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Performance of Mechanical Properties of Ultrahigh-Strength Ferrous Steels Related to Strain-Induced Transformation

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A special issue of Metals (ISSN 2075-4701). This special issue belongs to the section "Metal Casting, Forming and Heat Treatment".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 September 2019) | Viewed by 38654

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Prof. Dr. Koh-ichi Sugimoto

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School of Science and Technology, Department of Mechanical Systems Engineering, Shinshu University, 4-17-1 Wakasato, Nagano 380-8553, Japan
Interests: steel; microstructure; mechanical property; micromechanics; heat treatment; thermo-mechanical process; metal forming; surface treatment
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

This Special Issue of Metals is dedicated to advanced ultrahigh-strength ferrous steels related to the strain-induced martensite transformation (or transformation-induced plasticity) of metastable retained austenite. Ferrous steels, such as Transformation-Induced Plasticity (TRIP)-aided bainite/martensite steels, quenching and partitioning steels, nanostructured bainite steels, medium manganese steels, etc., are receiving a great deal of attention from both academic and industry sectors, due to their excellent mechanical properties. To apply ferrous steels to a wide range of components and parts, a detailed understanding of the performance of the mechanical properties, such as toughness, fatigue strength, delayed fracture strength, wear property, etc., after heat-treatment, thermo-mechanical process, plastic working (including hot-stamping, hot-forging), welding, surface treatment, etc., will be of great help to steel engineers in future.

For this Special Issue, we are inviting papers on the performance of the mechanical properties of advanced ultra-high-strength ferrous steels subjected to heat-treatment, plastic working, welding, surface treatment, etc. We also welcome novel research on conventional ultra-high-strength ferrous steels containing metastable retained or reverted austenite due to their current significant growth.

Prof. Koh-ichi Sugimoto
Guest Editor

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Keywords

Advanced ultrahigh-strength steels
Strain-induced transformation
Microstructure
Mechanical property
Heat treatment
Thermomechanical process
Stamping
Forging
Welding
Surface treatment
Applications

Published Papers (11 papers)

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Editorial

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2 pages, 161 KiB

Open AccessEditorial

Performance of Mechanical Properties of Ultrahigh-Strength Ferrous Steels Related to Strain-Induced Transformation

by Koh-ichi Sugimoto

Metals 2020, 10(7), 875; https://doi.org/10.3390/met10070875 - 01 Jul 2020

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1259

Abstract

Ultrahigh-strength ferrous steels, related to the strain-induced martensite transformation (or transformation-induced plasticity: TRIP) of metastable retained austenite, such as TRIP-aided bainite/martensite steels, quenching and partitioning steels, nanostructured bainitic steels (or carbide free bainitic steels) and medium manganese steels, are currently receiving a great [...] Read more.

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Performance of Mechanical Properties of Ultrahigh-Strength Ferrous Steels Related to Strain-Induced Transformation)

Research

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13 pages, 6784 KiB

Open AccessFeature PaperArticle

Effects of Alloying Elements Addition on Delayed Fracture Properties of Ultra High-Strength TRIP-Aided Martensitic Steels

by Tomohiko Hojo, Junya Kobayashi, Koh-ichi Sugimoto, Akihiko Nagasaka and Eiji Akiyama

Metals 2020, 10(1), 6; https://doi.org/10.3390/met10010006 - 19 Dec 2019

Cited by 23 | Viewed by 3210

Abstract

To develop ultra high-strength cold stamping steels for automobile frame parts, the effects of alloying elements on hydrogen embrittlement properties of ultra high-strength low alloy transformation induced plasticity (TRIP)-aided steels with a martensite matrix (TM steels) were investigated using the four-point bending test and conventional strain rate tensile test (CSRT). Hydrogen embrittlement properties of the TM steels were improved by the alloying addition. Particularly, 1.0 mass% chromium added TM steel indicated excellent hydrogen embrittlement resistance. This effect was attributed to (1) the decrease in the diffusible hydrogen concentration at the uniform and fine prior austenite grain and packet, block, and lath boundaries; (2) the suppression of hydrogen trapping at martensite matrix/cementite interfaces owing to the suppression of precipitation of cementite at the coarse martensite lath matrix; and (3) the suppression of the hydrogen diffusion to the crack initiation sites owing to the high stability of retained austenite because of the existence of retained austenite in a large amount of the martensite–austenite constituent (M–A) phase in the TM steels containing 1.0 mass% chromium. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Performance of Mechanical Properties of Ultrahigh-Strength Ferrous Steels Related to Strain-Induced Transformation)

