Este estudo apresenta uma abordagem para a avaliação do comportamento de um ferro fundido branco de alto cromo e um aço ferramenta AISI D2 submetido a ciclos térmicos. Para a realização do estudo foi desenvolvido um procedimento para ensaios de fadiga térmica submetidos a números de ciclos variados, usando para aquecimento um sistema indutivo e para resfriamento um tanque de água. Devido a complexidade dos fenômenos envolvidos, um modelo de elementos finitos foi elaborado para a solução do campo de temperaturas e tensões superficiais atuantes. O controle da tensão superficial atuante foi realizado por meio da mudança de geometria do corpo de prova, sendo esta geometria resultante de teste por simulação computacional. Os corpos de prova foram caracterizados quando a sua microdureza e fração volumétrica de carbonetos antes do ensaio e após ensaio foram caracterizados quanto a sua microdureza, número e profundidade das trincas. O regime de propagação durante os primeiros 50 ciclos foi controlado por mecanismo de fadiga de baixo ciclo, exibindo as maiores velocidade de propagação das trincas e o regime de propagação depois dos 50 ciclos foram controlados por mecanismos de fadiga de alto ciclo. A nucleação das trincas ocorreu predominantemente pela interface matriz/carboneto e pelo próprio carboneto, sendo a propagação das trincas predominantemente pela interconexão de carbonetos fraturados na superfície do material e predominantemente na interface matriz carboneto em camadas mais profundas do corpo de prova. Os resultados obtidos mostraram uma boa correlação entre o ensaio e o modelo numérico, permitindo uma maior confiabilidade para execução do modelo mecânico subsequente. Baseado nos resultados foi possível propor uma metodologia para a avaliação de ambos materiais submetidos a ciclos térmicos. / This study presents an approach to evaluate the behavior of high chromium white cast iron and AISI D2 tool steel submitted at thermal cycles. It was developed a procedure for a thermal fatigue test in different times of cycles were done, using induced heating and water cooling. Due to the complexity of the phenomena involved, a FEM study was performed for solving the temperatures and superficial stresses fields. The control of superficial stress was done by changing the geometry of the test specimens, what was defined by computational simulation. The test specimens were evaluated the microstructure, microhardness and carbides contends before the test. After the test were evaluated microhardness, amount and depth of thermal fatigue cracks. The propagation during the earlier cycles was defined by mechanics of low cycle instead of after 100 cycles that was defined by mechanics of high cycle fatigue. This mechanics was observed by crack velocity analyses in both periods. The nucleation of thermal fatigue cracks initiate mostly at the matrix/carbide interface or at the carbide itself, being the cracks propagation was mainly by the interconnection of fractured carbides at surface and mainly at the interface matrix/carbide in the inner layer of the specimens test. The results obtained showed an adherence between the test and the numerical model, allowed a greater reliability to the subsequent mechanical model. Based on the results was possible propose a methodology for evaluation of both materials subjected a thermal cycles.

Foram estudados os efeitos da introdução de etapas de tratamento criogênico e do alívio de tensões no ciclo térmico do aço ferramenta para trabalho a frio AISI D2. Variaram-se as temperaturas de tratamento criogênico, sendo elas principalmente: criogênica (-196°C) e subzero (-80°C). Foram variados os tempos de permanência às temperaturas criogênicas: 2, 3, 10, 24 e 30 e 36 horas. Verificou-se o efeito da adição da etapa (130°C/90 minutos) de alívio de tensões previamente ao tratamento criogênico. As amostras com diferentes ciclos térmicos foram submetidas à caracterização metalográfica, difração de raios-X e ensaios de potencial termo-elétrico. Na caracterização metalográfica as amostras foram analisadas por MEV (microscopia eletrônica de varredura) e MEV-FEG (MEV com canhão com emissão por efeito de campo). Os carbonetos secundários (micrométricos) não apresentaram variação. Os carbonetos secundários de revenido (nanométricos) apresentaram-se mais finamente dispersos na matriz nas amostras com tratamento criogênico e sem alívio de tensões. A difração de Raios-X foi realizada no Laboratório Nacional de Luz Síncroton, a luz síncroton foi essencial para detectar as variações pequenas e em escala nanométrica que ocorreram devido às inserções dos tratamentos criogênicos e de alívio de tensões. Foram verificados: i) menor fração volumétrica de austenita