An efficient model for laser surface hardening of hypo-eutectoid steels

This paper presents a model able to predict the austenization of hypo-eutectoid steels during very fast heat cycle such as laser hardening. Laser surface hardening is a process highly suitable for hypo-eutectoid carbon steels with carbon content below 0.6% or for low alloy steels where the critical cooling rate is reached by means of the thermal inertia of the bulk. As proposed by many authors, the severe heat cycle occurring in laser hardening leads to the pearlite to austenite microstructures transformation happening to a temperature much higher than the eutectoid temperature A_c1 and, afterwards, all the austenite predicted during the heating phase become martensite during quenching. Anyway, all these models usually generate a predicted hardness profile into the material depth with an on-off behavior or very complicated and time consumed software simulators. In this paper, a new austenization model for fast heating processes based on the austenite transformation time parameter I_p→a is proposed. By means of the I_p→a parameter it is possible to predict the typical hardness transition from the treated surface to the base material. At the same time, this new austenization model also reduces the calculation time. I_p→a was determined by experimental tests and it was postulated to be constant for low-medium carbon steels. Several experimental examples are proposed to validate the assumptions and to show the accuracy of the model.     

Effect of annealing prior to cold rolling on magnetic and mechanical properties of low carbon non-oriented electrical steels

The effects of annealing prior to cold rolling on the microstructure, magnetic and mechanical properties of low-C grain non-oriented (GNO) electrical steels have been investigated. The grain structure of hot-rolled electrical steel strips is modified by annealing at temperatures between 700 and 1050 °C. Annealing at temperatures less than the ferrite to austenite+ferrite transformation temperature on heating (Ac₁) causes a marginal effect on the grain size. However, annealing in the intercritical region at temperatures between Ac₁ and Ac₃ (the ferrite+austenite to austenite transformation temperature on heating) causes rapid decarburization and development of large columnar ferrite grains free of carbide particles. This microstructure leads, after cold rolling and a fast annealing treatment, to carbide free, large ferrite grain microstructures with magnetic and mechanical properties superior to those observed typically in the same steel in the industrially fully processed condition. These results are attributed to the increment in grain size and to the {1 0 0} fiber texture developed during the final annealing at temperatures up to 850 °C. Annealing at higher temperatures, T>Ac₃, results in a strong {1 1 1} fiber texture and an increase of the quantity of second phase particles present in the microstructure, which lead to a negative effect on the final properties. The results suggest that annealing prior to cold rolling offers an attractive alternative processing route for the manufacture of fully processed low C GNO electrical steels strips.     

Direct observation of Cu interphase precipitation in continuous cooling transformation by atom probe tomography

Atom probe tomography (APT) combined with electron back scatter diffraction and transmission electronic microscopy (TEM) is utilized to characterize the nature of copper precipitation during austenite–ferrite transformation in a continuous cooling high-strength low-alloy steel. The copper precipitation manners in association with the austenite decomposition kinetics are studied. The prevailing microstructure of the continuous cooling steel consists of acicular ferrite (AF), which is formed at an intermediate cooling rate of 10?°C/s. Besides, a limited volume of polygonal ferrite (PF) because of fast cooling rate and a trace of retained austenite are detected. Numerous copper-rich phase is found by TEM observation both in highly dislocated AF and dislocation-free PF. Generally, the copper-rich precipitates have comparatively large sizes and are considered to be formed by interphase precipitation during austenite–ferrite transformation. A high number density of nanometre sized copper-rich clusters that are lack of diffraction contrast in conventional TEM observation are detected by APT. These smaller copper-rich clusters, which are usually located between the linear-arranged copper-rich precipitates, are considered to be formed from supersaturated solid solution after the cessation of austenite–ferrite transformation. That means an ageing reaction for Cu precipitation occurs during continuous cooling transformation. The copper-rich precipitates and clusters are both rich in nickel, manganese and iron.     

Laves Phases in Ferrite-Martensite EC-181 Steel

The microstructure and phase composition of EC-181 ferrite-martensite steel were studied in dependence on their heat treatment (temperature and aging time after quenching from 1080°C). It was established that Laves phases are formed only at the boundaries of ferrite grains, whereas Me ₂₃C₆ and V₂C carbides are formed in the ferrite and martensite components of the structure.     

