Hostname: page-component-8448b6f56d-wq2xx Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-04-19T21:07:32.038Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Regulation of Cu precipitation by intercritical tempering in a HSLA steel

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  09 April 2014

Qing-Dong Liu ,
Jian-Feng Gu  and
Chuan-Wei Li
Qing-Dong Liu
Affiliation:
Shanghai Key Laboratory of Materials Laser Processing and Modification, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, People's Republic of China
Jian-Feng Gu*
Affiliation:
Shanghai Key Laboratory of Materials Laser Processing and Modification, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, People's Republic of China
Chuan-Wei Li
Affiliation:
Shanghai Key Laboratory of Materials Laser Processing and Modification, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, People's Republic of China
*
a)Address all correspondence to this author. e-mail: gujf@sjtu.edu.cn
Get access

Abstract

A multistep heat treatment process consisting of intercritical tempering between quenching and conventional tempering contributed to the development of a ferrite–martensite dual-phase structure in a Ni- and Cu-containing high-strength low-alloy steel. By using electron backscatter diffraction and scanning transmission electron microscopy, the microstructures were found to have an elongated lathlike morphology with carbide and Cu precipitates located especially at the boundaries of ferrite and martensite crystals. Atom probe tomography reveals at atomic scale the existence of solute-diluted ferrite and solute-rich martensite, and the later phase was considered to be transformed from the reverse austenite that was formed during intercritical tempering. Cu precipitation greatly correlates with the microconstituents, resulting in different distributional characteristics of Cu precipitates within these two phases and at their boundaries. It is a promising process to utilize Cu precipitation strengthening and phase transformation toughening simultaneously in alloy steels.

Keywords

atom probe tomographyhigh-strength low-alloy steelCu precipitationreverse austenitemicrostructure
Type
Articles
Information
Journal of Materials Research , Volume 29 , Issue 8 , 28 April 2014 , pp. 950 - 958
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 2014 

