Vanadium Microalloying Research Articles

Selection of parameters of high-speed thermodeformation of Cr–Ni–Mo steel processing on the basis of imitation modeling

The temperature of the end of finishing stage, cooling rate and coil winding temperature are structure-sensitive parameters for bainite-grade steels in the production of plate less than 10 mm thick. Simulation modeling of high-speed thermo-deformation processing of Cr–Ni–Mo bainitic steel samples has been carried out in order to select the most rational technological modes in continuous hot rolling mills. The influence of strain rate and temperature as well as niobium and vanadium microalloying additives on phase transformations has been investigated.

Microstructural and mechanical evolution of duplex Fe–Mn–Al–C steels during microstructural conditioning: Influence of vanadium microalloying

Microstructural and mechanical evolution of duplex Fe–Mn–Al–C steels during microstructural conditioning: Influence of vanadium microalloying

Mechanistic role of vanadium microalloying in improving corrosion resistance of low carbon bainitic steel

We here investigated the effect of vanadium microalloying on the microstructure, mechanical properties, especially corrosion performances of low carbon bainitic steels. The corrosion behaviors of the steels with different vanadium contents in 3.5 wt% NaCl solution were evaluated by electrochemical tests (including polarization curves and electrochemical impedance spectroscopic measurements) and alternating immersion test (including weight loss and rust layer observation). Results show that the mechanical properties and corrosion resistance of low carbon bainitic steels can be synergistically improved with vanadium microalloying. With help of the electron backscatter diffraction characterization and scanning Kelvin probe force microscopy, we first discovered that although the number of micro-galvanic couples increases because of grain refinement, the Volta potential gradient between the matrix and grain boundaries are decreased with vanadium microalloying, which can promote the formation of compact protective rust layers and improve the corrosion resistance of vanadium micro-alloyed low carbon bainitic steels.

Regulation of mechanical properties in vanadium-containing high-nitrogen austenitic stainless steel via nano-Sized precipitated phase control

Nitride precipitation in high-nitrogen austenitic stainless steels significantly affects the mechanical properties of said steels. In this study, vanadium microalloying was employed to prepare high-nitrogen austenitic stainless steel with excellent comprehensive mechanical performance. The characteristics of the different precipitated phases, precipitation and dissolution behaviors, and their effects on mechanical properties were investigated. The impact mechanism of the precipitated phases on the mechanical properties of stainless steel was also discussed. The results indicate that the Me2X-type precipitated phase in the vanadium-containing high-nitrogen stainless steel exhibits a hexagonal close-packed (HCP) structure, forming a incoherent relationship with the matrix. This leads to a significant reduction in ductility owing to the larger size of particles enriched at the grain boundaries with minimal strengthening effects. Conversely, the MeX-type precipitated phase exhibits a face-centered cubic (FCC) structure, maintaining a semi-coherent relationship with the matrix. This results in smaller particle sizes and a more dispersed distribution, leading to a pronounced strengthening effect without compromising plasticity. Effective control of the precipitated phase can be achieved by solution treatment at different temperatures. Specifically, stainless steel subjected to a 1100 °C solution treatment exhibits only fine, dispersed MeX-type precipitated phases, resulting in optimal comprehensive mechanical properties: yield and ultimate tensile strengths of 587 and 924 MPa, respectively, with an elongation of 55% and a strength-ductility product of 49.6 GPa·%.

Influence of V on the Microstructure and Precipitation Behavior of High-Carbon Hardline Steel during Continuous Cooling.

