Steel Properties

 

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Carbon

At constant grain size C has very little effect on yield strength (YS). Effect of C on YS and tensile strength (TS):

Steel

Change in YS (MPa)

Comments

C-Mn (<1%) as rolled

DYS = 350.D%C

 

C-1,50Mn-0, 045Nb controlled rolled

DYS = 185.D%C

0,05/0,13%C; FRT=800°C

C-1,40Mn as rolled

DTS = 850.D%C

 

C-1,50Mn-Nb contr. rolled

DTS = 750.D%C

0,10/0,20%C; FRT=800/900°C

 

As C content increases volume fraction of pearlite increases.

Increase in YS due to 1% increase in pearlite content is 1,48 MPa

Increase in TS due to 1% increase in pearlite content is 2,8MPa (normalized steels).

 

As n increases with the lowering of the C content stretch formability is improved.

 

Toughness of hot rolled steel as measured by the Charpy impact energy or by the CTOD (Crack Tip Opening Displacement) value decreases as C content increases.   

 

Increasing C content decreases austenite to ferrite transformation temperature and so causes grain refinement.

 

The Carbon Equivalent (CE) normally expresses effect of C on weldability. One of commonly used empirical expressions for CE is

CE (IIW) = C+Mn/6+(Ni+Cu)/15+(Cr+Mo+V)/5

In effect CE is a measure of the susceptibility of the heat affected zone to cold cracking during welding. Cold cracking susceptibility increases as CE rises. From the above formula it is evident that C influences CE to a great extent.

 

Partition of solute atoms between solid and liquid during solidification causes microsegregation in the cast slab. Microsegregation of C in C-Mn and low alloy steels depends also on the interaction between this element and P and Mn.

Dendrite arms are rich in C and low in P

Interdendritic spaces are rich in P and low in C.

 

  C diffuses away from regions rich in P. This is because the activation energy for C diffusion in austenite (32000cal/mol) is smaller than that of P. So, C diffuses more readily.

When there is pronounced P segregation the micrograph shows a banded structure in the rolled product. White bands correspond to interdendritic regions rich in P and low in C.

 

C increases hardenability of steel and so facilitates formation of martensite in thick sections during cooling from the austenite phase..

 

Manganese

 

1% increase in Mn increases YS by 33MPa due to solid solution hardening.

 

Increasing Mn lowers austenite to ferrite transformation temperature and so results in grain refinement.

1% increase in Mn reduces ferrite grain size by 1d-1/2 (mm)-1/2. This is equivalent to an increase in YS of 18MPa.

 

In C-Mn steels (0,40% to 1,25%C), 1% increase in Mn raises pearlite content by 9%. This is equivalent to an increase in TS of 40 to 60MPa.

 

Increasing Mn raises the carbon equivalent (see formula above under Carbon) and is therefore detrimental to weldability although less effective than C.

 

Mn increases hardenability of steel and so facilitates formation of martensite in thick sections.

In Mn segregated areas, for example in the centerline region (mid thick position) of C-Mn-Nb plate produced from continuous cast slabs, cooling rate required for martensite formation is

Log (°C/s) = 3,95-1,73. %Mn            (B.Mintz, et al. Met. Trans. A, V 19 June,1988)

 

If Mncenter = %Mn at plate center due to segregation, and

Mnheat = average %Mn in plate (in heat analysis), then

Segregation Ratio of Mn is: SMn = Mncenter/Mnheat.

Similarly, segregation ratios SP, SSi, SNb etc can be defined for P, Si, Nb etc. From the literature            (S. E. Webster and P. H. Bateson…)

SP = (SMn)3,5

SSi = 0,69.SMn + 0,31

SNb = (SMn)3,6

 

General note:    (D. Dulieu and I. G. Davies, Meeting-Directionality of properties in wrought products. The metals Soc; 27-28 Nov. London)

 

Intensity of solute segregation during solidification depends on steel chemistry and cooling conditions. Solidification occurs by growth of primary dendrites aligned roughly to direction heat flow. Secondary dendrites grow normal to primary ones.

Dendrite arm spacing is influenced by rate of cooling during solidification or by the “local solidification time, t”

t=constant/[1/(dT/dt)],             T=temperature

So, Dendrite arm spacing=constant/[1/(dT/dt)n]           n=1/3 to ˝

Microsegregation is more severe between primary dendrites than between secondary dendrites arms.

Homogenization time=constant.Ö(Dend. arm spacing)

 

For 0,54C-1,10Mn steel         (Ironmaking Steelmaking, V 17 No.6, 1990)

Dendrite arm spacing =109,2.(dT/dt)-0,44

Taking dendrite arm spacing=220mm,              dT/dt=0,2K/s

 

Banding           (Bastien…)

After solidification interdendritic arm spaces are rich in C and P than near the axis.

P (and As, Sb) increases Ar3 (and Ac3)(S has no effect on Ar3). P has little effect on Ac1 and no effect on Ms.

O is expected to show high segregation because if its low partition coefficient. O has no effect on Ar3 and its solubility in Fe is negligible. O readily forms oxide inclusions and therefore has little effect on segregation.

Sn, Sb and As are ferrite stabilizers and tend to form solid ferrite phase when they exceed solubility in austenite at reheat temp. 1200°C.

 

 

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