Influence of warm-working on quality of AISI 1015 carbon steel

Carmen Medrea-Bichtas1, Gavril Negrea2

1

Technological Education Institute of Pireaus, Department of Physics, Chemistry and Materials Technology, Aigaleo, Athens, Greece, email:medrea@internet.gr
2

Technical University of Cluj-Napoca, Faculty of Materials Science and Engineering, Muncii Avenue 103-105, 3400 Cluj-Napoca, Romania, Abstract
The quality of a low carbon steel depends on its chemical composition and microstructure. For a given chemical composition the properties of the steel depend on the microstructure which, at room temperature, consists of ferrite and pearlite. The finer the ferrite grains, the better the mechanical properties of the steel. This paper presents the influence of warm working parameters on microstructure and hardness of a low carbon steel (AISI 1015). Samples were subjected to torsion tests at different temperatures from 500 oC to 700 oC in order to study their microstructure and mechanical properties .The microstructure of the samples was investigated by optical microscopy and quantitative microscopy and the hardness was measured by Vickers method. The quality of warm worked steel could be compared with the normalized steel. The results did shown that the warm working can represent an efficient method for refining the structure of low carbon steel and can lead to the improvement of quality of this material.

Keywords: warm-working, carbon steel, mechanical properties; microstructure 1. Introduction The low carbon steels are delivered, mainly, in normalized condition. Their properties, including the mechanical characteristics, depend on the chemical composition and microstructure. Low carbon steels present, at room temperature, a microstructure consisting of ferrite and pearlite grains [1]. The mechanical characteristics of ferrite-pearlite microstructure are strongly influenced by the ferrite grain size. The finer the ferrite grains, the better the mechanical properties of these steels . A series of methods can be applied in order to refine the ferrite-pearlite microstructure: modification of the chemical composition [2], normalizing [3], plastic deformation by controlled rolling [4], rapid cooling [5] and plastic deformation at warm temperature [68]. Situated between cold- and hot-working, the warm-working process becomes more and more interesting due to the advantages that it presents. During warm-working of low carbon steels, various microstructural changes may occur and alter the final mechanical properties [9]. There have been published many studies on the behaviour of low carbon steels during warm-working. Suitable conditions for warm forging and rolling have been considered, dynamic strain aging during wire drawing and its effect on flow behaviour was investigated, and prediction of flow behaviour have been made [10]. Flow behaviour of low carbon steels at different temperatures has been studied in several works and based on compression experiments [10]. Although, there are other studies dealing with warm working of steels, many aspects of this process have not been thoroughly investigated. This paper presents the influence of warm-working by torsion on the microstructure and hardness of a low carbon steel. The advantages of warm-working as compared to hot-working are also assessed . 1

2. Experimental Details The experiments were conducted on AISI 1015 carbon steel. The samples, with the geometry presented in figure 1 (deformation zone - 8 x 36 mm), were cut from normalized hot- rolled bars and subjected to torsion testing at different temperatures from 550 oC up to 700 oC. The temperature was increased in steps of 25 oC. To compare the deformation behaviour in the warm and hot temperature ranges, several torsion tests were also performed at 1000 oC. The samples were heated by induction to desired temperature. All the tests were carried out on a home-build machine which allows for precise measurements of the sample temperature, torque, rotation angle and axial force. The microstructure of the samples was investigated by optical microscopy and quantitative microscopy and their hardness was measured by Vickers method. For quantitative microscopy it was used an automated image analyser type Epiquand. M 12

36

8
136
Figure 1: Sample shape and dimensions.

The quantitative microscopy analysis was based on the premise that inclusions are uniformly distributed, have the same geometrical shape and differ only in size . The study is based on Cavalieri-Aker principle[11] according to which the proportion of a phase in 1 mm3 is equal to the proportion of the phase considered in 1 mm2. Thus, the volume fraction of phases can be deduced form the statistical estimation of linear fraction of respective phases. The metallographic specimens were cut such as to allow for microscopic analysis in two directions: x, parallel to the rolling direction, and y perpendicular to the rolling direction (figure 2). The field of investigation had dimensions of 4x4 mm. The results of the measurements were processed by a computer as to extract the linear size of ferrite and pearlite grains [12]: _ L P,F l P ,F = ------(2.1) _ N P,F where:- l P ,F is the average linear size of pearlite and ferrite grains [m] -LP,F is the total length of the line that crosses pearlite and, respectively, ferrite grains [m] -N P,F is the total number of pearlite and, respectively, ferrite grains. 2

Investigated surface b b/2

Rolling direction

Figure 2. Schematic draw of a plastically deformed sample and location of the specimen cut for microscopic analysis .

From the total number of grains of a phase from the field of analysis, 1000 grains are distributed in 13 grain size classes [13]. Pearlite particles that are finer where distributed in the 1,0 ... 90, 5 m classes, while the ferrite particles were distributed in the classes 2,0 ... 181,0 m. For the sake of simplicity, it was chosen a graphic representation with equal intervals in which the particle size classes are represented in geometrical progression with the ratio of 1.41. By cumulating the frequencies indicated in a statistic-logarithmic coordinate scale the Henry's line is obtained [14]. Henry's line demonstrates the normality of a distribution and allows for analysis of the homogeneity of the lot of grains subjected to analysis. 3. Results and Discussion The influence of temperature and torsion speed on deformation behaviour (resistance to deformation (d) and deformability (ntc)) is shown in figure 3.
2] Resistance to deformation ( ) [N/mm

15 130 120 110 100 90 80 70 60 550 600 650 700 5 10

tc

v = 0.25 s-1 v = 1.39 s-1

v = 0.25 s-1 v = 1.39 s-1

Initial temperature

[oC]

Figure 3. The influence of temperature and torsion speed on the resistance to deformation and deformability.