Characterization of aging-induced microstructural changes in M250 maraging steel using magnetic parameters

The best combinations of mechanical properties (yield stress and fracture toughness) of M250 maraging steel is obtained through short-term thermal aging (3–10 h) at 755 K. This is attributed to the microstructure containing precipitation of intermetallic phases in austenite-free low-carbon martensite matrix. Over-aged microstructure, containing reverted austenite degrades the mechanical properties drastically. Hence, it necessitates identification of a suitable non-destructive evaluation (NDE) technique for detecting any reverted austenite unambiguously during aging. The influence of aging on microstructure, room temperature hardness and non-destructive magnetic parameters such as coercivity (H_c), saturation magnetization (M_s) and magnetic Barkhausen emission (MBE) RMS peak voltage is studied in order to derive correlations between these parameters in aged M250 maraging steel. Hardness was found to increase with precipitation of intermetallics during initial aging and decrease at longer durations due to austenite reversion. Among the different magnetic parameters studied, MBE RMS peak voltage was found to be very sensitive to austenite reversion (non-magnetic phase) as they decreased drastically up on initiation of austenite reversion. Hence, this parameter can be effectively utilized to detect and quantify the reverted austenite in maraging steel specimen. The present study clearly indicates that the combination of MBE RMS peak voltage and hardness can be used for unambiguous characterization of microstructural features of technological and practical importance (3–10 h of aging duration at 755 K) in M250 grade maraging steel.     

铸造奥氏体不锈钢中铁素体与奥氏体位向关系及其对声衰减的影响

研究了铸造奥氏体不锈钢中铁素体与奥氏体位向关系及其对超声散射衰减的影响.利用电子背散射衍射技术表征了两相的晶体取向及其位向关系,基于真实的铁素体形貌建立了二维声传播各向异性模型并利用时域有限差分法进行了计算,分析了不同位向关系、铁素体形貌特征对声衰减系数的影响规律并进行了实验验证.结果表明：铸造奥氏体不锈钢奥氏体晶粒中散布着形状复杂的铁素体,典型铁素体形貌为条状和岛状;铁素体与奥氏体的位向关系以Kurdjumov-Sachs关系为主,少量满足Nishiyama-Wassermann关系.对声传播过程进行计算,发现两相位向关系和铁素体形貌协同作用影响超声波传播,在较高检测频率（15 MHz）下对散射衰减的影响不能忽略.结合“原位”实验对奥氏体<101>柱状晶粒的声衰减影响因素进行了定量分析,发现对于单一铸造奥氏体晶粒,晶粒内部取向不均匀性、奥氏体-铁素体位向关系以及奥氏体晶粒内铁素体形态都是超声散射衰减的主要原因.     

Multi-phase transformation kinetics of HSLA steels during continuous cooling: experiments and cellular automaton (CA) simulation

ABSTRACT

Kinetics of multiply ferrite/bainite phase transformation of HSLA steels is investigated by experiments and cellular automaton (CA) simulation. Peak-differentiation method to elucidate the sequential ferrite and bainite phase transformation individually, which is verified by the CA simulation. Such CA modelling executed using classic JMAK theory, but also gives an insight of microstructure evolution of the multi-phase transformation routine on different cooling rate. From that, it enables classic JMAK modelling to capture the detached phase transformation with different growth models and interface-migration mechanisms. Also, we find that the final phase constitution is sensitive to the cooling rate. With increasing the cooling rate, bainite sheaves nucleated at prior austenite boundaries and ferrite/austenite interfaces are significantly facilitated, which seriously inhibits the growth of prior ferrites. The scenario can be interpreted by the CA simulation and the influence of the cooling rate on sequential multi-phase transformation can be also obtained.     