High-carbon hardline steels are primarily used for the manufacture of tire beads for both automobiles and aircraft, and vanadium (V) microalloying is an important means of adjusting the microstructure of high-carbon hardline steels. Using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM), the microstructure and precipitation phases of continuous cooled high-carbon steels were characterized, and the vanadium content, carbon diffusion coefficient, and critical precipitation temperature were calculated. The results showed that as the V content increased to 0.06 wt.%, the interlamellar spacing (ILS) of the pearlite in the experimental steel decreased to 0.110 μm, and the carbon diffusion coefficient in the experimental steel decreased to 0.98 × 10-3 cm2·s-1. The pearlite content in the experimental steel with 0.02 wt.% V reached its maximum at a cooling rate of 5 °C·s-1, and a small amount of bainite was observed in the experimental steel at a cooling rate of 10 °C·s-1. The precipitated phase was VC with a diameter of ~24.73 nm, and the misfit between ferrite and VC was 5.02%, forming a semi-coherent interface between the two. Atoms gradually adjust their positions to allow the growth of VC along the ferrite direction. As the V content increased to 0.06 wt.%, the precipitation-temperature-time curve (PTT) shifted to the left, and the critical nucleation temperature for homogeneous nucleation, grain boundary nucleation, and dislocation line nucleation increased from 570.6, 676.9, and 692.4 °C to 634.6, 748.5, and 755.5 °C, respectively.

Elucidating the dual effect of vanadium microalloying on hot deformation behavior of high nitrogen martensitic stainless steel

Precipitates always have a complex effect on the hot work hardening and recrystallization softening of materials. In this work, the dual effect of V-microalloying on hot deformation behavior and microstructure evolution of high nitrogen martensitic stainless steel (HNMSS) was investigated by hot compression experiments, modeling study and microstructure characterization. The results showed that V-microalloying enhanced the flow stresses and activation energy of 0.2V steel due to the fine grain strengthening effect and the blocking effect of dynamic precipitation on dislocation movement and grain boundary migration. On the other hand, the recrystallization model and deformed microstructure indicated the more intense dynamic recrystallization (DRX) softening effect in 0.2V steel, inducing the faster decrease of flow stress after the peak stress. V-microalloying promoted the dynamic precipitation of HNMSS during hot deformation, which reduced the size and increased the number of precipitates in 0.2V steel. The fine precipitates hindered dislocation movement, promoted dislocation accumulation and entanglement, formed a particle deformation zone (PDZ) with high dislocation density and large orientation gradient, and then induced the occurrence of particle-stimulated nucleation (PSN). In addition, the dislocation cells evolved from dislocation entanglement were also favorable nucleation sites for DRX.

Thermomechanical Control of Microstructure and Precipitation in Vanadium Microalloyed Steel: Influence of Finish Rolling and Coiling Temperatures

Six hot compression tests are conducted using the Gleeble3500 thermomechanical simulator to investigate the microstructural evolution and precipitation behavior in low‐C–Mn V‐microalloyed steel. The specimens are subjected to hot isothermal compression deformation of 87%. The optical microscopy and transmission electron microscopy using carbon extraction replica method are used to characterize the microstructures and precipitation after the simulated thermomechanical controlled process and coiling. The results indicate that increasing the finish rolling temperature benefits the refinement of ferrite grains but has little influence on the refinement of the precipitates. It is also observed that lower coiling temperatures (CTs) promote the formation of fine precipitates. When the CT is 500 °C, the average precipitate size is found to be 86 nm. Furthermore, it is found that the CT significantly influences the nucleation sites of the precipitates inter alia, the matrix, interphase, grain boundaries, and dislocations. As expected, at higher CTs, nucleation is predominantly on the defects rather than the matrix.

Effect of Vanadium Micro-alloying on the Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of Stir Cast Al 354.0 Alloy

Effect of Vanadium Micro-alloying on the Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of Stir Cast Al 354.0 Alloy

The effect of vanadium micro-alloying on the microstructure of welded joints in high-strength structural steels

The balance between high strength and toughness in high-strength-low-alloy (HSLA) steels can be defined by the thermal cycles in the heat-affected zone (HAZ) of a welded joint, during a double-pass welding process with secondary heating in the inter-critical zone (IC CG HAZ). After multiple heating cycles in the temperature range between Ac1 and Ac3, the steel undergoes a strong loss of toughness and resistance to fatigue, mainly caused by the formation of residual austenite (RA). This study aims to investigate the influence of vanadium addition on the behavior of IC GC HAZ in S355-grade HSLA steel. The welding thermal cycles were simulated, considering five different inter-critical temperatures, between 720 and 790 °C. The addition of vanadium as a micro-alloy to an S355 structural steel was found to increase the mechanical strength of the IC GC HAZ zone of a welded joint without compromising toughness and fatigue resistance. This result is obtained through the generation of a bainitic microstructure with dispersion of fine regions of residual austenite and a fine and uniformly distributed precipitation.Graphical abstract

