Effect of Zr Microalloying on Austenite Grain Size of Low-Carbon Steels

Minghao Shi, Rangasayee Kannan, Jian Zhang, Xiaoguang Yuan, Leijun Li

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

13 Scopus citations

Abstract

The effect of microalloying addition of Zr on the characteristics of inclusions and prior austenite grain sizes following a quench heat treatment has been investigated for two custom-made steels. The average size of particles in the Zr-containing steel is found to be the same as the Zr-free steel (0.49 μm). However, the number of smaller particles in the Zr-containing steel is much higher than the Zr-free steel. The inclusions in the Zr-containing steel are composed of ZrO2-TiN-MnS, and inclusions in the Zr-free steel are consisted of TiOx-Ti(C,N). The average prior austenite grain size of the Zr-containing steel is consistently smaller than that of the Zr-free steel, due to a large number of fine oxide inclusions and Ti(C,N) precipitates, working to pin the austenite grain boundaries at temperatures up to 1673 K (1400 °C). The grain refinement mechanisms by inclusions through the addition of Zr are discussed via thermodynamic and kinetic calculations.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)2574-2585
Number of pages12
JournalMetallurgical and Materials Transactions B: Process Metallurgy and Materials Processing Science
Volume50
Issue number6
DOIs
StatePublished - Dec 1 2019
Externally publishedYes

Funding

Minghao Shi gratefully acknowledges the financial support from China Scholarship Council.

FundersFunder number
China Scholarship Council

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