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16 pages, 7914 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Quantitative Analysis of Microstructure Evolution in Hot-Rolled Multiphase Steel Subjected to Interrupted Tensile Test

by Adam Grajcar, Aleksandra Kozłowska, Krzysztof Radwański and Adam Skowronek

Metals 2019, 9(12), 1304; https://doi.org/10.3390/met9121304 - 03 Dec 2019

Cited by 9 | Viewed by 2487

Abstract

A quantitative analysis of the microstructure evolution in thermomechanically processed Si-Al multiphase steel with Nb and Ti microadditions was performed in the study. The tendency of strain-induced martensitic transformation of retained austenite was analyzed during a tensile test interrupted at incremental strain levels. Optical micrographs and electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD) maps were obtained at each deformation step. The quantitative analysis of the martensitic transformation progress as a function of strain was performed. The results showed that the stability of retained austenite is mostly related to its grain size and morphology. Large, blocky-type grains of retained austenite located in a ferritic matrix easily transformed into martensite during an initial step of straining. The highest mechanical stability showed small austenitic grains and thin layers located in bainitic islands. It was found that the extent of martensitic transformation decreased as the deformation level increased. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Performance of Mechanical Properties of Ultrahigh-Strength Ferrous Steels Related to Strain-Induced Transformation)

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15 pages, 5688 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Effect of Manganese on the Structure-Properties Relationship of Cold Rolled AHSS Treated by a Quenching and Partitioning Process

by Simone Kaar, Daniel Krizan, Reinhold Schneider, Coline Béal and Christof Sommitsch

Metals 2019, 9(10), 1122; https://doi.org/10.3390/met9101122 - 19 Oct 2019

Cited by 13 | Viewed by 3230

Abstract

The present work focuses on the investigation of both microstructure and resulting mechanical properties of different lean medium Mn Quenching and Partitioning (Q&P) steels with 0.2 wt.% C, 1.5 wt.% Si, and 3–4 wt.% Mn. By means of dilatometry, a significant influence of the Mn-content on their transformation behavior was observed. Light optical and scanning electron microscopy (LOM, SEM) was used to characterize the microstructure consisting of tempered martensite (α’’), retained austenite (RA), partially bainitic ferrite (α_B), and final martensite (α’_final) formed during final cooling to room temperature (RT). Using the saturation magnetization measurements (SMM), a beneficial impact of the increasing Mn-content on the volume fraction of RA could be found. This remarkably determined the mechanical properties of the investigated steels, since the larger amount of RA with its lower chemical stabilization against the strain-induced martensite transformation (SIMT) highly influenced their overall stress-strain behavior. With increasing Mn-content the ultimate tensile strength (UTS) rose without considerable deterioration in total elongation (TE), leading to an enhanced combination of strength and ductility with UTS × TE exceeding 22,500 MPa%. However, for the steel grades containing an elevated Mn-content, a narrower process window was observed due to the tendency to form α’_final. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Performance of Mechanical Properties of Ultrahigh-Strength Ferrous Steels Related to Strain-Induced Transformation)

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13 pages, 5440 KiB

Open AccessFeature PaperArticle

Effects of Cr and Mo on Mechanical Properties of Hot-Forged Medium Carbon TRIP-Aided Bainitic Ferrite Steels

by Koh-ichi Sugimoto, Sho-hei Sato, Junya Kobayashi and Ashok Kumar Srivastava

Metals 2019, 9(10), 1066; https://doi.org/10.3390/met9101066 - 30 Sep 2019

Cited by 20 | Viewed by 3424

Abstract

In this study, the effects of Cr and Mo additions on mechanical properties of hot-forged medium carbon TRIP-aided bainitic ferrite (TBF) steel were investigated. If 0.5%Cr was added to the base steel with a chemical composition of 0.4%C, 1.5%Si, 1.5%Mn, 0.5%Al, and 0.05%Nb in mass%, the developed steel achieved the best combination of strength and total elongation. The best combination of strength and impact toughness was attained by multiple additions of 0.5%Cr and 0.2%Mo to the base steel. The excellent combination of strength and impact toughness substantially exceeded those of quenched and tempered JIS-SCM420 and 440 steels, although it was as high as those of 0.2%C TBF steels with 1.0%Cr and 0.2%Mo. The good impact toughness was mainly caused by uniform fine bainitic ferrite matrix structure and a large amount of metastable retained austenite. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Performance of Mechanical Properties of Ultrahigh-Strength Ferrous Steels Related to Strain-Induced Transformation)

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13 pages, 4835 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Influence of the Quenching and Partitioning Process on the Transformation Kinetics and Hardness in a Lean Medium Manganese TRIP Steel

by Simone Kaar, Reinhold Schneider, Daniel Krizan, Coline Béal and Christof Sommitsch

