Study of microstructure and texture evolution in low carbon formable steels

Objectives

  • Study the microstructure and texture evolution in low carbon formable steels (Boron containing steels, Nb-Si containing steel and Dual phase Steel)
  • Establish correlation between texture and formability of low carbon formable steels.
  • Developing expertise at RDCIS on EBSD/texture studies

Technical Details

  • The scope of the work was to examine and analyse developed microstructure and texture of hot and/or cold rolled annealed steel of following three grades of steels:
  1. Grade A: Low Carbon (0.06 % max) Aluminium killed Steel 
  2. Grade B: High Strength Low Carbon Micro-Alloyed Aluminium killed Steel 
  3. Grade C: Dual Phase steel 
  • The steel samples wassubjected to annealing simulation, batch annealing and continuous annealing cycles. Evaluation of microstructure and texture using Transmission Electron Microscope (TEM), X-Ray Diffraction (XRD) and Electron Back Scattered Diffraction (EBSD) of hot and cold rolled un-annealed and annealed (simulated, batch and continuous) samples of identified grades.
  • A correlation was established between mechanical properties, microstructure and texture of identified grades of steel under hot rolled and cold rolled batch & continuous annealed condition.

Fruitful Interaction with RDCIS Engineers was there for expertise development on EBSD/ microtexture at RDCIS.

Achievement (Output/outcome)

A very high plastic anisotropy has been achieved to the level of rm =2.45 by optimization of annealing cycle in grade A steel with boron by nitrogen ratio (B/N=0)

A joint patent between CSIR-NML and RDCIS-SAIL has been filed on “A PROCESS FOR PREPARATION OF LOW CARBON Al-KILLED, BATCH ANNEALEDDEEP DRAWABLE STEEL”

A insight and understanding has been developed on the synergistic effect of Nb and Si addition on microstructure texture and mechanical properties of high strength formable quality grade steel. A good combination of strength and ductility was achieved in Grade B steel with (Nb+Si wt. %)=0.304

A dual phase(DP) ferrite-martensite microstructure has been obtained in Grade C steel  having UTS of 864 MPa and total elongation of 11%.

Impact

For Grade A steel processed through optimized Batch Annealing cycle , have resulted into strong gamma fibre and thereby very high plastic anisotropy (rm ) to the level of 2.45, reported for the first time in EDD steel and in fact are comparable to that of  IF/IF-HS.

For Grade A steel processed through optimized Continuous annealing cycle, has resulted into emergence of high strength cold rolled grade steels with YS > 370 MPa, UTS > 430 MPa, YS/UTS : 0.86, % El > 21 and rm >1.88

A understanding was developed on the synergistic effect of Nb and Si on microstructure, texture and properties in grade B steel.

An insight was developed on microstructure-property evolution with varying annealing treatment in dual phase steel.

ODF section at φ2 = 45o  on the RD-TD plane, of the optimized annealed cycle sample from GRADE A (B/N=0) illustrating fully developed γ-fibre beneficial for deep drawingFig1 showing ODF section at φ2 = 45o  on the RD-TD plane, of the optimized annealed cycle sample from GRADE A (B/N=0) illustrating fully developed γ-fibre beneficial for deep drawing
good combination of strength and ductility was achieved in Grade B steelFig2 showing good combination of strength and ductility was achieved in Grade B steel with (Nb+Si wt. %)=0.304 
dual phase(DP) ferrite-martensite microstructure obtained in Grade C steelFig3 showing a dual phase(DP) ferrite-martensite microstructure obtained in Grade C steel .