The analysis of the microstructure and mechanical properties of low carbon microalloyed steels after ultra fast cooling

Abstract

In this paper, two low carbon microalloyed steels, named as steel A and steel B, were fabricated by ultra fast cooling (UFC). In both steels, the microstructures containing quasi polygonal ferrite (QF), acicular ferrite (AF) and granular bainite (GB) can be obtained by UFC process. The amount of AF in steel B is more than that in steel A. The size and distribution of precipitates (Nb/Ti carbonitrides) in steel B are finer and more dispersed than those of in steel A due to relatively low finish cooling temperature. The mechanical properties of both steels are effectively enhanced by UFC process. UFC process produces low-temperature transformation microstructures containing a significant amount of AF. The mechanical properties of steel B were more satisfactory than those of steel A due to the finer average grain size, the greater amount of the volume fractions and smaller size of secondary phases.