retida nas amostras tratadas em temperatura subzero quando comparadas às amostras tratadas em temperaturas criogênicas, indicando um comportamento cinético em C da curva de transformação; ii) diminuição da relação c/a dos parâmetros do reticulado cristalino da martensita e aumento do parâmetro a da austenita (devido à partição de carbono da martensita supersaturada em carbono para a austenita) causando estabilização da austenita com a inserção da etapa de alívio de tensões; iii) aumento no parâmetro a da austenita retida residual após revenimentos, com consequente aumento no teor de carbono da mesma, devido à partição de carbono; iv) maior fração volumétrica de carbonetos de revenido (M7C3 e M2C) nas amostras com tratamento criogênico logo após a têmpera, seguido da amostra com tratamento criogênico + alívio de tensões, seguidos da amostra somente temperada e revenida e por fim da amostra com alívio de tensões e sem tratamento criogênico. Os ensaios de potencial termo-elétrico (realizados no INSA-Lyon) foram utilizados para verificar o comportamento das amostras nas temperaturas de revenimento. Foram realizados tratamentos isotérmicos (130°C, 210°C, 350°C, 450°C e 520°C) cumulativos com tempos de 1 minuto até 130 horas. Verificou-se que: i) nos primeiros estágios do revenimento a cinética é favorecida pelo tratamento criogênico (precipitação de carbonetos \'eta\' ou \'epsilon\'); ii) o alívio de tensões atrasa os dois primeiros estágios do revenimento; iii) há maior crescimento dos carbonetos de liga nas amostras sem tratamento criogênico. O refinamento dos carbonetos secundários de revenimento foi atribuído a uma sequência de precipitações de carbonetos de revenido in situ: \'eta\' -> \'teta\' -> M7C3 e M2C. / The effects of cryogenic treatments and of stress relief treatment introduced in the thermal cycle of the cold work tool steel AISI D2 were studied. The cryogenic temperatures were varied: cryogenic (-196°C) and subzero (-80°C). It was also varied the holding times at cryogenic temperatures: 2, 3, 10, 24, 30 and 36 hours. The effect of including a stress relief heat treatment previously to the cryogenic treatment was also verified. Samples submitted to different thermal cycles were studied using metallographic characterization, X-ray diffraction and electric power measurements. The metallographic characterization used SEM (scanning electron microscopy) and SEM-FEG (SEM with field emission gun), besides OM (optical microscopy). It was not found any variation in the secondary carbides (micrometrics) precipitation. The temper secondary carbides (nanometrics) showed to be more finely dispersed in the matrix of the samples with cryogenic treatment and without stress relief. The X-ray diffractions were carried out at the Brazilian Synchrotron Light Laboratory; synchrotron light was essential to detect small and nano sized variations occurring due to the addition of the cryogenics and stress relief treatments. It was verified: i) lower austenite volumetric fraction in the samples with subzero treatment if compared to the cryogenic treated samples, an indication of a C curve kinetic behavior of the transformation; ii) the stress relief treatment produced an decrease in the c/a relationship of the martensite lattice parameters and an increase in the austenite a parameter (explained by carbon atoms partition from the supersatured martensite to the retained austenite); iii) after double tempering occurred an increase in the a parameter of the remaining austenite lattice, indicating an increase in the carbon content of the residual retained austenite, due to carbon partition; iv) higher volumetric fraction of temper carbides (M7C3 and M2C) if the samples were cryogenic treated just after quench (to room temperature), followed by the sample with cryogenic treatment + stress relief, after the sample just quenched and tempered and finally by the samples with stress relief without cryogenic treatment. Thermo-electric power measurements (carried out at INSA-Lyon) characterized the samples behavior after tempering at different temperatures. Cumulative isothermal treatments (130°C, 210°C, 350°C, 450°C e 520°C) with increasing times (from 1 minute to 130 hours) were used. It was verified that: i) the kinetic is favoured by the cryogenic treatment in the first temper stage (\'eta\' or \'epsilon\' carbide precipitation); ii) the stress relief delayed the first and second temper stage; iii) the samples without cryogenic treatment showed to have a bigger growing for the alloys carbides in the last stage of temper. The refinement of the temper secondary carbides was attributed to an in situ carbide precipitation during tempering: \'eta\' -> \'teta\' -> M7C3 e M2C.

