Effects of deformation on the microstructure of a Ti-V microalloyed steel in the phase transition region

Microalloyed steels are used in the forging of many automotive parts like crankshafts and connecting rods. They are hot worked in a sequence of stages that includes the heating to the soaking temperature, followed by forging steps, and finally the controlled cooling to define the microstructure and mechanical properties. In this work it was investigated the thermomechanical behavior and the microstructural evolution of a Ti-V microalloyed steel in the phase transition region. Torsion tests were done with multiple steps with true strain equal to 0.26 in each step. After each torsion step the samples were continuous cooled for 15 seconds to simulate hot forging conditions. These tests provided results for the temperature at the beginning of the phase transformation, and allowed to analyze the microstructural changes. Also, workability tests were held to analyze the microstructural evolution by optical and scanning electron microscopy. Results from the torsion tests showed that the temperature for the beginning of phase transformation is about 700 ºC. Workability tests held at 700 ºC followed by water-cooling presented microstructures with different regions: strain hardened, and static and dynamic recrystallized. Workability tests at 700 ºC followed by air-cooling showed a complex microstructure with ferrite, bainite and martensite, while tests at 650 and 600 ºC followed by water-cooling showed a microstructure with allotriomorphic ferrite present in the grain boundaries of the previous austenite.