Metalle, die zyklischen Beanspruchungen ausgesetzt sind, zeigen bereits vor der Anrissbildung typische Veränderungen des Gefüges. Bei austenitischen Stählen verursacht Ermüdungsbelastung die Bildung charakteristischer Versetzungsanordnungen. Unter bestimmten Umständen tritt die Bildung von Verformungsmartensit auf, die von einer starken Veränderung der magnetischen Werkstoffeigenschaften begleitet wird. Zwischen der aufgebrachten Ermüdungsbelastung und den beschriebenen Gefüge- und Eigenschaftsveränderungen einerseits und Restlebensdauer eines Bauteils andererseits sollten Zusammenhänge systematisch untersucht werden. Hierfür wurden verschiedene zerstörungsfreie Methoden eingesetzt und ihre Empfindlichkeit verglichen. Die Gefüge der ermüdeten Zustände wurden auch mit metallographischen, elektronenoptischen und röntgenographischen Methoden charakterisiert. Zwischen den Ermüdungsparametern und den Gefügeveränderungen wird ein Zusammenhang hergestellt, insbesondere zwischen der Restlebensdauer und dem Volumenanteil an Martensit. Der Einfluss der chargenabhängigen Werkstoffeigenschaften und der Belastungsbedingungen auf das martensitische Umwandlungsverhalten wurde in statischen und zyklischen Experimenten untersucht. Anhand der Entwicklung des Martensitgehaltes im Verlauf der Ermüdung wird ein Bewertungsschema für die Abschätzung der Restlebensdauer vorgeschlagen.

Techn. Hochsch., Diss., 2004--Aachen.

Die vorliegende Dissertation konzentriert sich auf die Untersuchung und Entwicklung hochfester Grobblechstähle mit erhöhtem Gehalt an der MA-Phase (Martensit-Austenit Phase). Dabei wurden Bildungsmechanismen der Mikrostruktur und insbesondere der MA-Phase in Abhängigkeit von der Walztechnologie an vier mikrolegierten Grobblechstählen untersucht. Zu diesem Zweck erfolgten zahlreihe Untersuchungen an verschiedenen Prüf- und Simulationsanlagen zur Charakterisierung des Werkstoffverhaltens sowie zur physikalischen Simulation der Grobblechherstellung mit der Anwendung von bekannten und neu entwickelten Wärmebehandlungstechnologien. Abschließend wurden mehrere Serien von Laborwalzversuchen auf einer Warmwalzpilotanlage durchgeführt, um die gewonnenen Erkenntnisse zu evaluieren, sowie die für Pipelinestähle relevanten mechanischen Eigenschaften zu ermitteln. Somit erstreckt sich die Arbeit über die gesamte Produktionskette zur Erzeugung der Grobblechstähle mit MA-Phase und beschreibt hierfür geeignete Herstellungsbedingungen, die in Betriebsanlagen leicht realisierbar sind.

In this work, the metal and slag phase mixing in three steps of a ladle refining operation of steel melts and for an oxygen balance during cooling of cast iron melts have been studied at two Swedish steel plants and at two Swedish cast iron foundries, respectively. In order to predict the oxygen activity in the steel bulk in equilibrium with the top slag as well as in metal droplets in the top slag in equilibrium with the top slag, three slag models were used. In addition, the assumptions of a sulphur-oxygen equilibrium between steel and slag and the dilute solution model for the liquid steel phase were utilized in the calculations. Measured oxygen activities in steel bulk, which varied between 3.5-6 ppm, were compared to predicted oxygen activities. The differences between the predicted and measured oxygen activities were found to be significant (0-500%) and the reasons for the differences are discussed in the thesis. Slag samples have been evaluated to determine the distribution of the metal droplets. The results show that the relatively largest numbers of metal droplets are present in the slag samples taken before vacuum degassing. Also, the projected interfacial area between steel bulk and top slag has been compared to the interfacial area between the metal droplets and slag. The results show that the droplet-slag interfacial area is 3 to 14 times larger than the flat projected interfacial area between the steel and top slag. Furthermore, the effect of the reactions between top slag and steel and the slag viscosity on the metal droplet formation is discussed. The results show significant differences between the steel bulk and steel droplet compositions and the reasons for the differences are discussed in the thesis. The oxygen activity in different cast irons was studied. Plant trials were performed at three occasions for lamellar, compacted and nodular iron melts. The results show that at temperatures close to the liquidus temperature the oxygen activities were 0.03-0.1 ppm for LGI, around 0.02 ppm for CGI, and 0.001ppm for SGI. In addition, it was found that as the oxygen activities increased with time after an Mg treatment, the ability to form a compact graphite or a nodular graphite in Mg-treated iron melts was decreased. Also, extrapolated oxygen activity differences up to 0.07 ppm were found for different hypoeutectic iron compositions for lamellar graphite iron at the liquidus temperature. Overall, the observed differences in the dissolved oxygen levels were believed to influence how graphite particles are incorporated into the austenite matrix and how the graphite morphology will be in the cast product. / <p>QC 20160518</p>

