The article presents the results of studies on the impact of accelerated cooling after the austenitisation of bars with a diameter of 180 mm made of structural steel S355J2 on the microstructure and mechanical properties. The aim of the research was to develop basic parameters of heat treatment technology using the heat remaining in the bars after hot rolling. Tests of heating and cooling of the bars were carried out in devices included in the line for semi-industrial hot rolling simulation, controlled cooling and heat treatment (LPS-B) at Łukasiewicz – IMŻ. The following cooling operations were performed after bar austenitisation: cooling in still air, controlled cooling with air blow, water-air mixture, water spraying and immersion cooling in water. Based on the research and analyses, it was found that the use of optimised variants of accelerated cooling leads to the modification of the microstructure and to grain refinement, without the formation of undesirable phase components. Consequently, the mechanical properties (yield strength and impact toughness) increase above the level obtained as a result of cooling in still air, including standard normalisation. Preliminary tests of accelerated air stream cooling of bars were carried out after austenitising in industrial conditions. The final criterion for selecting and implementing the type of technology for heat treatment of bars using heat after hot rolling in Huta Bankowa’s technical and technological conditions will be the assessment of the economic efficiency of the project.
FATIGUE STRENGTH OF TWO- AND FOUR-YEAR WEATHERED WELDMENTS OF WEATHERING STEELS AND STRUCTURAL STEEL