Metals 2019, 9(3), 353; https://doi.org/10.3390/met9030353 - 19 Mar 2019

Cited by 28 | Viewed by 3858

Abstract

The quenching and partitioning (Q&P) process of lean medium Mn steels is a novel approach for producing ultra-high strength and good formable steels. First, the steel is fully austenitized, followed by quenching to a specific quenching temperature (T_Q) in order to adjust an appropriate amount of initial martensite (α’_initial). Subsequently, the steel is reheated to a partitioning temperature (T_P) in order to ensure C-partitioning from α’_initial to remaining austenite (γ_remain) and thus retained austenite (RA) stabilization. After isothermal holding, the steel is quenched to room temperature (RT), in order to achieve a martensitic-austenitic microstructure, where the meta-stable RA undergoes the strain-induced martensitic transformation by the so-called transformation induced plasticity (TRIP) effect. This paper systematically investigates the influence of the Q&P process on the isothermal bainitic transformation (IBT) kinetics in a 0.2C-4.5Mn-1.3Al lean medium Mn steel by means of dilatometry. Therefore, the Q&P annealing approach was precisely compared to the TRIP-aided bainitic ferrite (TBF) process, where the samples were directly quenched to the temperature of the IBT after full austenitization. The results indicated an accelerated IBT for the Q&P samples, caused by the formation of α’_initial during quenching below the martensite start (M_S) temperature. Furthermore, a significant influence of the annealing parameters, such as T_Q and T_P, was observed with regard to the transformation behavior. For further characterization, light optical microscopy (LOM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) were applied, showing a microstructure consisting of a martensitic-bainitic matrix with finely distributed RA islands. Saturation magnetization method (SMM) was used to determine the amount of RA, which was primarily depending on T_Q. Furthermore, the hardness according to Vickers revealed a remarkable impact of the annealing parameters, such as T_Q and T_P, on the predicted mechanical properties. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Performance of Mechanical Properties of Ultrahigh-Strength Ferrous Steels Related to Strain-Induced Transformation)

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13 pages, 4715 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Effect of Deformation Temperature on the Portevin-Le Chatelier Effect in Medium-Mn Steel

by Barbara Grzegorczyk, Aleksandra Kozłowska, Mateusz Morawiec, Rafał Muszyński and Adam Grajcar

Metals 2019, 9(1), 2; https://doi.org/10.3390/met9010002 - 20 Dec 2018

Cited by 16 | Viewed by 3058

Abstract

Experimental investigations of the plastic instability phenomenon in a hot-rolled medium manganese steel were performed. The effects of tensile deformation in a temperature range of 20–140°C on the microstructure, mechanical properties, and flow stress serrations were analyzed. The Portevin–Le Chatelier (PLC) phenomenon was observed for the specimens deformed at 60 °C, 100 °C, and 140 °C. It was found that the deformation temperature substantially affects the type and intensity of serrations. The type of serration was changed at different deformation temperatures. The phenomenon was not observed at room temperature. The plastic instability occurring for the steel deformed at 60 °C was detected for lower strain levels than for the specimens deformed at 100 °C and 140 °C. The increase of the deformation temperature to 100 °C and 140 °C results in shifting the PLC effect to a post uniform deformation range. The complex issues related to the interaction of work hardening, the transformation induced plasticity (TRIP) effect, and the PLC effect stimulated by the deformation temperature were addressed. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Performance of Mechanical Properties of Ultrahigh-Strength Ferrous Steels Related to Strain-Induced Transformation)

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10 pages, 4505 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Evolution of Microstructure and Hardness of High Carbon Steel under Different Compressive Strain Rates

by Rumana Hossain, Farshid Pahlevani and Veena Sahajwalla

Metals 2018, 8(8), 580; https://doi.org/10.3390/met8080580 - 26 Jul 2018

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 4032

Abstract

Understanding the effect of high strain rate deformation on microstructure and mechanical property of metal is important for addressing its performance as high strength material. Strongly motivated by the vast industrial application potential of metals having excellent hardness, we explored the phase stability, microstructure and mechanical performance of an industrial grade high carbon steel under different compressive strain rates. Although low alloyed high carbon steel is well known for their high hardness, unfortunately, their deformation behavior, performance and microstructural evolution under different compressive strain rates are not well understood. For the first time, our investigation revealed that different strain rates transform the metastable austenite into martensite at different volume, simultaneously activate multiple micromechanisms, i.e., dislocation defects, nanotwining, etc. that enhanced the phase stability and refined the microstructure, which is the key for the observed leap in hardness. The combination of phase transformation, grain refinement, increased dislocation density, formation of nanotwin and strain hardening led to an increase in the hardness of high carbon steel. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Performance of Mechanical Properties of Ultrahigh-Strength Ferrous Steels Related to Strain-Induced Transformation)