Atualmente, uns dos grandes desafios para a indústria automobilística é aumentar o desempenho do conjunto mecânico responsável por selar a câmara de combustão interna de motores automotivos e também reduzir os seus custos de obtenção. O objetivo deste trabalho foi o de tratar termicamente insertos de assentos de válvulas (do inglês valve seat insert, VSI) obtidos pela rota de metalurgia do pó. Esta técnica possibilitou a substituição do cobalto e do chumbo, devido ao seu elevado custo e efeito toxicológico, respectivamente. Ao longo do trabalho foram avaliados VSI obtidos com três misturas de pós diferentes, sendo que os elementos comuns nestas três misturas foram os pós de ferro, sulfeto de manganês, carboneto de nióbio, grafite, estearato de zinco e cobre. Em cada uma destas misturas variou-se apenas os tipos de pós de aços rápidos e aço ferramenta utilizado, sendo estes o aço rápido AISI M3:2 (Mistura 1), aço rápido AISI M2 (Mistura 2) e aço ferramenta AISI D2 (Mistura 3). Os tratamentos térmicos aplicados aos VSI consistiram em têmpera ao ar e têmpera ao óleo, ambas seguidas de duplo revenimento em sete temperaturas equidistantemente diferentes, variando de 100 °C a 700 °C. Os ciclos dos tratamentos térmicos foram determinados por meio da utilização de termopares do tipo k acoplados à um sistema de aquisição de dados. As propriedades físicas e mecânicas dos VSI foram determinadas através da dureza aparente, densidade aparente e resistência à ruptura radial. A caracterização microestrutural foi realizada utilizando-se a microscopia óptica e microscopia eletrônica de varredura. A composição química foi determinada por meio da análise elementar e por espectrometria de fluorescência de energia dispersiva de raios X. Os melhores resultados em relação às propriedades mecânicas dos VSI foram obtidas para os insertos temperados ao ar e duplamente revenido a 600 °C para a Mistura 1 e Mistura 2, e a 500 °C para Mistura 3. Já para a têmpera ao óleo, as melhores respostas foram para os VSI obtidos com a Mistura 1 duplamente revenida a 400 °C e a, 300 °C para os componentes obtidos com a Mistura 2 e Mistura 3. / Currently, one of the biggest challenges for the automobile industry is to increase the performance of the mechanical set responsible for sealing the internal combustion chamber in automotive engines and reduce its cost of production. The aim of the present work was to heat treat valve seat inserts (VSI) obtained through the powder metallurgy route. This procedure made possible the substitution of cobalt and lead, due to its high cost and toxicological effect, respectively. Throughout the work, it was evaluated VSI obtained with three different types of powders mixtures, and common elements at the three different powders mixtures were iron powder, manganese sulfide, niobium carbide, graphite, zinc stearate and copper. In each of these powders mixtures, it was changed only the type of high-speed steels and tool steel, consisting of high-speed steel AISI M3:2 (Mixture 1), high-speed steel AISI M2 (Mixture 2) and tool steel AISI D2 (Mixture 3). The heat treatments applied to the VSI were air quenching and oil quenching, both followed by double tempering at seven different equidistantly temperatures, ranging from 100 °C up to 700 °C. The heat treatments thermal cycles were determined using a thermocouple type k attached to a data acquisition system. The physical and mechanical properties of the VSI were measured in terms of apparent hardness, apparent density and crush radial strength. Microstructural characterization was performed using optical and scanning electron microscopy. The chemical composition was determined using gas analysis and energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence spectrometry. The best results regarding the mechanical properties of the VSI were obtained for the VSI air-quenched and double tempered at 600 °C for the powder Mixture 1 and Mixture 2, and at 500 °C for Mixture 3. For the oil quenching, the best response was reached for the VSI obtained with Mixture 1 double tempered at 400 °C, and at 300 °C for the components obtained with Mixture 2 and Mixture 3.

