Effect of Sulfur Content on the Inclusion and Mechanical Properties in Ce-Mg Treated Resulfurized SCr420H Steel

To clarify the effect of sulfur on inclusions and mechanical properties of Ce-Mg treated resulfurized SCr420H steel. Laboratory experiments were conducted to prepare steels with sulfur contents as 0.01%, 0.06%, and 0.132%. Inclusion evolution in liquid steel, MnS precipitation during solidification, and tensile test results of steel after quenching and tempering were investigated. The results showed that due to the limitation of mass transfer in molten steel, composite inclusion that Ce-O-S wrapped by Ce-Ca-Mg-Al-Si-O, which was named transition state inclusions, can form quickly after adding Ce-Mg lump to the molten steel. As the homogenization of molten steel, the difference of sulfur content in steel can lead to the transition state inclusions transformed into different inclusions. With the increase of sulfur content, the quantity of MnS increased significantly, and the morphology of MnS transformed from “stick” to “dendritic + fishbone”, and then to “fishbone”. Tensile test results and fracture analysis indicate that the decline of inclusion spacing as the increase of sulfur content leads to a shorter physical path of crack propagation in steel. Therefore, the increase of sulfur content can bring about a decrease in the strength and plasticity of the steel. From the perspective of inclusion control, making the MnS inclusion precipitate more dispersive and increasing the distance between inclusions can be considered as a method for preventing the decline of mechanical properties in steel with high sulfur content.

High-Temperature Precipitation Design-of-Experiments Simulation in Low-Alloy Cr–Mo–Ni Hot Forging Steel

The role of alloying elements such as Cr, Mo and Mn on low-alloy 8620 steel during hot forging operations is not yet clear, as, during deformation in the 1000~1100 °C temperature range, the austenite grain size remains small, ensuring the capacity of the forged part to be subsequently modified by surface hardening procedures. This work analyzed a deformed bar considering hardness at different geometry zones, along with SEM and TEM microstructures of previous austenite grains and lamellar martensite spacing. Moreover, Thermocalc simulations of M7C3, M23C6 and MnS precipitation were combined with Design of Experiments (DOE) in order to detect the sensitivity and significant variables. The values of the alloying elements’ percentages were drastically modified, as nominal values did not produce precipitation, and segregation at the austenite matrix may have been responsible for short-term, nanometric precipitates producing grain growth inhibition.

Influence of Al and N Content and Cooling Rate on the Characteristics of Complex MnS Inclusions in AHSS

This study focused on the characteristics of complex MnS inclusions in advanced high strength steels. The effect of metal chemistry (Al and N) and the cooling rate of steel were evaluated by analyzing the inclusions present in five laboratory produced steels. The observed complex MnS inclusions contained Al2O3-MnS, AlN-MnS, and AlON-MnS. An increase in Al content from 0.5% to 6% increased the number of complex MnS inclusions by ~4 times. In comparison, a decrease of ~80% was observed due to the increased N content of steel from <10 ppm to ~50 ppm. MnS precipitation ratio was used to determine the potency of different inclusions forming complex MnS inclusions due to heterogeneous nucleation. It was found that the MnS precipitation ratio of the observed inclusions was related to their misfit with MnS, and it decreased in the order of AlN > AlON > Al2O3. Moreover, it was determined that AlN particles could be easily engulfed at the solidification front relative to Al2O3, which resulted in a higher MnS precipitation ratio for Al2O3 under slow cooling conditions.

The Relationship between MnS Precipitation and Induced Nucleation Effect of Mg-Bearing Inclusion

The relationship between MnS precipitation and induced nucleation effect of Mg-bearing inclusion has been explored through scanning electron microscope and energy dispersive spectrometer (EDS). Results indicate that MnS prefers to precipitate on Mg-bearing inclusions. Statistical analysis suggests that MgAl2O4 and MgO may coexist in inclusion. After etching, it is found that Mg-bearing inclusions can induce the nucleation of intragranular acicular ferrites. Based on EDS line analysis and comparison with Al-Mn-Si-O inclusion in non-Mg-treated sample, this effect can be explained by Mn-depletion zone (MDZ), which is due to the vacancy property and crystal structure of MgAl2O4. In the same sample, similar induced nucleation effect and MDZ are not observed around pure MnS. This comparison implies that the formation of MDZ may be independent of MnS precipitation.