Effect of vanadium microalloying on phase transformation and strengthening mechanism of 1000 MPa low carbon bainitic steel

To develop an ultrahigh-strength hot-rolled strip, the yield strength of low-carbon bainitic steel was increased from 804 to 1074 MPa via V microalloying. The effects of V microalloying on the microstructure and mechanical properties of the alloys are discussed in detail. The microstructures of the test steel containing 0.2 wt % V element is finer, and the Degenerate Upper Lath Bainite (DUB) is replaced by Lower Lath Bainite (LLB). This was clearly due to the addition of V, which promoted the formation of LLB. In this study, the effect of V dissolved in the matrix on the phase transformation kinetics was investigated. This is because it is difficult for V to precipitate during quenching and non-isothermal partitioning (QNP) processes, and it mainly exists in the matrix in the form of a solid solution. The main effect of V is to reduce the activation energy Q* of bainite by 1.76 kJ/mol, increase the nucleation rate of lath bainite, and further refine the bainitic lath. However, a high dislocation density exists in the bainite laths, and the comprehensive strengthening effect of lath strengthening and dislocation strengthening can explain the change in the mechanical properties of the 0.2V steel.

Role of ordered carbon vacancies on stability and mechanical properties of VC1−X in bainite steel by first-principles calculations and experimental characterization

There has been little systematic research into vanadium carbides (VC1−X) configuration in bainite steel. Structural stability, mechanical properties, and thermal properties among vast VC1−X configurations for 20MnSiCrV bainite steel were studied here using first-principles calculations and experiments. The calculated results predicted stable and metastable VC1−X structures, and their intrinsic elasticity and hardness were related to carbon vacancy concentration varies, following parabolic law. A decrease in average bond strength and the number of V-C covalent bonds caused by fewer carbon atoms will lead to VC1−X softening. The calculated values for mechanical properties are in excellent agreement with existed available experimental data. Moreover, lattice thermal conductivity of VC1−X is not only dependent on carbon vacancy contents but also related to compound configuration. Furthermore, the calculated stable structures of VC (Fm3¯m), V8C7 (P4332), and V2C (Pbcn) are verified by TEM (Transmission Electron Microscope) observation. These results of VC1−X structural stability and properties provide a guideline to study vanadium second phases in bainite steel and ensure the subsequent extended research of vanadium microalloying in steel.

Characterization of Nanosized Carbide Precipitates in Multiple Microalloyed Press Hardening Steels

Press hardening steel standardly relies on titanium microalloying for protecting boron from being tied up by residual nitrogen. This practice safeguards the hardenability effect of boron during die quenching. More recently, additional microalloying elements were added to press hardening steel to further improve properties and service performance. Niobium was found to induce microstructural refinement, leading to better toughness, bendability, and hydrogen embrittlement resistance. In that respect, niobium also extends the operating window of the press hardening process. Vanadium microalloying has been proposed to provide hydrogen trapping by its carbide precipitates. A recently developed press hardening steel employs all three microalloying elements in an attempt to further enhance performance. The current study analyses the microstructure of such multiple microalloyed press hardening steel, and compares it to the standard grade. Particularly, the effect of various heat treatments is investigated, indicating that the multiple microalloyed steel is more resistant against grain coarsening. TEM analysis is used to identify the various particle species formed in the steels, to track their formation, and to determine their size distributions. Nanosized microalloy carbide particles typically comprise a mixed composition involving niobium, titanium, and vanadium. Furthermore, these precipitates are incoherent to the matrix. Regarding tensile properties, it is found that the multiple microalloyed press hardening steel is superior to the standard grade.

