Phase-transformation and precipitation kinetics in vanadium micro-alloyed steels by in-situ, simultaneous neutron diffraction and SANS

In-situ Neutron Diffraction and Small-Angle Neutron Scattering (SANS) are employed for the first time simultaneously in order to reveal the interaction between the austenite to ferrite phase transformation and the precipitation kinetics during isothermal annealing at 650 and at 700 °C in three steels with different vanadium (V) and carbon (C)...

Influence of martensite/austenite interfaces on bainite formation in low-alloy steels below M_s

Bainite formation in steels typically starts at austenite grain boundaries and continues through nucleation of bainite at newly formed bainitic ferrite/austenite interfaces. Recent experimental evidence has pointed out that austenite to bainite transformation can also proceed in the presence of martensite. Studies suggest that the presence of...

Furnace for in situ and simultaneous studies of nano-precipitates and phase transformations in steels by SANS and neutron diffraction

Interphase precipitation occurring during solid-state phase transformations in micro-alloyed steels is generally studied through transmission electron microscopy, atom probe tomography, and ex situ measurements of Small-Angle Neutron Scattering (SANS). The advantage of SANS over the other two characterization techniques is that SANS allows...

Unravelling the mechanical behaviour of advanced multiphase steels isothermally obtained below M_s

The initial formation of athermal martensite was proven to accelerate the subsequent bainite formation kinetics during isothermal holdings below the martensite-start temperature (M_s). The presence of prior athermal martensite (PAM) within the phase mixture is expected to modify the overall mechanical response of these newly...

Evolution of the precipitate composition during annealing of vanadium micro-alloyed steels by in-situ SANS

In-situ Small-Angle Neutron Scattering (SANS) is used to determine the time evolution of the chemical composition of precipitates at 650 °C and 700 °C in three micro-alloyed steels with different vanadium (V) and carbon (C) concentrations. Precipitates with a distribution of substoichiometric carbon-to-metal ratios are measured in all steels....

Interaction of precipitation with austenite-to-ferrite phase transformation in vanadium micro-alloyed steels

The precipitation kinetics of vanadium carbides and its interaction with the austenite-to-ferrite phase transformation is studied in two micro-alloyed steels that differ in vanadium and carbon concentrations by a factor of two, but have the same vanadium-to-carbon atomic ratio of 1:1. Dilatometry is used for heat-treating the specimens and...

Influence of the prior athermal martensite on the mechanical response of advanced bainitic steel

The accelerated formation of bainite in presence of martensite is opening a new processing window for the steel industry. However, for a feasible industrial implementation, it is necessary to determine the mechanical behaviour of the steels developed under such conditions. This study focuses on analysing the effects of the formation of...

Characterization of bainitic/martensitic structures formed in isothermal treatments below the M_s temperature

Advanced Multiphase High Strength Steels are generally obtained by applying isothermal treatments around the martensite start temperature (M_s). Previous investigations have shown that bainitic ferrite can form from austenite in isothermal treatments below M_s, where its formation kinetics is accelerated by the presence of...