热磁预处理对Ni-Mn-Ga单晶磁学和力学性能的影响

研究了预先热磁处理对Ni_503Mn_287Ga₂₁单晶的磁学和力学性能的影响.首先将样品加热到居里温度之上让其冷却,冷却方式分为两种：一种是施加一定大小的磁场从高于居里温度冷却至室温,另一种是在样品经历顺磁-铁磁相变后但还未发生奥氏体-马氏体相变前施加相同大小和方向的磁场并冷却至室温.室温时的拉伸-压缩实验结果表明单晶样品在经历前一种处理后,其可逆应变、磁化强度的变化 （ΔM）比后一种处理的相应值要小很多.在后一种热磁处理的样品中,顺磁-铁磁相变发生后形成了自发磁畴,但这种磁畴不具有择优取向.在顺磁-铁磁相变结束后施加磁场,容易导致择优的马氏体准单畴出现,从而表现出大的可逆应变和ΔM.但对于前者,我们认为样品从居里温度降到室温过程中,其中的磁畴在相同的磁场作用下获得择优生长,形成大磁畴,导致磁诱导的强各向异性.这种择优取向的大磁畴在随后马氏体相变期间影响着马氏体的自发排列方式,不利于马氏体准单畴的出现,结果导致较小的可逆应变和ΔM. 关键词： 磁和力学锻炼 Ni-Mn-Ga单晶 铁磁和马氏体相变     

Comparative studies on the structure and electromagnetic properties of Ni−Zn ferrites prepared via co-precipitation and conventional ceramic processing routes

The magnetic and physical properties of ferrites are very sensitive to microstructure, which in turn critically depends on the manufacturing process. In this study, nickel zinc ferrite powder with composition Ni_0.8Zn_0.2Fe₂O₄ has been prepared via conventional ceramic processing and co-precipitation methods. The toroidal and pellet form samples were sintered at various temperatures such as 1100, 1200 and 1300 °C. The microstructure, magnetic and dielectric properties of both samples were studied. The X-ray diffraction patterns confirm the formation of single-phase cubic spinel structure for the co-precipitation technique after sintering. The microstructure studies of Ni_0.8Zn_0.2Fe₂O₄ show the grain size increases and the porosity decreases with temperature for both methods. The controlled permeability with small loss and wide operational frequency range are found in the co-precipitation samples. Dielectric constants decrease with increase of frequency and increase with sintering temperature in both methods. Consequently, the homogenous microstructure with the low-loss high-performance of nickel zinc ferrite has been discovered by means of co-precipitation method.     

Following individual grains during solid-state phase transformations with 3DXRD microscopy

The mechanical properties of metals strongly depend on the microstructure, which is formed during their production and processing. Understanding the underlying mechanisms of the nucleation and growth kinetics during solid-state phase transformations in steel is of vital importance to control its microstructure. The kinetics of individual grains in the bulk of steel can be measured in situ with the three-dimensional X-ray diffraction microscopy (3DXRD) at the European synchrotron radiation facility (ESRF). Simultaneously the fraction transformed, the nucleation rate, and the growth rate of individual grains can be measured. Unique in situ measurements of nucleation and growth rates of individual austenite and ferrite grains are presented.     

Magnetic transitions and structure of a NiMnGa ferromagnetic shape memory alloy prepared by melt spinning technique

A ferromagnetic shape memory alloy with nomial composition Ni_52.5Mn_24.5Ga₂₃ (at%) was developed by a melt spinning technique. The as-spun ribbon showed dominant L2₁ austenitic (cubic) structure with a splitting of the primary peak in the X-ray diffractogram indicating the existence of a martensitic feature. The quenched-in martensitic plates were revealed in transmission electron microscopy. An increase of magnetization at low temperature indicated a martensite to austenite transformation and its reverse with a drop in magnetization during the cooling cycle. Higher magnetic fields propel martensite–austenite transformation spontaneously.     

Twin evolution near the phase transformation of In77.5Tl22.5

The evolution of the martensitic twin microstructure in In_77.5Tl_22.5 single crystals was investigated by atomic force microscopy. During the reverse martensitic transformation the twins gradually flatten to disappear completely at the austenite finish temperature. The experimentally determined temperature dependence of the height of the twin profile agrees with the theoretical predictions of Barsch and Krumhansl.     

