Using a Gleeble 3800 thermo-mechanical simulator, the effect of niobium and titanium on the dynamic recrystallization （DRX） behavior of low carbon steels was investigated. Isothermal single compression tests were performed in the temperature range of 850 to 1 150 ℃ at constant strain rates of 0.1 to 5 s-1. The experimental results showed that the addition of niobium and titanium to the low carbon steels significantly increased both the peak stress and steady state stress. The activation energy of deformation Qd was larger than the activation energy associated with the steady state stress Qss. Furthermore, the difference between Qd and Qss became significant because of the addition of niobium and titanium. DRX is effectively retarded because of solute dragging and dynamic precipitate pinning of niobium and titanium, resulting in higher values of the peak strain and steady state strain. Finally, the influence of niobium and titanium on the DRX kinetics and steady state grain size was determined.
MA Li-qiangLIU Zhen-yuJIAO Si-haiYUAN Xiang-qianWU Di
Considering the effect of strain and chemical composition onprecipitation behavior, new models for the start and end time of Nb（C,N） precipitation in austenite under the conditions of different temperatures and strains have been investigated for Nb microalloyed steel. The value of n in the precipitation kinetic equation has been determined by using the available experimental data in literature, which indicated that n is a constant and independent of temperature. The values of the start and end time of the predicted precipitation are compared with the experimental values. Calculated results are in good agreement with the experimental results. Also, the evolution of austenite grains before ferrite transformation is simulated by taking the effect of precipitation into consideration. The measured austenite grain size is in good agreement with predicted one prior to ferrite transformation.
ZHOU Xiao-guang LIU Zhen-yu YUAN Xiang-qian WU Di WANG Guo-dong LIU Xiang-hua
On the basis of the classical nucleation theory, a new model of incubation time for austenite to ferrite transformation has been developed, in which the effect of deformation on austenite has been taken into consideration. To prove the precision of modeling, ferrite transformation starting temperature （Ar3） has been calculated using the Scheil＇s additivity rule, and the Ar3 values were measured using a Gleeble 1500 thermomechanical simulator. The Ar3 values provided by the modeling method coincide with the measured ones, indicating that the model is precise in oredicting the incubation time for austenite to ferrite transformation in hot deformed steels.
By using isothermal double hit compression tests and applying the 2% offset method, a new model was developed to predict the microstructural evolution of Nb-bearing steels at temperatures above and below the start temperature of strain-induced precipitation （Tp）. The Tp was developed as a function of true strain, initial austenite grain size and the Nb content. The activation energy of static recrystallization （Qrex） was expressed as a function of the content of different alloy elements. It was found that Nb played the most important role in increasing the value of Qrex, The microstructural observations and measurements confirmed the validity of the model developed in the present investigation.
On the basis of the thermodynamic calculation of precipitation and considering the effect of strain on the precipitation behavior and chemical composition （Si and Mn）, the kinetics of precipitation from austenite has been investigated for different temperatures and strains. Nucleation theory and the solubility product of niobium, carbon, and nitrogen in austenite have been used to derive equations for the start time of precipitation as a function of temperature and composition. The value of n in Avrami equation was determined using the available experimental data from the published reports, which indicated that n is a constant independent of temperature and the end time of precipitation is a function of n and the start time of precipitation. The values of the start time and end time of precipitation predicted by the new model are compared with the experimental values and a good agreement was obtained between both.