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11 pages, 4691 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Effect of Deformation Temperature on Mechanical Properties and Deformation Mechanisms of Cold-Rolled Low C High Mn TRIP/TWIP Steel

by Zhengyou Tang, Jianeng Huang, Hua Ding, Zhihui Cai, Dongmei Zhang and Devesh Misra

Metals 2018, 8(7), 476; https://doi.org/10.3390/met8070476 - 22 Jun 2018

Cited by 17 | Viewed by 4106

Abstract

The microstructure and mechanical properties of cold-rolled Fe-18Mn-3Al-3Si-0.03C transformation induced plasticity/twinning induced plasticity (TRIP/TWIP) steel in the temperature range of 25 to 600 °C were studied. The experimental steel exhibited a good combination of ultimate tensile strength (UTS) of 905 MPa and total elongation (TEL) of 55% at room temperature. With the increase of deformation temperature from 25 to 600 °C, the stacking fault energy (SFE) of the experimental steel increased from 14.5 to 98.8 mJm⁻². The deformation mechanism of the experimental steel is controlled by both the strain induced martensite formation and strain induced deformation twinning at 25 °C. With the increase of deformation temperature from 25 to 600 °C, TRIP and TWIP effect were inhibited, and dislocation glide gradually became the main deformation mechanism. The UTS decreased monotonously from 905 to 325 MPa and the TEL decreased (from 55 to 36%, 25–400 °C) and then increased (from 36 to 64%, 400–600 °C). The change in mechanical properties is related to the thermal softening effect, TRIP effect, TWIP effect, DSA, and dislocation slip. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Performance of Mechanical Properties of Ultrahigh-Strength Ferrous Steels Related to Strain-Induced Transformation)

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13 pages, 7893 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Impact of Strain Heterogeneity and Transformation of Metastable Austenite on Springback Behavior in Quenching and Partitioning Steel

by Yonggang Yang, Zhenli Mi, Siyang Liu, Hui Li, Jun Li and Haitao Jiang

Metals 2018, 8(6), 432; https://doi.org/10.3390/met8060432 - 07 Jun 2018

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 3086

Abstract

Multiple strengthening methods, such as high dislocation density, high twin density, small grain size, and metastable austenite phase can give high strength to ultra-high strength steels (UHSSs). However, the high strength of UHSSs often results in a greater tendency for springback when applied in manufacturing vehicle components. In the present study, two types of UHSSs, dual-phase (DP) steel and quenching and partitioning (QP) steel are investigated to study the springback behavior during the bending process. Results indicated that both the strain heterogeneity and the transformation of retained austenite impacted the springback behavior. The springback angle of the DP steel increased with the increase in bending angle, which was caused by the increasing degree of strain heterogeneity. However, the springback angle of the QP steel decreased to a 14.75° when QP specimens were strained at a 104° bending angle due to the inhibiting effect of the phase transformation. This indicated that there was preferential phase transformation in the thickness direction in the retained austenite of the outer and inner zones. The phase transformation caused low strain heterogeneity, which resulted in a lower tendency for springback. The results suggested that QP steel could possess lower springback at a proper bending angle. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Performance of Mechanical Properties of Ultrahigh-Strength Ferrous Steels Related to Strain-Induced Transformation)

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Review

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19 pages, 10822 KiB

Open AccessFeature PaperReview

An Overview of Fatigue Strength of Case-Hardening TRIP-Aided Martensitic Steels

by Koh-ichi Sugimoto, Tomohiko Hojo and Ashok Kumar Srivastava

Metals 2018, 8(5), 355; https://doi.org/10.3390/met8050355 - 15 May 2018

Cited by 15 | Viewed by 6038

Abstract

Surface-hardened layer characteristics and fatigue strength properties of transformation-induced plasticity-aided martensitic steels subjected to heat-treatment or vacuum carburization followed by fine-particle peening are revealed for automotive applications specially for powertrain parts. The as-heat-treated steels without the case-hardening process possess excellent impact toughness and fatigue strength. When the steels are subjected to fine-particle peening after heat-treatment, the fatigue limits of smooth and notched specimens increase considerably, accompanied with low notch sensitivity. Vacuum carburization and subsequent fine-particle peening increases further the fatigue strength of the steels, except notch fatigue limit. The increased fatigue limits are principally associated with high Vickers hardness and compressive residual stress just below the surface, resulting from the severe plastic deformation and the strain-induced martensitic transformation of metastable retained austenite, as well as low surface roughness and fatigue crack initiation depth. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Performance of Mechanical Properties of Ultrahigh-Strength Ferrous Steels Related to Strain-Induced Transformation)

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