The evolution of microstructure and texture of a 0.2%C–Mn steel during large strain warm deformation and subsequent annealing has been investigated. The process of grain subdivision during warm deformation is essential for the formation of ultrafine grains in such a material. The study reveals that pronounced recovery instead of primary recrystallization is required to obtain a large fraction of high-angle grain boundaries (HAGBs) as a prerequisite for the development of ultrafine grains in the course of warm deformation. The prevalence of primary recrystallization instead of recovery is not generally beneficial in this context since it reduces significantly the dislocation density and removes the substructure which is important for the gradual formation of subgrains and, finally, of ultrafine grains which are surrounded by HAGBs. Consistently, the texture of the ultrafine grained 0.2%C–Mn steel observed after large strain warm deformation and subsequent annealing, consists primarily of the α-(〈110〉∥RD) texture fiber which indicates strong recovery. The γ-(〈111〉∥ND) texture fiber which is typical of recrystallized rolled ferritic steels does not appear. The process occurring during the deformation and subsequent annealing can, therefore, be interpreted as a pronounced recovery process during which new grains are created without preceding nucleation.

0.3%C-9%Ni鋼の逆変態γ粒径に及ぼす大ひずみ温間加工の影響

0.3%C-9%Ni鋼の逆変態γ粒径に及ぼす大ひずみ温間加工の影響