The diploma thesis deals with phase composition measurement of the TRIP steel, using EBSD method. The steel was delivered as thermo-mechanically treated via two different routes. The phase composition of the steel was examined during gradual plastic deformation in the range 0 to10.99%. One route of thermo-mechanical treatment exhibited good agreement with the literature in terms of measured fraction of the retained austenite (15.6%) as well as its decrease during the deformation (to 8.9% at the maximum imposed strain). The samples of the second route did not show any agreement in either of the parameters spoken.

Metalle, die zyklischen Beanspruchungen ausgesetzt sind, zeigen bereits vor der Anrissbildung typische Veränderungen des Gefüges. Bei austenitischen Stählen verursacht Ermüdungsbelastung die Bildung charakteristischer Versetzungsanordnungen. Unter bestimmten Umständen tritt die Bildung von Verformungsmartensit auf, die von einer starken Veränderung der magnetischen Werkstoffeigenschaften begleitet wird. Zwischen der aufgebrachten Ermüdungsbelastung und den beschriebenen Gefüge- und Eigenschaftsveränderungen einerseits und Restlebensdauer eines Bauteils andererseits sollten Zusammenhänge systematisch untersucht werden. Hierfür wurden verschiedene zerstörungsfreie Methoden eingesetzt und ihre Empfindlichkeit verglichen. Die Gefüge der ermüdeten Zustände wurden auch mit metallographischen, elektronenoptischen und röntgenographischen Methoden charakterisiert. Zwischen den Ermüdungsparametern und den Gefügeveränderungen wird ein Zusammenhang hergestellt, insbesondere zwischen der Restlebensdauer und dem Volumenanteil an Martensit. Der Einfluss der chargenabhängigen Werkstoffeigenschaften und der Belastungsbedingungen auf das martensitische Umwandlungsverhalten wurde in statischen und zyklischen Experimenten untersucht. Anhand der Entwicklung des Martensitgehaltes im Verlauf der Ermüdung wird ein Bewertungsschema für die Abschätzung der Restlebensdauer vorgeschlagen.

