The effect of processing conditions and cooling rate on the microstructure and properties of API X-70 and API X-100 steels

• Main Author: Salem, Mohamed Muftah
• Published: University of Sheffield 2011
• Subjects: 669.95142
• Online Access: http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.555392

This research employed a novel physical deformation simulator to evaluate the effect of different processing condition parameters and cooling rates (C.R) and their influence on the variability of microstructure and mechanical properties of X-70 and X. 100 grade line pipe steels. A series of plane strain compression (PSC) tests were designed to simulate the thermomechanical controlled processing (TMCP) of plate rolling, with the influence of finishing temperature and C.R being of particular interest. A multipass deformation schedule at a strain rate of70 s' with constant delay times of 4 and 10 seconds were used in this work, and a total of two different deformation temperatures, that is 950 and 850°C, were used in the present, experiments, in which multipass isothermal and non-isothermal deformation took place, after which cooling commenced at one of three possible rates, 0.05, 6, or 15°C/s. A complete microstructural characterization of the as-received and processed material conducted using characterization techniques such as optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and electron back scattered diffraction (EBSD) analysis, The results of the TMCP simulation with the PSC tests of HSLA steel showed that it was a very complex process with many parameters that need to be controlled throughout the process history. The key for optimum TMCP was the understanding of the microalloying behaviour at the different temperature and strain conditions. Grain refinement, which was the main aim in producing a high performing HSLA steel, could be achieved by the increasing the effective grain boundary per unit volume (Sv) in the prior austenite during the steel rolling stage. Higher S, values could be achieved by proper selection of rolling temperatures below the recrystallisation stop temperature (Ts%) with sufficient strain, The S, could be further optimized with the proper microalloying additions. Microalloying elements play an important role not only to increase the S, of the austenite during the rolling stage, but also to further stabilizes the ferrite nucleation and growth during the cooling stage. The analysed specimens also showed that the cooling rate after thermomechanical processing has a great influence on the final evolved constituents and ferrite grain diameter; where in most cases samples cooled at faster cooling rates even when applied to API X-70 steel grades with existing chemical composition, these cooling rates produced a refined non-polygonal and/or polygonal ferrite shape. The hardness and tensile testing were conducted on the thermomechanically processed specimens as well. These tests showed that the TMCP could enhance the performance of microalloyed steel when advanced parameters were used. This later statement was proven by the ability to enhance the X-70 steel mechanical properties by applying carefully selected TMCP and accelerated cooling parameters on the original composition.