Grain boundary engineering: fatigue fracture

Abstract

Grain boundary engineering has revealed significant enhancement of material properties by modifying the populations and connectivity of different types of grain boundaries within the polycrystals. The character and connectivity of grain boundaries in polycrystalline microstructures control the corrosion and mechanical behaviour of materials. A comprehensive review of the previous researches has been carried out to understand this philosophy. Present research thoroughly explores the effect of total strain amplitude on phase transformation, fatigue fracture features, grain size, annealing twinning, different grain connectivity and grain boundary network after strain controlled low cycle fatigue deformation of austenitic stainless steel under ambient temperature. Electron backscatter diffraction technique has been used extensively to investigate the grain boundary characteristics and morphologies. The nominal variation of strain amplitude through cyclic plastic deformation is quantitatively demonstrated completely in connection with the grain boundary microstructure and fractographic features to reveal the mechanism of fatigue fracture of polycrystalline austenite. The extent of boundary modifications has been found to be a function of the number of applied loading cycles and strain amplitudes. It is also investigated that cyclic plasticity induced martensitic transformation strongly influences grain boundary characteristics and modifications of the material’s microstructure/microtexture as a function of strain amplitudes. The experimental results presented here suggest a path to grain boundary engineering during fatigue fracture of austenite polycrystals.     

Research on splitting phenomenon of isochronal martensitic transformation in T91 ferritic steel

T91 steel is a representative type of ferritic heat-resistant steel currently used in power plant components, and is a potential candidate for structural steel in nuclear reactors. The isochronal martensitic transformation behaviors during continuous cooling after austenitization in T91 ferritic steel were systematically investigated by high-resolution dilatometry and microstructure observation. The splitting phenomenon of martensitic transformation is accompanied with the precipitation of needle-like M₃C particles, which is suppressed by rapid cooling after austenitization. The appearance of this splitting is ascribed to the concentration gradient caused by the consumption of alloy element in process of the formation of M₃C. This concentration gradient results in the appearance of wide martensitic laths ahead of the generation of normally narrow laths. These two types of martensitic laths possess different M _s (martensitic start transformation) temperatures, which are attributed to the splitting transformation phenomenon.     

Defect driven multiferroicity in Gd doped BiFeO3 at room temperature

This paper reports that defect driven magnetism can be obtained at room temperature by optimizing metal ion concentration in bismuth ferrite (BFO) following our novel slow step solid state sintering route. We observed a clean signature of enhanced multiferroic behavior in Gd doped bismuth ferrite (Gd-BFO) bulk ceramics at room temperature (RT). Bismuth rich iron deficient Gd-BFO ceramics were prepared by solid state route through slow step sintering schedule at 850 °C. At particular composition, (Bi_1.2Gd_0.1Fe_0.8O₃), this materials completely transform from rhombohedral R3c to orthorhombic Pn2₁a space group. We emphasized that excess bismuth is expected to act as point defects and occupy interstitials positions, which in turn interact by oxygen vacancies. These defects are likely to promote defect driven ferromagnetism in BFO system. Incorporation of Gd in presence of excess bismuth in BFO enhanced both spin and electric polarization at room temperature. We also infer that Gd substitution in BFO is likely to suppress spiral spin modulation, which also favors ferromagnetism in Gd-BFO.     

Mössbauer study of the annealing effect on low‐alloyed steels

Structural analyses of Fe-Cr and Fe-Cr-Ni low‐alloyed steels before and after annealing at 600^○C using Mössbauer spectrometry, X‐ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy are reported. At the received state, the two steels present a fine bainitic microstructure with equal hardness. From Mössbauer analysis, two iron sites are identified as substitutional by Cr, Mo, Ni atoms and as insertional by carbon in bainitic ferrite. Both sites are locally deformed by residual stresses. The presence of small quantities of retained austenite and ε carbide has been observed. Annealing for one hour at 600^○C causes a decrease in hardness for both steels with a decrease of retained austenite. After longer time of annealing, precipitation of (Fe,Ni)₂₃C₆ occurs in the Fe-Cr-Ni steel and increases hardness.     