Achieving high strength and ductility in Fe–Mn–Al–C austenitic steel via vanadium microalloying and aging

An investigation was performed to evaluate the effect of vanadium (V) addition on the microstructure and the tensile behavior of Fe–27Mn–8Al-1.0C austenite lightweight steel after annealing and subsequently aging. The grain size of austenite in V-added steels was effectively refined and many nano-sized VC particles were observed in the austenite grains, compared to V-free steels, under annealed conditions. Subsequent aging promotes the precipitation of κ-carbide from the austenite matrix, and the dual-nanoprecipitation consisting of nano-sized VC and κ-carbide particles further improves the strength of the steel. Because of this, the current steels have good ductility (up to 41% total elongation) even when aged and high yield and ultimate tensile strengths of up to 1009 MPa and 1243 MPa, respectively. By examining the dislocation structure of the specimens during deformation, it was also possible to determine how precipitates affected the rate of strain hardening. As a result, the strain hardening rate of the V-added steel after aging is effectively improved at the initial deformation by the precipitation of VC particles, which compensates for the decrease in strain hardening rate due to shearable κ-carbide. This study provides a strategy to obtain an excellent combination of strength and ductility in lightweight steel by V microalloying and simple thermomechanical treatment.

Influence of Vanadium Micro-Alloying on the Microstructure of Structural High Strength Steels Welded Joints.

The inter-critically reheated grain coarsened heat affected zone (IC GC HAZ) has been reported as one of the most brittle section of high-strength low-alloy (HSLA) steels welds. The presence of micro-alloying elements in HSLA steels induces the formation of microstructural constituents, capable to improve the mechanical performance of welded joints. Following double welding thermal cycle, with second peak temperature in the range between Ac1 and Ac3, the IC GC HAZ undergoes a strong loss of toughness and fatigue resistance, mainly caused by the formation of residual austenite (RA). The present study aims to investigate the behavior of IC GC HAZ of a S355 steel grade, with the addition of different vanadium contents. The influence of vanadium micro-alloying on the microstructural variation, RA fraction formation and precipitation state of samples subjected to thermal cycles experienced during double-pass welding was reported. Double-pass welding thermal cycles were reproduced by heat treatment using a dilatometer at five different maximum temperatures of the secondary peak in the inter-critical area, from 720 °C to 790 °C. Although after the heat treatment it appears that the addition of V favors the formation of residual austenite, the amount of residual austenite formed is not significant for inducing detrimental effects (from the EBSD analysis the values are always less than 0.6%). Moreover, the precipitation state for the variant with 0.1 wt.% of V (high content) showed the presence of vanadium rich precipitates with size smaller than 60 nm of which, more than 50% are smaller than 15 nm.

Effects of Vanadium Microalloying and Intercritical Annealing on Yield Strength–Ductility Trade-Offs of Medium-Manganese Steels

In this paper, we investigate the effects of vanadium on the strength and ductility of medium-manganese steels by analyzing the microstructural evolution and strain hardening rates and performing quantitative calculations. Two significantly different contents of vanadium, 0.05 and 0.5 wt.%, were independently added to model steel (0.12C-10Mn) and annealed at different intercritical temperatures. The results show that higher vanadium addition increases the yield strength but decreases the ductility. The maximum yield strength can increase from 849 MPa to 1063 MPa at low temperatures. The model calculations reveal that this is due to a precipitation strengthening increment of up to 148 MPa and a dislocation strengthening increment of 50 MPa caused by a higher quantity of V4C3 precipitates. However, the high density of vanadium carbides leads them to easily segregate at grain boundaries or phase interfaces, which prevents strain from uniformly distributing throughout the phases. This results in stress concentrations which cause a high strain hardening rate in the early stages of loading and a delayed transformation-induced plasticity (TRIP) effect. Additionally, the precipitates decrease the austenite proportion and its carbon concentrations, rendering the TRIP effect unsustainable. Accordingly, the ductility of high vanadium steels is relatively low.