Foram estudados os efeitos da introdução de etapas de tratamento criogênico e do alívio de tensões no ciclo térmico do aço ferramenta para trabalho a frio AISI D2. Variaram-se as temperaturas de tratamento criogênico, sendo elas principalmente: criogênica (-196°C) e subzero (-80°C). Foram variados os tempos de permanência às temperaturas criogênicas: 2, 3, 10, 24 e 30 e 36 horas. Verificou-se o efeito da adição da etapa (130°C/90 minutos) de alívio de tensões previamente ao tratamento criogênico. As amostras com diferentes ciclos térmicos foram submetidas à caracterização metalográfica, difração de raios-X e ensaios de potencial termo-elétrico. Na caracterização metalográfica as amostras foram analisadas por MEV (microscopia eletrônica de varredura) e MEV-FEG (MEV com canhão com emissão por efeito de campo). Os carbonetos secundários (micrométricos) não apresentaram variação. Os carbonetos secundários de revenido (nanométricos) apresentaram-se mais finamente dispersos na matriz nas amostras com tratamento criogênico e sem alívio de tensões. A difração de Raios-X foi realizada no Laboratório Nacional de Luz Síncroton, a luz síncroton foi essencial para detectar as variações pequenas e em escala nanométrica que ocorreram devido às inserções dos tratamentos criogênicos e de alívio de tensões. Foram verificados: i) menor fração volumétrica de austenita retida nas amostras tratadas em temperatura subzero quando comparadas às amostras tratadas em temperaturas criogênicas, indicando um comportamento cinético em C da curva de transformação; ii) diminuição da relação c/a dos parâmetros do reticulado cristalino da martensita e aumento do parâmetro a da austenita (devido à partição de carbono da martensita supersaturada em carbono para a austenita) causando estabilização da austenita com a inserção da etapa de alívio de tensões; iii) aumento no parâmetro a da austenita retida residual após revenimentos, com consequente aumento no teor de carbono da mesma, devido à partição de carbono; iv) maior fração volumétrica de carbonetos de revenido (M7C3 e M2C) nas amostras com tratamento criogênico logo após a têmpera, seguido da amostra com tratamento criogênico + alívio de tensões, seguidos da amostra somente temperada e revenida e por fim da amostra com alívio de tensões e sem tratamento criogênico. Os ensaios de potencial termo-elétrico (realizados no INSA-Lyon) foram utilizados para verificar o comportamento das amostras nas temperaturas de revenimento. Foram realizados tratamentos isotérmicos (130°C, 210°C, 350°C, 450°C e 520°C) cumulativos com tempos de 1 minuto até 130 horas. Verificou-se que: i) nos primeiros estágios do revenimento a cinética é favorecida pelo tratamento criogênico (precipitação de carbonetos \'eta\' ou \'epsilon\'); ii) o alívio de tensões atrasa os dois primeiros estágios do revenimento; iii) há maior crescimento dos carbonetos de liga nas amostras sem tratamento criogênico. O refinamento dos carbonetos secundários de revenimento foi atribuído a uma sequência de precipitações de carbonetos de revenido in situ: \'eta\' -> \'teta\' -> M7C3 e M2C. / The effects of cryogenic treatments and of stress relief treatment introduced in the thermal cycle of the cold work tool steel AISI D2 were studied. The cryogenic temperatures were varied: cryogenic (-196°C) and subzero (-80°C). It was also varied the holding times at cryogenic temperatures: 2, 3, 10, 24, 30 and 36 hours. The effect of including a stress relief heat treatment previously to the cryogenic treatment was also verified. Samples submitted to different thermal cycles were studied using metallographic characterization, X-ray diffraction and electric power measurements. The metallographic characterization used SEM (scanning electron microscopy) and SEM-FEG (SEM with field emission gun), besides OM (optical microscopy). It was not found any variation in the secondary carbides (micrometrics) precipitation. The temper secondary carbides (nanometrics) showed to be more finely dispersed in the matrix of the samples with cryogenic treatment and without stress relief. The X-ray diffractions were carried out at the Brazilian Synchrotron Light Laboratory; synchrotron light was essential to detect small and nano sized variations occurring due to the addition of the cryogenics and stress relief treatments. It was verified: i) lower austenite volumetric fraction in the samples with subzero treatment if compared to the cryogenic treated samples, an indication of a C curve kinetic behavior of the transformation; ii) the stress relief treatment produced an decrease in the c/a relationship of the martensite lattice parameters and an increase in the austenite a parameter (explained by carbon atoms partition from the supersatured martensite to the retained austenite); iii) after double tempering occurred an increase in the a parameter of the remaining austenite lattice, indicating an increase in the carbon content of the residual retained austenite, due to carbon partition; iv) higher volumetric fraction of temper carbides (M7C3 and M2C) if the samples were cryogenic treated just after quench (to room temperature), followed by the sample with cryogenic treatment + stress relief, after the sample just quenched and tempered and finally by the samples with stress relief without cryogenic treatment. Thermo-electric power measurements (carried out at INSA-Lyon) characterized the samples behavior after tempering at different temperatures. Cumulative isothermal treatments (130°C, 210°C, 350°C, 450°C e 520°C) with increasing times (from 1 minute to 130 hours) were used. It was verified that: i) the kinetic is favoured by the cryogenic treatment in the first temper stage (\'eta\' or \'epsilon\' carbide precipitation); ii) the stress relief delayed the first and second temper stage; iii) the samples without cryogenic treatment showed to have a bigger growing for the alloys carbides in the last stage of temper. The refinement of the temper secondary carbides was attributed to an in situ carbide precipitation during tempering: \'eta\' -> \'teta\' -> M7C3 e M2C.