A balance between strength and ductility has been one of the most important considerations in the steel industry. Austenitic steel or multi-phase steel with retained austenite has plasticity-enhancing mechanisms, which can make it achieve high strength and good formability. Due to the occurrence of twinning-based mechanisms in high Mn steels, they have improved strength without sacrificing ductility. However, high Mn steels with extraordinary mechanical properties has not been used in mass production because of its high material cost together with welding problems and so on. As a consequence, many researchers have attempted to decrease the Mn concentration of high Mn twinning-induced plasticity steels without significant sacrifice of the mechanical properties. In the present work, a novel medium Mn steel with high C is designed with the aim of obtaining comparable mechanical properties as high Mn TWIP steel. In addition to Mn, C is also common effective austenite stabilizing element. C and Mn both increase the SFE of austenite. It should be possible to substitute at least some of the Mn in high Mn steels with C and still retain the TWIP effect. If the reduction in Mn content is not compensated for by the addition of other alloying elements, the microstructure will additionally contain some ferrite or martensite. The problem with C concentration is that it will result in the formation of carbide during the cooling process. As long as the carbide formation is suppressed, the formation of ferrite/martensite in medium Mn steels can be inhibited by an increase in the C concentration. In such cases, a soft and formable austenitic microstructure can be achieved by quenching from high austenitization temperatures to retain austenite with appropriate mechanical stability. The precipitation and dissolution of cementite in austenitic medium Mn high C steels capable of deformation-induced twinning were analyzed based on the associated length changes. Al addition was found to significantly retard the kinetics of cementite precipitation, indicating its usefulness in the design of cementite-free austenitic medium Mn steels with high C concentrations. Furthermore, Al addition changes the morphology of intragranular cementite from plate-shaped to equiaxed. The tensile properties of alloy were also examined in the present study. The present contribution discusses the mechanical properties of a bulk medium Mn high C steel with special alloying additions to oppose the precipitation of cementite. In particular, it aims to justify the mechanical properties based on crack nucleation and growth mechanisms. The reported mechanical properties enable a comparison with those of the well-known high Mn and Hadfield steels.

The thesis ,,The Influence of Transformation dwell on the Structure and Mechanical Properties of ADI´´ deals with problems of optimal properties of the unalloyed nodular cast iron, which are obtained by the heat treatment. The heat treatment consists of austenitization and then rapidly quenching to the transformation temperature, isothermal transformation and water cooling in the end. The aim of the thesis is focused on estimating the influence of isothermal transformation on the content of stabilized austenite, static mechanical properties and on the fatigue properties in high-cycle fatigue region for selected samples. The theoretical part of this work analyses the production of the nodular cast iron and its possibilities of the heat treatment, final technological and mechanical properties. Furthermore, it examines the conditions of austempering (temperature and time of isothermal dwell), which has a fundamental influence on mechanical properties of ADI. Problems of fatigue properties are described at the end of this part. The experimental part contains a chemical composition of studied samples and their metallographic analysis. Among others the basic mechanical static properties were determined as well as the Wöhler curves including values of fatigue limits for ten on seventh cycles. Wöhler curves were obtained by a mathematical processing using data reached by fatigue tests.

Heat treatment influences structure and characteristics of treatmented material. Good heat treatment of steels for bearings ensures hardness of matrix 60 - 65 HRC, whereas structure has be formed by tempered fine needle-shaped martensite with definite part of residual austenite. Carbides should be evenly dispersed, they mustn´t create carbide network and carbide lines. Quality of steels for bearings is also influenced by volume and morphology of inclusions in the matrix. In this diploma thesis various conditions of heat treatment were to be set up with the aim of choose the optimal ones. These ensures perfect martensite transformation and full hardening of all component. Quenching from 760 °C – 770 °C was quite unsatisfactory. At this temperature resulting structure was ferritic-perlitic, because martensite transformation did not pass. Too long hold on hardening temperature also had unfavourable influence on resulting structure and characteristics. In this case, structure was created by very coarse needle-shaped martensite. Coarsening of martensite needle locally exceeded maximum allowed level. In the structure there was also possible to watch partly soluted globular carbides. Optimal heat treatment is quenching from 850 °C – 870 °C followed by tempering at 220 °C. Resulting structure quite agree with above-mentioned needs. This heat treatment can be recommended for technical practise.

