Petr Kawulok

A simple methodology was used for calculating the equivalent strain values during forming the sample alternately in two mutually perpendicular directions. This method reflects an unexpected material flow out of the nominal deformation zone when forming on the MAXStrain II device. Thus it was possible to perform two temperature variants of the simulation of continuous rolling and cooling of a long product made of steel containing 0.17% C and 0.80% Mn. Increasing the finishing temperature from 900°C to 950°C and decreasing the cooling rate from 10°C/s to 5°C/s led to a decrease in the content of acicular ferrite and bainite and an increase in the mean grain size of proeutectoid ferrite from about 8 µm to 14 µm. The result was a change in the hardness of the material by 15%.

It is not realistic to optimize the roll pass design of profile rolling mills, which typically roll hundreds of profiles, using physical modelling or operational rolling. The use of reliable models of microstructure evolution is preferable here. Based on the mathematical equations describing the microstructure evolution during hot rolling, a modified microstructure evolution model was presented that better accounts for the influence of strain-induced precipitation (SIP) on the kinetics of static recrystallization. The time required for half of the structure to soften, t_0.5, by static recrystallization was calculated separately for both situations in which strain-induced precipitation occurred or did not occur. On this basis, the resulting model was more sensitive to the description of grain coarsening in the high-rolling-temperature region, which is a consequence of the rapid progress of static recrystallization and the larger interpass times during rolling on cross-country and continuous mills. The modified model was verified using a plain strain compression test (PSCT) simulation of rolling a 100-mm-diameter round bar performed on the Hydrawedge II hot deformation simulator (HDS-20). Four variants of simulations were performed, differing in the rolling temperature in the last four passes. For comparison with the outputs of the modified model, an analysis of the austenite grain size after rolling was performed using optical metallography. For indirect comparison with the model outputs, the SIP initiation time was determined based on the NbX precipitate size distribution obtained by TEM. Using the PSCT and the outputs from the modified microstructure evolution model, it was found that during conventional rolling, strain-induced precipitation occurs after the last pass and thus does not affect the austenite grain size. By lowering the rolling temperature, it was possible to reduce the grain size by up to 56 μm, while increasing the mean flow stress by a maximum of 74%. The resulting grain size for all four modes was consistent with the operating results.

The aim of the paper was to determine the temperature dependence of formability of investigated steels by uniaxial tensile fracture tests under thermomechanical conditions corresponding to punching (1340–1395 °C) and pilger rolling (800–1050 °C) in The Tube Mill TŘINECKÉ ŽELEZÁRNY a.s. The deformation behavior of N1 and 42CrMo4 steels was investigated. In both cases, the effect of the structure on formability was taken into account. In the case of high-temperature examination corresponding to the punching process, the tests were performed on samples taken from the area of the column crystals (i.e. closer to the outer surface of the continuously cast semi-finished product) and also from the area below the column crystals closer to the center. In the case of low-temperature tests corresponding to pilger rolling, the strength-plastic properties were evaluated from an area closer to the inner or closer to the outer surface of the roll after punching. Uniaxial tensile tests to the fracture were performed on the HDS-20 simulator.

By using of hot tensile tests, which were performed on simulator HDS-20, the formability of Invar 36 alloy was investigated. By a special type of a tensile test, involving a continuous control heating of the tested specimens and their simultaneous load by a constant tensile force of 80 N, a nil-strength temperature of investigated alloy 1419 °C was determined. By continuous uniaxial tensile tests to rupture the strength and plastic properties of the Invar 36 alloy were determined in the wide range of deformation temperatures (from 800 °C to 1390 °C) and mean strain rates (from 0.09 s-1 to 75 s-1). On the basis of obtained results the 3D maps were constructed, expressing the dependence of the contractual hot ultimate tensile strength, hot ductility and hot reduction of area of the Invar 36 alloy on the deformation temperature and on the mean strain rate. Based on the determined plastic properties, the nil-ductility temperature of the investigated alloy of 1390 °C was also determined.

The paper deals with the unconventional issue of composite steel preparation by hot rolling. Various production possibilities of multilayer composite from austenitic stainless steel AISI 304 and tool high carbon steel AISI D2 were investigated. Samples with 5, 15 and 45 layers were prepared. Optical microstructural analysis were subsequently performed on these samples with the focus on the details of joint and evaluation of the thicknesses of individual layers. In addition, hardness measurements were performed on the prepared samples, including its comparison with the individual steels used. It was confirmed that the hardness increased with increasing number of layers, however in this case, the difference between 15 and 45 layers was only 8 HBW. In addition it was found that the hardness of the prepared 45-layer packet without quenching was higher than that of the base (used) steels.

Ni-Al-Mo based alloys can be used as materials for high temperature applications. They can be prepared by various techniques such as an electron beam zone melting, which allows us to obtain the alloys with a directionally solidified structure and unique properties. A plasma-melted Ni-Mo master alloy was used for the preparation of the experimental alloys. Ni-Al-Mo alloys were melted in an induction furnace and then cast centrifugally in the form of bars. These bars were then re-melted in the electron beam zone furnace. The structure of these alloys was multi-phase. The structure was formed by the phases Ni₃(Al,Mo) and (Ni) with variable content of molybdenum. The structure also contained particles rich in molybdenum (Mo, MoNi). The alloys were submitted to the compression tests at a temperature of 800 °C. The yield strength of alloys achieved the value of approx. 800 MPa. The different molybdenum content affected the values of the maximal flow stress. The alloys with higher molybdenum content showed higher maximal flow stress, namely approx. 1300 MPa. The results show that these alloys are very promising for the production of structural components operating at elevated temperatures.

The hot deformation behavior of selected non-alloyed carbon steels was investigated by isothermal continuous uniaxial compression tests. Based on the analysis of experimentally determined flow stress curves, material constants suitable for predicting peak flow stress σ_p, peak strain ε_p and critical strain ε_crDRX necessary to induce dynamic recrystallization and the corresponding critical flow stresses σ_crDRX were determined. The validity of the predicted critical strains ε_crDRX was then experimentally verified. Fine dynamically recrystallized grains, which formed at the boundaries of the original austenitic grains, were detected in the microstructure of additionally deformed specimens from low-carbon investigated steels. Furthermore, equations describing with perfect accuracy a simple linear dependence of the critical strain ε_crDRX on peak strain ε_p were derived for all investigated steels. The determined hot deformation activation energy Q decreased with increasing carbon content (also with increasing carbon equivalent value) in all investigated steels. A logarithmic equation described this dependency with reasonable accuracy. Individual flow stress curves of the investigated steels were mathematically described using the Cingara and McQueen model, while the predicted flow stresses showed excellent accuracy, especially in the strains ranging from 0 to ε_p.