Atualmente, uns dos grandes desafios para a indústria automobilística é aumentar o desempenho do conjunto mecânico responsável por selar a câmara de combustão interna de motores automotivos e também reduzir os seus custos de obtenção. O objetivo deste trabalho foi o de tratar termicamente insertos de assentos de válvulas (do inglês valve seat insert, VSI) obtidos pela rota de metalurgia do pó. Esta técnica possibilitou a substituição do cobalto e do chumbo, devido ao seu elevado custo e efeito toxicológico, respectivamente. Ao longo do trabalho foram avaliados VSI obtidos com três misturas de pós diferentes, sendo que os elementos comuns nestas três misturas foram os pós de ferro, sulfeto de manganês, carboneto de nióbio, grafite, estearato de zinco e cobre. Em cada uma destas misturas variou-se apenas os tipos de pós de aços rápidos e aço ferramenta utilizado, sendo estes o aço rápido AISI M3:2 (Mistura 1), aço rápido AISI M2 (Mistura 2) e aço ferramenta AISI D2 (Mistura 3). Os tratamentos térmicos aplicados aos VSI consistiram em têmpera ao ar e têmpera ao óleo, ambas seguidas de duplo revenimento em sete temperaturas equidistantemente diferentes, variando de 100 °C a 700 °C. Os ciclos dos tratamentos térmicos foram determinados por meio da utilização de termopares do tipo k acoplados à um sistema de aquisição de dados. As propriedades físicas e mecânicas dos VSI foram determinadas através da dureza aparente, densidade aparente e resistência à ruptura radial. A caracterização microestrutural foi realizada utilizando-se a microscopia óptica e microscopia eletrônica de varredura. A composição química foi determinada por meio da análise elementar e por espectrometria de fluorescência de energia dispersiva de raios X. Os melhores resultados em relação às propriedades mecânicas dos VSI foram obtidas para os insertos temperados ao ar e duplamente revenido a 600 °C para a Mistura 1 e Mistura 2, e a 500 °C para Mistura 3. Já para a têmpera ao óleo, as melhores respostas foram para os VSI obtidos com a Mistura 1 duplamente revenida a 400 °C e a, 300 °C para os componentes obtidos com a Mistura 2 e Mistura 3. / Currently, one of the biggest challenges for the automobile industry is to increase the performance of the mechanical set responsible for sealing the internal combustion chamber in automotive engines and reduce its cost of production. The aim of the present work was to heat treat valve seat inserts (VSI) obtained through the powder metallurgy route. This procedure made possible the substitution of cobalt and lead, due to its high cost and toxicological effect, respectively. Throughout the work, it was evaluated VSI obtained with three different types of powders mixtures, and common elements at the three different powders mixtures were iron powder, manganese sulfide, niobium carbide, graphite, zinc stearate and copper. In each of these powders mixtures, it was changed only the type of high-speed steels and tool steel, consisting of high-speed steel AISI M3:2 (Mixture 1), high-speed steel AISI M2 (Mixture 2) and tool steel AISI D2 (Mixture 3). The heat treatments applied to the VSI were air quenching and oil quenching, both followed by double tempering at seven different equidistantly temperatures, ranging from 100 °C up to 700 °C. The heat treatments thermal cycles were determined using a thermocouple type k attached to a data acquisition system. The physical and mechanical properties of the VSI were measured in terms of apparent hardness, apparent density and crush radial strength. Microstructural characterization was performed using optical and scanning electron microscopy. The chemical composition was determined using gas analysis and energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence spectrometry. The best results regarding the mechanical properties of the VSI were obtained for the VSI air-quenched and double tempered at 600 °C for the powder Mixture 1 and Mixture 2, and at 500 °C for Mixture 3. For the oil quenching, the best response was reached for the VSI obtained with Mixture 1 double tempered at 400 °C, and at 300 °C for the components obtained with Mixture 2 and Mixture 3.