The third-generation advanced high strength steels, AHSS, represent an opportunity for today’s steel development, where lighter materials with maintained strength and toughness are in demand. The unique properties of these materials often stem from a tailored microstructure. In the continued development of these steels, without relying on expensive alloying methods, process design in the form of precise heat treatments plays an increasingly important role. This work focuses on Medium Mn AHSS with the aim of investigating one of these heat treatments, intercritical annealing, which is essential for achieving the desired material properties. Experimental testing of annealing effects is acknowledged to be a challenging process, and this study aims to present a novel approach for these types of tests. During experimental testing of intercritical annealing, the thermomechanical testing system Gleeble 3800 is a recognized tool. The mounting technique employed in the Gleeble results in an inhomogeneous heat distribution in the samples, generating a thermal gradient. This report aims to utilize this gradient as an opportunity to test the effect of several intercritical annealing temperatures on one sample, thereby increasing the efficiency of experimental work. The method is based on data retrieved from thermocouples attached to the specimen during Gleeble trials with the intent to identify the thermal gradient. This data is combined with x-ray diffraction measurements where the retained austenite fraction is measured. Thermodynamic calculations of expected retained austenite fraction following intercritical annealing are performed parallel to experimental work. The results of this work show that it is possible to utilize the thermal gradient to retrieve extensive data regarding the effect of intercritical annealing using only one sample. The results show a distinct thermal gradient and a corresponding gradient of retained austenite fraction along the specimen. The results for retained austenite fraction at room temperature can be rationalized on the basis of computational predictions. These variations potentially arise due to the material not reaching equilibrium within the annealing timeframe. This conclusion is supported by other computational results concerning austenite composition. In summary, the present work illustrates a new approach streamlining experimental work that, with some refinements, has the potential to benefit the broader scienitific community, in addition to providing a powerful new tool for rapid technological advancement in the steel industry / Tredje generationens avancerade höghållfasta stål representerar en möjlighet för dagens stålutveckling där lättare material med bibehållen styrka och seghet efterfrågas. De unika egenskaperna hos dessa material härrör ofta frän en skräddarsydd mikrostruktur. Vid fortsatt utveckling av dessa stål är det önskvärt att minimera användningen av legeringsämnen, vilket betyder att processdesign i form av korrekta värmebehandlingar blir  av  stor  betydelse.  Detta  arbete  fokuserar  på  Medium  Mn  avancerade höghållfasta stål med syftet att undersöka en av dessa värmebehandlingar, interkritisk glödgning,  vilken  har  en  avgörande  betydelse  för  att  uppnå önskad  prestanda. Experimentell  testning  av  glödgningseffekter  anses  vara  en  utmanande  process och avsikten med denna studie är att presentera ett nytt tillvägagångssätt för denna typ av test. Under experimentell utvärdering av glödgningseffekter används ofta det termomekaniska testsystemet  Gleeble  3800.  Provmonteringen  i  Gleeblen  resulterar i en  inhomogen värmefördelning i proverna vilket medför en temperaturgradient. Denna rapport syftar till att använda gradienten som en möjlighet att testa effekten av flera  glödgningstemperaturer  på  ett  enda  prov  och  därigenom  öka  effektiviteten i det  experimentella  arbetet.  Metoden  grundas  på  data  från  termoelement  fästa  på provet under Gleebleförsök, med avsikt att identifiera den termiska gradienten. Denna data kombineras sedan med XRD-mätningar där austenitfraktion efter värmebehandling utvärderas.  Termodynamiska  beräkningar  av  förväntad  austenitfraktion  efter interkritisk glödgning genomförs parallellt med experimentellt arbete. Resultaten  från  detta  arbete  påvisar  att  den  presenterade  metoden  är  genomförbar då omfattande data gällande interkritisk glödgningseffekt grundat på endast ett prov erhålls. Resultaten visar en tydlig termisk gradient och en motsvarande gradient av austenitfraktion längs provet, vilka är i överensstämmelse med tidigare experimentella resultat för samma material. Resultaten för austenitfraktion vid rumstemperatur uppvisar  betydande  likheter  med  de  termodymiska  beräkningarna, med  några  undantag. Orsaken till dessa variationer ¨ar troligen en otillräcklig glödgningstid, vilket gör att  materialet  inte  når  jämvikt.  Denna  hypotes  stöds  av andra  beräkningsresultat gällande austenitens sammansättning. Sammanfattningsvis presenterar denna rapport ett nytt tillvägagångssätt för att effektivisera experimentellt arbete, som med vissa förbättringar har potential att gynna det bredare forskarsamhället.