Investigation of Primary Recrystallization and Decarbonization with Different Heating Rates of Intermediate Annealing Using Nb-Containing Grain-Oriented Silicon Steel

An Nb-containing grain-oriented silicon steel was produced through double-stage cold rolling in order to investigate the effect of the heating rate during intermediate annealing on primary recrystallization and decarburization behavior. The microstructure and texture were observed and analyzed by an optical microscope and an electron backscatter diffraction system. A transmission electron microscope was used to observe the precipitation behavior of inhibitors. The decarburization effect during intermediate annealing was also calculated and discussed. The results show that primary recrystallization takes place after intermediate annealing. As the heating rate increases, the average grain size decreases gradually. The textures of {411}<148> and {111}<112> were found to be the strongest along the thickness direction in all of the annealed specimens and are mainly surrounded by HEGB and HAGB (> 45°). A large number of inhibitors with the size of 14~20 nm precipitate are distributed evenly in the matrix. The above results indicate that the higher heating rate during intermediate annealing contributes to both an excellent microstructure and magnetic properties. From the calculation, as the heating rate increases, decarbonization tends to proceed in the insulation stage, and the total amount of carbonization declines.

Influence of Intermediate Annealing Treatment on the Kinetics of Bainitic Transformation in X37CrMoV5-1 Steel

Intermediate annealing treatment (IAT) is a new process that accelerates the bainitic transformation in steels. This stimulation is crucial, especially in the prolonged production of nanobainitic steels. Among other recognised methods, it seems to be an effective and economical process. However, there are very few research works in this area. The objective of this study was to collate microstructural changes caused by IAT with differences in the kinetics of the subsequent bainitic transformation in the X37CrMoV5-1 tool steel. Differential dilatometry, LM and SEM microscopic observations, EDS and XRD analysis, and computer simulations were used to investigate the effect of IAT on the kinetics of bainitic transformation. The study has revealed that introducing an additional isothermal heating stage immediately after austenitising significantly affects the kinetics of bainitic transformation—it can accelerate or suppress it. The type and strength of the effect depends on the concentration, distribution, and morphology of the precipitations that occurred during IAT.

Rapid Secondary Recrystallization of the Goss Texture in Fe81Ga19 Sheets Using Nanosized NbC Particles

Herein, a simple and efficient method is proposed for fabricating Fe81Ga19 alloy thin sheets with a high magnetostriction coefficient. Sharp Goss texture ({110}<001>) was successfully produced in the sheets by rapid secondary recrystallization induced by nanosized NbC particles at low temperatures. Numerous NbC precipitates (size ~90 nm) were obtained after hot rolling, intermediate annealing, and primary recrystallization annealing. The relatively higher quantity of nanosized NbC precipitates with 0.22 mol% resulted in finer and uniform grains (~10 μm) through thickness after primary recrystallization annealing. There was a slow coarsening of the NbC precipitates, from 104 nm to 130 nm, as the temperature rose from 850 °C to 900 °C in a pure nitrogen atmosphere, as well as a primary recrystallization textured by strong γ fibers with a peak at {111} <112> favoring the development of secondary recrystallization of Goss texture at a temperature of 850 °C. Matching of the appropriate inhibitor characteristics and primary recrystallization texture guaranteed rapid secondary recrystallization at temperatures lower than 950 °C. A high magnetostriction coefficient of 304 ppm was achieved for the Fe81Ga19 sheet after rapid secondary recrystallization.

Non-destructive pole-figure measurements on workshop-made silver reference model of archaic objects

Based on the knowledge of crystallographic texture, the parameters of the metal-forming heat treatment of metallic objects can be reconstructed well when conventional technologies (e.g. rolling, deep drawing, etc.) are applied. The characterisation of texture has been possible only by using destructive techniques, apart from neutron diffraction. Recently, a non-destructive texture measurement method has been developed for centreless diffractometers, providing a new dimension to the examination of archaic objects. In the present study, two types of Stresstech G3R centreless diffractometer were used with this new method, which proved it to be applicable to both the tabletop and robotic arm-assisted versions of the diffractometer. Although the texture of archaic objects can be revealed using this method, the production of these objects cannot be directly deduced from the results, since their manufacturing steps are not identical to the metal-forming operations applied today. In this study, workshop-made silver reference samples were produced with the help of three silversmiths. Wrinkling, metal spinning and intermediate annealing were applied to the rolled silver sheet with the aim of making real-sized silver cups. The workshop-made reference cups were then subjected to non-destructive texture examinations. The results reveal the textures developed during the conventional manufacturing steps of silver cups. The obtained information greatly assists future research in understanding the pole figures of archaic objects and the reconstruction of their manufacturing technology.

Increasing the ductility of the Al-Si alloy with low silicon content by deformation-heat treatment

A method of deformation-heat treatment is considered for Al-Si alloy with 4.5 % silicon, which consists in a series of small hot deformations with intermediate annealing. The proposed method allows one to achieve grinding and spheroidization of silicon inclusions, which in the cast state have the form of lamellar excreta at the grain boundaries and significantly reduce the plasticity of the material. Spheroidization, grinding and mixing of inclusions that are achieved during this deformation-heat treatment lead to significantly increase the ductility of the alloy without loss of hardness. The processes of structure change during the deformation of aluminum alloys with low Si content are insufficiently studied. In particular, of interest was the possibility of increasing the ductility of such materials by grinding and mixing silicon inclusions during hot deformation. In this case, to prevent a decrease in ductility due appearance of microconcentrators of stress in the form of acute angles of the crushed silicon inclusions, the deformation was carried out as a series of stages with intermediate annealing. In addition, it was assumed that the cyclic change of temperature in this mode will contribute to the spheroidization of fragments of crushed silicon inclusions by changing the solubility of silicon in solid solution from temperature. It is shown that the proposed mode of deformation-heat treatment of these alloys of the Al-Si system allows to significantly increase their ductility – the critical degree of deposition (deposition before cracking) from 67.8 % in the cast state to – 92.1 %. The hardness of the material can be increased by hardening under cold plastic deformation. In this case, since the material after deformation-heat treatment is more plastic, it has greater reserves for hardening in this way. It is shown that owing to hard plastic deformation, the hardness of the material of samples with 4.5 % Si, which has undergone deformation-heat treatment, can increase to values of 95 ± 17 HV, which is significantly higher than in the cast state. At the same time, the hardness (and, probably, strength) of a similar cast material can also be increased due to hardening, but to lower values – 67 ± 12 HV. Key words: aluminum, aluminum-based alloy, deformation-heat treatment, silicon inclusions, plasticity, hardness.

FORMATION OF LOW-CARBON WIRE ROD STRUCTURE UNDER SHS CONDITIONS USING MAGNETIC COERCIMETRIC CONTROL

The article discusses the use of a self-propagating high-temperature synthesis of SHS ofsolid chemical compounds – it is a new technological process that possible to obtain a materialwith a given structure based on carrying out an exothermic reaction of interaction of reagents inthe combustion regime. The influence of cold deformation and intermediate annealing underSHS conditions on the structure, magnetic and mechanical properties of low-carbon steel is determined.The use of magnetic coercimetric control possible to control changes in the structureand mechanical properties of during technological cycle for low-carbon welded wire in productionconditions.