Understanding the high temperature side of the hot ductility curve for steels

Abstract

The study tests the validity of the tensile hot ductility test for assessing cracking during the straightening operation. Steels with a thin film of deformation induced ferrite (DIF) or fully austenitic when straightening were examined. In both cases dynamic recrystallisation (DRX) occurs at high temperatures. However, DRX is not possible on straightening, the grain size being too coarse and strains too low. When, DRX occurs, ductility is overestimated compared to the un-recrystallised condition on bending. For steels with DIF films if the depth of the trough is ≥40%RA (reduction of area) cracking is unlikely. However, for TWIP steels, the estimated RA for unrecrystallised ϒ can be much < 40% causing cracking even though measured ductility is well in excess.