In the present thesis, the correlation between ladle glaze and non-metallic inclusions in the ladle treatment was studied. A number of industrial trials with full scale ladle and laboratory works were performed to investigate the inclusions in the ladle treatment. BaO was used as tracer in the ladle slag to investigate the effect of slag on inclusion composition and the formation of non-metallic inclusions by ladle glaze. BaO was detected in the inclusions of all followed heats. This observation showed strong evidence for the generation of non-metallic inclusions by the ladle glaze. The increase of the fractions of BaO containing inclusions and their average content of BaO in the first heat with tracer suggested that the effect of slag on the composition of inclusions was a very slow process. The detachment of ladle glaze and the chemical transformations of oxide solution in the MgO matrix were investigated. The experimental results evidently showed that the ladle glaze could be the source of inclusions continually during the ladle treatment. Samples of liquid oxide solution to simulate the liquid oxide inclusions carried over from EAF were equilibrated with molten steel under controlled atmosphere. The results along with thermodynamic calculation suggested that the SiO2 content of inclusions from EAF could be considerably reduced by dissolved aluminium in the steel. This would explain the vanishing of inclusions containing high SiO2 content after deoxidation. Due to the lack of experimental data, the viscosities of slags in the Al2O3-CaO-MgO-SiO2 system were measured using the rotating cylinder method in the temperature range of 1720 to 1910 K. Eight different slag compositions related to the secondary steel making operations were selected. Viscosities in this system and its sub-systems were expressed as a function of temperature and composition based on the viscosity model developed earlier at KTH. The activities of oxide components in the Al2O3-CaO-MgO-SiO2 systems at 1873 K were measured by equilibrating liquid slag and metal. Either silicon or copper was used as the metal phase and the oxygen partial pressure was controlled with different mixing rates of Ar and CO gas flow in equilibrium with graphite. Iso-activity lines were drawn from the measured activity values in the isothermal section of the slag systems. Nine series of industrial trials were carried out using the same ladle in each series to examine the effect of ladle slag on the number of non-metallic inclusions in the next heat. It was found that the number of inclusions increased with SiO2 content of the ladle slag in the previous heat. No clear trends were found for the effects of viscosity and MgO activity of the previous slag on the number of inclusions. Theoretical analysis based on the experimental results suggested that the formation of 2CaO∙SiO2 followed but the dusting of the compound made the refractory more porous, which was reasonable for the number of non-metallic inclusions.

The present study was carried out to investigate the formation and evolution of non-metallic inclusions during ingot casting. Emphasize have been on understanding the types of inclusions formed and developed through the casting process and on the development of already existing inclusions carried over from the ladle during casting. Industrial experiments carried on at Uddeholm Tooling together with laboratory work and Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) simulations. Ingots of 5.8 tons have been sampled and the types of inclusions together with their distribution within the ingot have been characterized. Two new types of inclusions have been found. Type C1 is found originated from casting powder and in the size from a few μm to 30 μm. Type C2 is of macro inclusion type sizing up to 70 μm. The presence of C2 inclusions are few but very detrimental for the quality of the steel. Both types, C1 and C2 consist of alumina, indicating that reoxidation is the main reason for their existence. The protecting argon shroud has been studied by the use of a 1:1 scaled 2D model. Both flow pattern and oxygen measurement have been carried out. CFD has also been used as an auxiliary tool. It has been found that the oxygen pickup through argon gas shroud depends mostly on the distance between the ladle and the collar placed on top of runner. Further increase of gas flow rate above 2.5 m3.h-1 had very little effect on the oxygen distribution since both the flushing effect and the entraining effect with respect to oxygen are enhanced by further increase of inert gas flow rate. In the case of dual gas inlet, the flow in the shroud was found much less diffused compared with either vertical or horizontal injection system. The oxygen content in this arrangement was also greatly reduced. Studies of the runner after casting revealed a sparse non-metallic network structure around the periphery of the steel rod remained in the runner. The surface of the refractory had been severely attacked by the mechanical force from the streaming steel. The erosions of the centre stone and the end stone were on the other hand negligible. CFD calculations showed that the flow at those locations is almost stagnant. The surface of the refractory in contact with the steel was found to have an increased content of alumina. The source for the alumina could come from either exchange reaction of dissolved aluminium replaces the silica or reoxidation products origin from oxygen pick up during the transfer from the ladle to the vertical runner. Inclusions were also found entrapped in the steel refractory interface. It was also found that a formation of a liquid slag film as early as possible during casting would increase the possibility to remove inclusions and especially inclusions generated by the casting powder. / QC 20100617