Effect of Vanadium on the Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of 2100 MPa Ultra-High Strength High Plasticity Spring Steel Processed by a Novel Online Rapid-Induction Heat Treatment

Advanced automotive industries generate large demand for the next generation of high strength and high toughness spring steels. Vanadium-containing 55SiCrV spring steels subjected to rapid-induction heating treatment can fulfil such requirements. However, the effect of vanadium microalloying under online rapid-induction heat treatments is rarely reported. A comparative study of the microstructure and tensile properties of 55SiCr and 55SiCrV spring steel wires subjected to a novel online rapid induction heat treatment has been demonstrated herein. It is found that the tensile strength of the 55SiCr spring wire decreases with the decrease in the wire speed in online rapid-induction heating, and the plasticity increases. Whereas, the tensile strength of the 55SiCrV steel wire increases with the decrease in the wire speed with the retained high plasticity, which is attributed to the strengthening effect of the dislocations. Through the optimized rapid-induction heating/cooling thermal cycles and intermediate-temperature tempering treatment, the tensile strength of the 55SiCrV steel wire approaches 2106 MPa with total elongation of 9.7%. Compared with the 55SiCr spring steel, the addition of V in 55SiCrV spring steel changes the strengthening and toughening mechanisms via the grain refinement and enhancement in the hardenability and tempering resistance. The finely dispersed V-containing secondary phases are rarely found in the matrix, which indicates that the precipitation effect stemming from the addition of V is not the dominant strengthening factor in the online rapid-induction heat process. The proposed novel online rapid-induction heat treatment provides a promising pathway for the mechanical property improvement of the spring steel.Graphical

Solubility Products and Equilibrium Equations of Carbonitrides in Steels: Thermodynamic Calculations

Thermodynamic models are established to deduce solubility products of titanium, niobium and vanadium carbonitrides in austenite and ferrite containing solid solution elements, respectively. Equilibrium equations are introduced to approximate the fraction and specific chemical formula of carbonitride in steels under given compositions. The thermodynamic interaction parameters in the solubility product expressions of these carbonitrides are sifted through the best agreements on calculation results and measured data from references. It is shown that (i) the deduced solubility products in this study are in accordance with previous studies; (ii) the fraction and specific chemical formula of carbonitride depends on both the temperature and the composition of the steel; and (iii) the formation of niobium carbonitride in steels can promote the precipitation of niobium when the mole ratio of carbon in carbonitride is small. This study can guide titanium, niobium and vanadium microalloying in low carbon steels and provide references for solubility product deducing and the fraction and chemical formula calculations of other ternary compounds in steels. The deduced solubility products of carbonitrides are (solubility products of carbides and nitrides are referenced from our previous work) $$\mathrm{log}{{}{}^{\gamma /\mathrm{\alpha }}K}_{{\mathrm{TiC}}_{ x}{\mathrm{N}}_{1-x}}\cong x\mathrm{log}{{}{}^{\gamma /\mathrm{\alpha }}K}_{\mathrm{TiC}}+\left(1-x\right)\mathrm{log}{{}{}^{\gamma /\mathrm{\alpha }}K}_{\mathrm{TiN}}+x\left(1-x\right)\frac{121}{T}+x\mathrm{log}x+\left(1-x\right)\mathrm{log}\left(1-x\right)$$ $$\mathrm{log}{{}{}^{\gamma /\mathrm{\alpha }}K}_{{\mathrm{NbC}}_{ x}{\mathrm{N}}_{1-x}}\cong x\mathrm{log}{{}{}^{\gamma /\mathrm{\alpha }}K}_{\mathrm{NbC}}+\left(1-x\right)\mathrm{log}{{}{}^{\gamma /\mathrm{\alpha }}K}_{\mathrm{NbN}}+x\left(1-x\right)\frac{98}{T}+x\mathrm{log}x+\left(1-x\right)\mathrm{log}\left(1-x\right)$$ $$\mathrm{log}{{}{}^{\gamma /\mathrm{\alpha }}K}_{{\mathrm{VC}}_{ x}{\mathrm{N}}_{1-x}}\cong x\mathrm{log}{{}{}^{\gamma /\mathrm{\alpha }}K}_{\mathrm{VC}}+\left(1-x\right)\mathrm{log}{{}{}^{\gamma /\mathrm{\alpha }}K}_{\mathrm{VN}}+x\left(1-x\right)\frac{13}{T}+x\mathrm{log}x+\left(1-x\right)\mathrm{log}\left(1-x\right)$$

Punching above its weight: life cycle energy accounting and environmental assessment of vanadium microalloying in reinforcement bar steel.