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

REFERENCES

Zhang, Z., Liu, C., Wen, Y., Hirata, A., Guo, S., Chen, G., Chen, M., and Chin, B.: Influence of aging and thermomechanical treatments on the mechanical properties of a nanocluster-strengthened ferritic steel. Metall. Mater. Trans. A 43, 351 (2012).CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Vaynman, S., Isheim, D., Prakash Kolli, R., Bhat, S.P., Seidman, D.N., and Fine, M.E.: High-strength low-carbon ferritic steel containing Cu–Fe–Ni–Al–Mn precipitates. Metall. Mater. Trans. A 39, 363 (2008).CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Misra, R.D.K., Jia, Z., Malley, R.O., and Jansto, S.J.: Precipitation behavior during thin slab thermomechanical processing and isothermal aging of copper-bearing niobium-microalloyed high strength structural steels: The effect on mechanical properties. Mater. Sci. Eng., A 528, 8772 (2011).CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Liu, Q.D., Liu, W.Q., and Xiong, X.Y.: Correlation of Cu precipitation with austenite-ferrite transformation in a continuously cooled multicomponent steel: An atom probe tomography study. J. Mater. Res. 27, 1060 (2012).CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Liu, Q.D., Liu, C.W., Gu, J.F., and Liu, W.Q.: Direct observation of Cu interphase precipitation in continuous cooling transformation by atom probe tomography. Philos. Mag. 94, 306 (2014).CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Liu, Q.D. and Zhao, S.J.: Comparative study on austenite decomposition and copper precipitation during continuously cooling transformation. Metall. Mater. Trans. A 44, 163 (2013).CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Thompson, S. and Krauss, G.: Copper precipitation during continuous cooling and isothermal aging of a710-type steels. Metall. Mater. Trans. A 27, 1573 (1996).CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Liu, Q.D. and Zhao, S.J.: Cu precipitation on dislocation and interface in quench-aged steel. MRS Commun. 127 (2012).CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Mulholland, M.D. and Seidman, D.N.: Nanoscale co-precipitation and mechanical properties of a high-strength low-carbon steel. Acta Mater. 59, 1881 (2011).CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Tiemens, B.L., Sachdev, A.K., Mishra, R.K., and Olson, G.B.: Three-dimensional (3-D) atom probe tomography of a Cu-precipitation-strengthened, ultrahigh-strength carburized steel. Metall. Mater. Trans. A 43, 3626 (2012).CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Zhang, Z.W., Liu, C.T., Miller, M.K., Wang, X., Wen, Y.R, Fujita, T., Hirata, A., Chen, M.W., Chen, G., and Chin, B.A.: A nanoscale co-precipitation approach for property enhancement of Fe-base alloys. Sci. Rep. 3, 1327 (2013).CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Liu, Q.D., Gu, J.F., and Liu, W.Q.: On the role of Ni in Cu precipitation in multicomponent steels. Metall. Mater. Trans. A 44, 4434 (2013).CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Jiao, Z.B., Luan, J.H., Zhang, Z.W., Miller, M.K., Ma, W.B., and Liu, C.T.: Synergistic effects of Cu and Ni on nanoscale precipitation and mechanical properties of high-strength steels. Acta Mater. 61, 5996 (2013).CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Yuan, L., Ponge, D., Wittig, J., Choi, P., Jiménez, J.A., and Raabe, D.: Nanoscale austenite reversion through partitioning, segregation and kinetic freezing: Example of a ductile 2 GPa Fe–Cr–C steel. Acta Mater. 60, 2790 (2012).CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Raabe, D., Ponge, D., Dmitrieva, O., and Sander, B.. Designing ultrahigh strength steels with good ductility by combining transformation induced plasticity and martensite aging. Adv. Eng. Mater. 11, 547 (2009).CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Raabe, D., Sandlöbes, S., Millán, J., Ponge, D., Assadi, H., Herbig, M., and Choi, P-P.: Segregation engineering enables nanoscale martensite to austenite phase transformation at grain boundaries: A pathway to ductile martensite. Acta Mater. 61, 6132 (2013).CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Kim, J.I., Syn, C.K., and Morris, J.W.: Microstructural sources of toughness in QLT-treated 5.5 Ni cryogenic steel. Metall. Trans. A 14, 93 (1983).CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Fultz, B., Kim, J.I., Kim, Y.H., Kim, H.J., Fior, G.O., and Morris, J.W. Jr.: The stability of precipitated austenite and the toughness of 9Ni steel. Metall. Trans. A 16, 2237 (1985).CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Fultz, B. and Morris, J.W. Jr.: The mechanical stability of precipitated austenite in 9Ni steel. Metall. Trans. A 16, 2251 (1985).CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Ritchie, R.O.: The conflicts between strength and toughness. Nat. Mater. 10, 817 (2011).CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Mujahid, M., Lis, A.K., Garcia, C.I., and DeArdo, A.J.: HSLA-100 steels: Influence of aging heat treatment on microstructure and properties. J. Mater. Eng. Perform. 7, 247 (1998).CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Nakada, N., Syarif, J., Tsuchiyama, T., and Takaki, S.: Improvement of strength-ductility balance by copper addition in 9%Ni steels. Mater. Sci. Eng., A 374, 137 (2004).CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Luo, X.B., Yang, C.F., Chai, F., and Su, H.: Effect of intercritical quenching on low temperature toughness of high strength ship hull steel. Heat Treat. Met. 37, 71 (2012)9. (in Chinese).Google Scholar
Chen, Y.Y., Cheng, B.G., and Liu, D.S.: Effect of intercritical quenching on properties and microstructure evolution of NV-F690 steel. Heat Treat. Met. 37, 77 (2012)1. (in Chinese).Google Scholar
Miller, M.K.: Atom Probe Tomography: Analysis at the Atomic Level (Kluwer Publishing/Plenum Press, New York, NY, 2000).CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Tsuchiyama, T., Natori, M., Nakada, N., and Takaki, S.: Conditions for grain boundary bulging during tempering of lath martensite in ultra-low carbon steel. ISIJ Int. 50, 771 (2010).CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hara, T., Maruyama, N., Shinohara, Y., Asahi, H., Shigesato, G., Sugiyama, M., and Koseki, T.: Abnormal α to γ transformation behavior of steels with a martensite and bainite microstructure at a slow reheating rate. ISIJ Int. 49, 1792 (2009).CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Kolli, R.P. and Seidman, D.N.: The temporal evolution of the decomposition of a concentrated multicomponent Fe–Cu-based steel. Acta Mater. 56, 2073 (2008).CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Kolli, R.P., Mao, Z.G., Seidman, D.N., and Keane, D.T.: Identification of a Ni0.5 (Al0.5−xMnx) B2 phase at the heterophase interfaces of Cu-rich precipitates in an α-Fe matrix. Appl. Phys. Lett. 91, 241903 (2007).CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hutchinson, B., Hagstroöm, J., Karlsson, O., Lindell, D., Tornberg, M., Lindberg, F., and Thuvander, M.: Microstructures and hardness of as-quenched martensites (0.1–0.5%C). Acta Mater. 59, 5845 (2011).CrossRefGoogle Scholar