<p>The thesis is based on two supplements with two major objectives. In the first supplement equilibrium top slag-steel bulk and inclusions-steel bulk were investigated by comparison between calculated and measured oxygen activity values. This was done by applying different oxide activity models for slags combined with thermodynamic calculations. In the second supplement the inclusion composition is studied during the ladle refining process. The inclusion composition is related to top slag composition and other parameters during ladle</p><p>treatment.</p><p>The work was carried out by collecting data during well controlled sampling procedures at two different steel plants. Extensive inclusion analyses in Scanning Electron Microscope, SEM, were done. The data was used together with thermodynamics for a description of the interaction between slag-steel-inclusion interaction during ladle treatment.</p><p>Evaluation of inclusion composition during the ladle refining have revealed that the majority of the inclusions belonged to the system Al₂O₃-CaO-MgO-SiO₂and showed a continuous composition change throughout the ladle refining process, from high Al₂O_3, via MgO-spinel to finally complex types rich in CaO and Al₂O_3. The final composition after vacuum treatment was found to be close to the top slag composition. Small process parameter changes and practical variations during ladle refining were proven to give large differences of the inclusion composition.</p><p>Finally, it was concluded that equilibrium does not exist between top slag and steel bulk, with respect to oxygen, for the studied conditions. However, the equilibrium does exist between the steel bulk and inclusion.</p>

Submitted by Maria Medeiros (maria.dilva1@ufcg.edu.br) on 2018-08-20T13:53:22Z No. of bitstreams: 1 WELLINGTON CORDEIRO OLIVEIRA - DISSERTAÇÃO (PPGEM) 2018.pdf: 8813868 bytes, checksum: a538ae4b12c154e17d31068945d4febb (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-20T13:53:22Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 WELLINGTON CORDEIRO OLIVEIRA - DISSERTAÇÃO (PPGEM) 2018.pdf: 8813868 bytes, checksum: a538ae4b12c154e17d31068945d4febb (MD5) Previous issue date: 2018-04-06 / Os aços ferramenta têm uma importante participação no mercado mundial no que se refere a engenharia. São usados na indústria metal-mecânica como ferramentas de corte, moldes, punções, entre outras aplicações. Devido a sua grande importância, é imprescindível discutir a relação entre a microestrutura e as propriedades mecânicas, devido ser uma prática comum na indústria especificar os tratamentos térmicos com base principalmente na dureza final do material, sem considerar que para um mesmo valor de dureza um aço ferramenta pode apresentar diferentes propriedades mecânicas, isto dependendo do ciclo de tratamento térmico aplicado. Logo, a seleção do tratamento térmico é um aspecto tecnológico relevante no desempenho destes aços. Tendo em vista a vasta possibilidade de propriedades mecânicas obtidas (tenacidade a fratura) com diferentes tratamentos térmicos, esse trabalho teve como objetivo especificar um aço ferramenta nacional e um conjunto de parâmetros de tratamento térmico que possibilite a utilização deste material como forma de substituição de um outro aço importado utilizado na confecção de lâminas de corte usadas no processamento de placas de chumbo. O aço selecionado para o desenvolvimento deste trabalho foi o aço AISI D6, a seleção desse aço foi feita tomando-se como base as características obtidas através de análises realizadas em campo e de microdureza e microestrutura das lâminas de corte já existentes no processo confeccionadas com aço importado. Com o aço selecionado em mãos, aplicou-se dois tratamentos térmicos diferentes de têmpera e revenido (um proposto pelo fabricante e outro proposto pelo trabalho em execução), onde avaliou-se o efeito dos tratamentos térmicos sobre as propriedades mecânicas e microestrutural do material. Através da análise dos resultados da relação entre dureza e tenacidade, constatou-se que para os dois tratamentos térmicos aplicados, não houve variações significativas das propriedades mecânicas do material, e que os dois tratamentos apresentaram resultados satisfatórios. O aço ferramenta nacional especificado apresentou-se como alternativa para substituição do aço importado utilizado atualmente. Testes obtidos em campo com a lâmina fabricada com o aço nacional especificado nesse estudo e que recebeu o tratamento térmico proposto pelo