Steel-reinforced concrete is ubiquitously used in construction across the world. The United Nations estimates that the worldwide energy consumption of buildings accounts for 30-40% of global energy production, underlining the importance of the judicious selection of construction materials. Much effort has focused on the use of high-strength low-alloy steels in reinforcement bars whose economy of materials use is predicated upon improved yield strengths in comparison to low-carbon steels. While microalloying is known to allow for reduced steel consumption, a sustainability analysis in terms of embodied energy and CO2 has not thus far been performed. Here we calculate the impact of supplanting lower grade reinforcement bars with higher strength vanadium microalloyed steels on embodied energy and carbon footprint. We find that the increased strength of vanadium microalloyed steel translates into substantial material savings over mild steel, thereby reducing the total global fossil carbon footprint by as much as 0.385%. A more granular analysis pegs savings for China and the European Union at 1.01 and 0.19%, respectively, of their respective emissions. Our cradle-to-gate analysis provides an accounting of the role of microalloying in reducing the carbon footprint of the steel and construction industries and highlights the underappreciated role of alloying elements.

Corrosion characteristics of vanadium micro-alloyed steel reinforcement bars exposed in concrete environments and industrially polluted atmosphere

Corrosion resistance performance of rebars rolled from vanadium micro-alloyed (VMA) steel was evaluated vis-à-vis rebars rolled from steel having similar chemistry to the (VMA) steel without vanadium and subjected to thermomechanical treatment after hot rolling (TMT). Three test environments namely simulated concrete pore solution, mortars, and industrially polluted atmosphere were used to assess the performance of these rebars. Mass loss, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, DC polarization and potential-time studies were employed to acquire quantitative data and explain the observed results. Raman spectroscopy was used to identify the corrosion products formed on the surface of the exposed rebars in different environments. The corrosion resistance of VMA rebars was better than TMT especially with increased duration of exposure in chloride contaminated concrete environments. However, under the industrially polluted atmosphere, both rebars exhibited comparative corrosion rates. Lesser detrimental effect of chloride present in concrete environment on the VMA steel rebars is attributed to the higher grain boundary per unit area in these rebars than in the TMT rebars. It is suggested that owing to the stronger tendency of the higher-grain-boundary- material to interact with oxygen and moisture, a thicker film of Fe(OH)3 was formed on its surface than on the surface of the TMT rebar, prior to their exposure to the test environments. This hydroxide film dissolved in alkaline environment of concrete, nucleated and grew as a protective FeOOH film on the surface of the rebars.

Influence of Vanadium Microalloying on Microstructure and Property of Laser-Cladded Martensitic Stainless Steel Coating.

Martensitic stainless steel (MSS) coatings with different vanadium (V) contents (0–1.0 wt%) by microalloying have been successfully fabricated utilizing a unique laser cladding technique. The microstructure and properties of the resulting MSS coatings, with and without element V addition, have been carefully investigated by various advanced techniques, including XRD, SEM, TEM, microhardness tester, universal material testing machine, and electrochemical workstation. It was found that the V-free coating was mainly composed of martensite (M) and ferrite (F), trace M23C6 and M2N, while the V-bearing coatings consisted of M, F, M23C6, and VN nano-precipitates, and their number density increased with the increase of V content. The V microalloying can produce a significant impact on the mechanical properties of the resulting MSS laser-cladded specimens. As the V content increased, the elongation of the specimen increased, while the tensile strength and microhardness increased firstly and then decreased. Specifically, the striking comprehensive performance can be optimized by microalloying 0.5 wt% V in the MSS coating, with microhardness, tensile strength, yield strength, and elongation of 500.1 HV, 1756 MPa, 1375 MPa, and 11.9%, respectively. However, the corrosion resistance of the specimens decreased successively with increasing V content. The microstructure mechanisms accounting for the property changes have been discussed in detail.