Effects of microalloying on hot-rolled and cold-rolled Q&P steels

Abstract

Third generation advanced high strength steels (AHSS) have been a major focus in steel development over the last decade. The premise of these types of steel is based on the potential to obtain excellent combinations of strength and ductility with low-alloy compositions by forming mixed microstructures containing retained austenite (RA). The development of heat treatments able to achieve the desired structures and properties, such as quenching and partitioning (Q&P) steels, is driven by new requirements to increase vehicle fuel economy by reducing overall weight while maintaining safety and crashworthiness. Microalloying additions of niobium (Nb) and vanadium (V) in sheet products are known to provide strengthening via grain refinement and precipitation hardening and may influence RA volume fraction and transformation behavior. Additions of microalloying elements in Q&P steels have not been extensively studied to date, however. The objective of the present study was to begin to understand the potential roles of Nb and V in hot-rolled and cold-rolled Q&P steel. For that, a common Q&P steel composition was selected as a Base alloy with 0.2C-1.5Si-2.0Mn (wt. %). Two alloys with an addition of Nb (0.02 and 0.04 wt. %) and one with an addition of V (0.06 wt. %) to the Base alloy were investigated. Both hot-rolled and cold-rolled/annealed Q&P simulations were conducted. In the hot-rolled Q&P study, thermomechanical processing was simulated via hot torsion testing in a Gleeble® 3500, and four coiling temperatures (CT) were chosen. Microstructural evaluation (including RA measurements via electron backscattered diffraction - EBSD) and hardness measurements were performed for all alloys and coiling conditions. The analysis showed that Nb additions led to overall refinement of the prior microstructure. Maximum RA fractions were measured at the 375 °C CT, and microalloying was associated with increased RA in this condition when compared to the Base alloy. A change in austenite morphology from lath-like to blocky with increasing CT was observed. Hardness generally increased with decreasing CT, consistent with the increased fraction of harder phases in the microstructure. For the cold-rolled Q&P study, several combinations of quenching temperature (QT), partitioning temperature (PT), and partitioning time (tp) were examined using heat treatments in salt baths. Uniaxial tensile tests and RA measurements via x-ray diffraction (XRD) were performed for all alloys and heat treatment conditions. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) imaging and EBSD were conducted for a few select conditions. In terms of microstructure, Nb promoted an extensive refinement of the prior austenite grain size. Additions of V and Nb also seemed to affect the morphology of the microstructural constituents. It was observed that V generally increased austenite fractions at lower tp’s, and the Nb-containing alloys had greater austenite fractions in most instances when compared to the Base alloy. Carbon content in austenite was usually increased or maintained with additions of Nb and V. In terms of mechanical properties, V slightly improved strength and elongation when compared to the Base alloy for most conditions. Niobium additions were somewhat more effective in improving ductility.