Effects of molybdenum on precipitation behaviours in aged cast stainless steels

The effects of Mo on precipitation behaviours in aged cast stainless steels have been investigated. Mo-free CF3 steel and Mo-bearing CF3M steel, both of which consisted of a duplex structure of ferrite and austenite phases, were prepared. Microstructural evolution in the ferrite phase during ageing at 723 K has been observed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Precipitates in CF3 steel were identified to belong to the G-phase and possess lattice coherency with the ferrite phase at interphase boundaries. On the other hand, precipitates in CF3M steel were found to be nanodomains of not only to the G-phase but also to another phase enriched in Mo. Some of the nanodomains containing Mo exhibited diffraction patterns having pseudo five-fold symmetry, but others exhibited regular periodicity in high-resolution TEM images. The atomic structure of the Mo-related nanodomains is proposed to be a distorted χ-phase that retains coherency with the matrix.     

Five-parameter crystallographic characteristics of the interfaces formed during ferrite to austenite transformation in a duplex stainless steel

The crystallography of interfaces in a duplex stainless steel having an equiaxed microstructure produced through the ferrite to austenite diffusive phase transformation has been studied. The five-parameter interface character distribution revealed a high anisotropy in habit planes for the austenite–ferrite and austenite–austenite interfaces for different lattice misorientations. The austenite and ferrite habit planes largely terminated on (1 1 1) and (1 1 0) planes, respectively, for the austenite–ferrite interfaces associated with Kurdjumov–Sachs (K–S) and Nishiyama–Wasserman (N–W) orientation relationships. This was mostly attributed to the crystallographic preference associated with the phase transformation. For the austenite–ferrite interfaces with orientation relationships which are neither K–S nor N–W, both austenite and ferrite habit planes had (1 1 1) orientations. Σ3 twin boundaries comprised the majority of austenite–austenite interfaces, mostly showing a pure twist character and terminating on (1 1 1) planes due to the minimum energy configuration. The second highest populated austenite–austenite boundary was Σ9, which tended to have grain boundary planes in the tilt zone due to the geometrical constraints. Furthermore, the intervariant crystallographic plane distribution associated with the K–S orientation relationship displayed a general tendency for the austenite habit planes to terminate with the (1 1 1) orientation, mainly due to the crystallographic preference associated with the phase transformation.     

Magnetic-field-induced microstructural features in a high carbon steel during diffusional phase transformation

In this work, a high purity, high carbon steel was heat treated without and with a 12-T magnetic field. The microstructural features induced by magnetic field during its diffusion-controlled austenite decomposition were investigated by means of optical microscopy and SEM/EBSD. It is found that the magnetic field increases the amount of the abnormal structure, which is composed of proeutectoid cementite along the prior austenite boundaries and ferrite around it, because magnetic field increases the austenite grain size and promotes the transformation of carbon-depleted austenite to ferrite. No specific orientation relationship between abnormal ferrite and cementite has been found in the non-field- or the field-treated specimens. Magnetic field evidently promotes the spheroidization of pearlite, due to its effect of enhancing carbon diffusion through raising the transformation temperature and its effect of increasing the relative ferrite/cementite interface energy. As magnetic field favors the nucleation of the high magnetization phase-pearlitic ferrite, the occurrence of the P-P2 OR that corresponds to the situation that ferrite nucleates prior to cementite during pearlitic transformation is enhanced by the magnetic field.     

钢铁材料中形变诱导相变超细化机理研究

通过计算机编程建立奥氏体相中12[1 1 0]刃位错、奥氏体相中非形变区和形变区奥氏体/铁 素体相界模型.用实空间的连分数方法计算了非形变区和形变区奥氏体/铁素体相界界面能， 计算了碳、氮及微合金元素在完整晶体及位错区引起的环境敏感镶嵌能，进而讨论形变过程 中铁素体形核的难易程度，碳、氮及合金元素在位错区的偏聚及析出与铁素体细化的关系. 计算结果表明：α-Fe易于在高密度位错区（形变带、亚晶界、晶界）形核，在奥氏体形变 过程中，就会大大提高α-Fe形核率，细化铁素体晶粒；碳、氮和微合金元素易于单独或共 同 关键词： 奥氏体/铁素体相界 刃位错 形变 晶粒细化