A low-carbon, titanium and niobium (Ti-Nb) bearing and a low-carbon titanium, niobium and copper (Ti-Nb-Cu) bearing ultra high strength steel have been thermo-mechanically processed on a laboratory scale unit. Evolution of microstructure and mechanical properties of the above air cooled steels have been studied at different finish rolling temperatures (FRTs). Microstructural characterization reveals largely a mixture of granular bainite and bainitic ferrite along with the precipitation of microalloying carbide/carbonitride particles and/or Cu-rich precipitates. (Ti-Nb) bearing steel yields higher yield strength (1114-1143 MPa) along with higher tensile strength (1591-1688 MPa) and moderate ductility (12-13%) as compared to (Ti-Nb-Cu) bearing steel having yield strength (934-996 MPa) combined with tensile strength (1434-1464 MPa) and similar ductility (13%) for the selected range of 850-750°C FRT. Due to higher strength-ductility combinations, these present investigated steels can be regarded as the replacement material for ballistic applications as well as other sectors like defense, pipeline, cars, pressure vessels, ships, offshore platforms, aircraft undercarriages and rocket motor casings etc. Key words: Thermo-mechanical controlled processing, ultra high strength steel, microstructure, mechanical properties.
Influence of temperature- and phase-dependent yield strength on residual stresses in ultra-high strength steel S960 weldments
