The effect of Nb on the strain rate and temperature dependent behaviour of quenching & partitioning steels

Journal article (2021)

Authors

F. Vercruysse Universiteit Gent
Carola Celada-Casero Tata Steel Europe Limited, Team Maria Santofimia Navarro - Mechanical, Maritime and Materials Engineering
B. Linke ThyssenKrupp Steel Europe AG
P. Verleysen Universiteit Gent
R.H. Petrov Team Kevin Rossi - Mechanical, Maritime and Materials Engineering , Universiteit Gent
Research Group
Team Kevin Rossi (Mechanical, Maritime and Materials Engineering) (TU Delft)
Austenite stability Dynamic properties Microalloying Quenching and Partitioning steel
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Published Date

2021

Language

English

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Faculty

Mechanical, Maritime and Materials Engineering

Department

Materials Science and Engineering

Research Group

Team Kevin Rossi

Abstract

In present study, the potential of Niobium (Nb) to improve the mechanical properties of Quenched and Partitioning (Q&P) steels is investigated. To this purpose, the effect of the addition of Nb on the microstructure and mechanical properties of a Q&P steel was thoroughly analysed with special attention on the thermal stability of the retained austenite. The mechanical properties of the Nb Q&P steel were determined using static and dynamic tensile tests and compared to the properties of a Nb free Q&P steel. Additionally, the effect of test temperature was quantified by static and dynamic tests in the temperature range from −40 °C to +80 °C. It was found that the Nb induced grain refinement together with the stabilising effect of Nb on the retained austenite, resulted in an excellent low temperature behaviour of the Nb Q&P steel. Additionally, the high temperature, dynamic behaviour of the Nb micro-alloyed steel was improved with respect to the Nb free steel due to the presence of a large fraction of retained austenite with low thermal stability.