The Effect of Nb on the Continuous Cooling Transformation Curves of Ultra-Thin Strip CASTRIP© Steels

The effect of Nb on the hardenability of ultra-thin cast strip (UCS) steels produced via the unique regime of rapid solidification, large austenite grain size, and inclusion engineering of the CASTRIP© process was investigated. Continuous cooling transformation (CCT) diagrams were constructed for 0,...

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Main Authors: Kristin R. Carpenter, Chris R. Killmore
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2015-10-01
Series:Metals
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.mdpi.com/2075-4701/5/4/1857
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author Kristin R. Carpenter
Chris R. Killmore
author_facet Kristin R. Carpenter
Chris R. Killmore
author_sort Kristin R. Carpenter
collection DOAJ
description The effect of Nb on the hardenability of ultra-thin cast strip (UCS) steels produced via the unique regime of rapid solidification, large austenite grain size, and inclusion engineering of the CASTRIP© process was investigated. Continuous cooling transformation (CCT) diagrams were constructed for 0, 0.014, 0.024, 0.04, 0.06 and 0.08 wt% Nb containing UCS steels. Phase nomenclature for the identification of lower transformation product in low carbon steels was reviewed. Even a small addition of 0.014 wt% Nb showed a potent effect on hardenability, shifting the ferrite C-curve to the right and expanding the bainitic ferrite and acicular ferrite phase fields. Higher Nb additions increased hardenability further, suppressed the formation of ferrite to even lower cooling rates, progressively lowered the transformation start and finish temperatures and promoted the transformation of bainite instead of acicular ferrite. The latter was due to Nb suppressing the formation of allotriomorphic ferrite and allowing bainite to nucleate at prior austenite grain boundaries, a lower energy site than that for the intragranular nucleation of acicular ferrite at inclusions. Strength and hardness increased with increasing Nb additions, largely due to microstructural strengthening and solid solution hardening, but not from precipitation hardening.
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spelling doaj.art-c1cd323d003847aea866bbea322b28732022-12-21T19:23:54ZengMDPI AGMetals2075-47012015-10-01541857187710.3390/met5041857met5041857The Effect of Nb on the Continuous Cooling Transformation Curves of Ultra-Thin Strip CASTRIP© SteelsKristin R. Carpenter0Chris R. Killmore1School of Mechanical, Materials & Mechatronic Engineering, University of Wollongong, Northfields Ave, Wollongong 2500, AustraliaManager Hot Rolled Product Development, Sales and Marketing, BlueScope Steel, Five Islands Road, Port Kembla 2505, AustraliaThe effect of Nb on the hardenability of ultra-thin cast strip (UCS) steels produced via the unique regime of rapid solidification, large austenite grain size, and inclusion engineering of the CASTRIP© process was investigated. Continuous cooling transformation (CCT) diagrams were constructed for 0, 0.014, 0.024, 0.04, 0.06 and 0.08 wt% Nb containing UCS steels. Phase nomenclature for the identification of lower transformation product in low carbon steels was reviewed. Even a small addition of 0.014 wt% Nb showed a potent effect on hardenability, shifting the ferrite C-curve to the right and expanding the bainitic ferrite and acicular ferrite phase fields. Higher Nb additions increased hardenability further, suppressed the formation of ferrite to even lower cooling rates, progressively lowered the transformation start and finish temperatures and promoted the transformation of bainite instead of acicular ferrite. The latter was due to Nb suppressing the formation of allotriomorphic ferrite and allowing bainite to nucleate at prior austenite grain boundaries, a lower energy site than that for the intragranular nucleation of acicular ferrite at inclusions. Strength and hardness increased with increasing Nb additions, largely due to microstructural strengthening and solid solution hardening, but not from precipitation hardening.http://www.mdpi.com/2075-4701/5/4/1857CCT diagramsdirect strip castingUCSCASTRIPNb microalloyinghardenabilitybainitic ferritephase nomenclature
spellingShingle Kristin R. Carpenter
Chris R. Killmore
The Effect of Nb on the Continuous Cooling Transformation Curves of Ultra-Thin Strip CASTRIP© Steels
Metals
CCT diagrams
direct strip casting
UCS
CASTRIP
Nb microalloying
hardenability
bainitic ferrite
phase nomenclature
title The Effect of Nb on the Continuous Cooling Transformation Curves of Ultra-Thin Strip CASTRIP© Steels
title_full The Effect of Nb on the Continuous Cooling Transformation Curves of Ultra-Thin Strip CASTRIP© Steels
title_fullStr The Effect of Nb on the Continuous Cooling Transformation Curves of Ultra-Thin Strip CASTRIP© Steels
title_full_unstemmed The Effect of Nb on the Continuous Cooling Transformation Curves of Ultra-Thin Strip CASTRIP© Steels
title_short The Effect of Nb on the Continuous Cooling Transformation Curves of Ultra-Thin Strip CASTRIP© Steels
title_sort effect of nb on the continuous cooling transformation curves of ultra thin strip castrip c steels
topic CCT diagrams
direct strip casting
UCS
CASTRIP
Nb microalloying
hardenability
bainitic ferrite
phase nomenclature
url http://www.mdpi.com/2075-4701/5/4/1857
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