Note: The reference temperature reported throughout the text represents the initial temperature of the sample. The actual average temperature of the sample during the tests 3

Deformability (n )

tc

was found to be higher than initial value by 26 - 34 oC, depending on initial temperature and rotation speed. By increasing the temperature from 550 oC to 675 oC, the shear stress decreases by a factor of almost 2, from 115,53 to 65 N/mm 2. The reduction of the resistance to deformation is more pronounced in the temperature interval 550 625 oC due to completion of recrystallization process. If at 550 oC, the sample structure is just restored, at 700 oC the structure is completely recrystallized. The small increase of the resistance to deformation at 700 oC is due to the fact that the actual average temperature of the sample exceeded A1 temperature. By increasing the torsion speed, in other words - the strain rate, the resistance to deformation increases significantly. However, compared to hot-working at 1000 oC, the resistance to deformation at 675 oC is two times higher (65 and 31,2 N/mm 2, respectively), but it is incomparably lower than the resistance to cold-working[15] . The deformability of the sample, as assessed by the number of torsions before breaking, increases with increasing temperature and torsion speed. For a given temperature, both, resistance to deformation and deformability, increase by increasing the strain rate as shown in figure 4.

2] Resistance to deformation ) ( [N/mm

120 110 100 90 80

12
tc

10

t =625 oC
d

70 0.0 0.5 1.0 1.5 2.0 2.5 3.0

Torsion speed (v) [s -1]

Figure 4. The influence of torsion speed on the resistance to deformation and deformability at 625 oC.

The warm-working leads to a finer microstructure, characterized by a globular aspect with pearlite homogeneously distributed in the ferrite matrix (Fig. 5). In the case of warm-working at 550 oC, the resulting microstructure has very fine grains but it is strain hardened, with less defined grain boundaries (Fig. 5 a). Increasing the working temperature to 600 oC allows for simultaneous evolution of strain hardening and recrystallization processes. The grains are very fine, partially recrystallyzed (Fig. 5 b). After warm working at 650 oC, the microstructure is completely recrystallized and has a very fine and uniform aspect (Fig. 5 c). A further increase 4

Deformability (n )

tc

of the initial temperature of the sample to 700 oC resulted in a slight increase of the grains, but the microstructure remained essentially fine and uniform. The microstructure of the samples after warm working is much finer as compared to the

(a)

(b)

Average linear grain size, m

(c)

(d)

Figure 5. The microstructure of the samples after warm working at different temperatures (a 550 o C, b 600 oC and c 650 oC) and in the initial, as-supplied condition (d - normalized after hotrolling).

Ferrite Pearlite

initial microstructure of the steel in the as-supplied condition (normalized, Fig. 5 d), suggesting that the mechanical properties of the steel after warm working are also superior to those obtained after normalizing. Figure 6 shows the analysis of the average linear size of pearlite and ferrite grains as a function of the working temperature. The pearlite presents a low sensitivity to the deformation temperature in the 600 - 700 oC range (fig. 6 continuous line). With increasing the deformation temperature the size of ferrite grains, that is more ductile, presents a pronounced decrease (fig. 6 - dashed line). The analysis of Henry's line for pearlite grains (Fig. 7) indicates a 5

Deformation temperature, oC

Figure 6. The average linear size of ferrite and pearlite grains as a function of deformation temperature

normal grain size distribution (Gaussian). The small relative modification of the lines orientation with the deformation temperature confirms the dimensional stability of the pearlite grains in the investigated temperature range. The hardness of the samples after warm working decreased with increasing the

Distribution frecquency %

600 oC 650 oC 700 oC 1000 oC

Relative size of pearlite grains, m Figure 7. The size distribution of pearlite grains for diffrent deformation temperatures.

deformation temperature as shown in Fig. 8. It can be seen that in the temperature range 550 675 oC, the average hardness varies from 153 to 134 HV which is about 10 to 30% higher

Vickers Hardness [HV]

150

140

130 550 600 650

Initial temperature [oC]

Figure 8. Influence of the initial temperature on the hardness of the sample after 6 torsion tests.

4. Conclusions Based on the torsion tests carried out in the temperature range from 550 to 700 oC on AISI 1015 carbon steel, the following conclusion can be drawn: The optimal deformation temperature is 625 to 675 oC. In this temperature range, the warm-working requires smallest deformation energy and allows for maximum deformation ratios to be achieved. The strain rate has a significant influence on plastic behavior of the material. Both, resistance to deformation and deformability, increase with increasing the strain rate. Resistance to deformation and deformability, increase with increasing the strain rate. Microstructure obtained by normalizing the material after hot rolling, with advantageous consequences on the mechanical properties. The results obtained in this study show that warm-working offers a viable alternative to cold and hot working processes. References
[1] I.Hrisulakis1,D. Pandelis2, Hardening methods for metallic materials" Science and Technology of Metallic Materials, Papasotiriu Publishing House, pp.427-429, Athens, (Greece), 1996. [2] G.Vermesan1,Guide for Heat Treatments, Dacia Publishing House, pp.167-172 Cluj-Napoca, (Romania), 1987. [3] T.Dulamita1,et.al., Normalizing, Technology of Heat Treatments, Editura Didactica si Pedagogica, pp.108-121,Bucharest, (Romania), 1982. [4] A.J.DeArdo1, C.I.,Garcia2, E.J.,Palmiere3, "Thermo mechanical Processing of Steels" Handbook of Heat Treating , ASM International, pp. 237, 1991. [5] A.Canonico1, Accelerated cooling for carbon steels for pressure vessels, Welding Journal, No. 9, pp. 400-406,September 1961. [6] I.Dragan1,N, Boer2, Some aspects regarding warm-stamping, