Micro-structure refinement in low carbon high manganese steels through Ti-deoxidation, characterization and effect of secondary deoxidation particles

Naoki Kikuchi, Seiji Nabeshima, Takako Yamashita, Yasuo Kishimoto, Seetharaman Sridhar, Tetsuya Nagasaka

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

28 Scopus citations

Abstract

This paper investigates the effect of de-oxidation inclusions on micro-structure in low carbon (0.07 mass%), high Mn (0.9 mass%) steel. De-oxidation tests were carried out by adding either aluminum (0.05 mass%) or titanium (0.05, 0.03 or 0.015 mass%) to an iron melt in a 400 g-scale vacuum furnace. A Confocal Scanning Laser Microscope (CSLM) was used to evaluate the effect of cooling rate by re-melting and quenching during solidification. Fine secondary de-oxidation particles were obtained in the Ti-killed samples, and the particle density increased with increasing oxygen content, and their size decreased with increasing the cooling rate during solidification. The secondary Ti de-oxidation particles were found to have an effect on microstructure evolution, such as solidifying microstructure, austenite grain growth and austenite decomposition. The de-oxidation particles were examined through FE-TEM and were identified to be TiO, MnTiO 3 and Mn 2TiO 4, in low oxygen ([O]=7 ppm) and high oxygen ([O]=56, 81 ppm) Ti-killed steels respectively, which were qualitatively same as those predicted by thermodynamic calculations. Stabilities of TiO, MnTiO 3 and Mn 2TiO 4 are influenced by Mn presence. Composition change and decomposition of oxide were estimated through thermodynamic calculations. The effect of the particles on ferrite formation was evaluated through thermo-mechanical treatments. TiO was the most effective for promoting ferrite formation through heterogeneous nucleation. The particles contributed to ferrite formation in the following order, TiO>TiN>MnS> MnTiO 3>Ti 2O 3. It was found that the secondary Ti de-oxidation particles work are engulfed by the advancing solid phase during solidification based on analysis with PET (Pushing Engulfment Transition) velocity, particle sizes and solidification rates. The particles at dendrite tips and inter-dendritic regions are likely restraining the molten steel flow resulting in a finer solidification microstructure.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)2019-2028
Number of pages10
JournalISIJ International
Volume51
Issue number12
DOIs
StatePublished - 2011
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Aluminum
  • Confocal-laser-scanning-microscopy
  • De-oxidation
  • Ferrite formation
  • Grain growth
  • Inclusion
  • Low-carbon steel
  • Solidification microstructure
  • Ti-oxide
  • Titanium

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Mechanics of Materials
  • Mechanical Engineering
  • Metals and Alloys
  • Materials Chemistry

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