fabricante (FAB), corroboraram com a análise das propriedades, visto que se constatou aumento do tempo de vida de corte em mais de 30%. / The tool steels have an important participation in the world market with regard to engineering. They are used in the metal-mechanic industry as cutting tools, molds, punches, among other applications. Because of its great importance, it is essential to discuss the relationship between the microstructure and the mechanical properties, since it is a common practice in industry to specify thermal treatments based mainly on the final hardness of the material, without considering that for a same hardness value a steel tool may have different mechanical properties, depending on the heat treatment cycle applied. Therefore, the selection of heat treatment is a relevant technological aspect in the performance of these steels. Considering the wide possibility of mechanical properties obtained (fracture toughness) with different thermal treatments, this work had the objective of specifying a national tool steel and a set of thermal treatment parameters that allow the use of this material as a substitute for a another imported steel used in the manufacture of cutting blades used in the processing of lead plates. The steel selected for the development of this work was AISI D6 steel, the selection of this steel was made taking as a base the characteristics obtained through field analysis and microhardness and microstructure of the cutting blades already in the process made with steel imported. With the selected steel in hand, two different tempering and tempering treatments were applied (one proposed by the manufacturer and another proposed by the work in progress), where the effect of the thermal treatments on the mechanical and microstructural properties of the material was evaluated. By analyzing the results of the relationship between hardness and toughness, it was found that for the two thermal treatments applied, there were no significant variations of the mechanical properties of the material, and that both treatments presented satisfactory results. The specified national steel tool was presented as an alternative to replace the currently used imported steel. Field tests with the blade manufactured with the national steel specified in this study and that received the thermal treatment proposed by the manufacturer (FAB), corroborated with the analysis of the properties, as it was observed an increase in the cutting life time in more than 30 %.

Orientador: Maria Clara Filippini Ierardi / Dissertação (mestrado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Faculdade de Engenharia Mecanica / Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-06T10:03:07Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Pereira_ElaineCristina_M.pdf: 3869413 bytes, checksum: b9bfe02035758d11f3c1b43e411db4d4 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2006 / Resumo: A refusão superficial a laser é uma técnica muito promissora para a melhoria das propriedades mecânicas dos aços ferramentas através da homogeneização química e refino da estrutura. O tratamento a laser promove o aquecimento e resfriamento rápidos da camada superficial resultando em transformações microestruturais que promovem a melhoria do desempenho sem envolver o reprocessamento do material como um todo. Neste trabalho foram analisadas, além da microestrutura resultante do tratamento de refusão a laser, a resistência à corrosão e a resistência à flexão dos aços ferramenta para trabalho a quente AISI H13 e inoxidável martensítico AISI 420. Os resultados experimentais foram comparados com os mesmos aços sem tratamento. Observou-se que a microestrutura resultante do tratamento de refusão a laser é formada de martensita e austenita residual. A estrutura refinada e a presença de martensita resultaram em um aumento da dureza, apesar do grande volume de austenita residual. A dissolução de carbonetos e incorporação dos elementos de liga na matriz, como por exemplo o cromo, promoveu uma melhoria no comportamento em corrosão / Abstract: Laser surface melting is a very promising technique to improve the mechanical properties of tool steel by the chemical homogenization and refinement of the microstructure. Laser treatment promotes the rapid heating and cooling of the superficial layer resulting in microstructure transformations, which improve material performance without involving the reprocessing of the bulk material. In this work, besides the microstructure resulting from laser surface melting, corrosion resistance and deflection of hot-work tool steel AISI H13 and martensitic stainless steel AISI 420 were analyzed. The experimental results were compared to the same steels without treatment. The microstructure of the laser surface melting is formed by martensite and retained austenite. The refined structure and the presence of martensite increased hardness, despite the large volume of retained austenite. The carbides dissolution and incorporation of alloying elements into the matrix, for example chrome, improve the corrosion behavior / Mestrado / Materiais e Processos de Fabricação / Mestre em Engenharia Mecânica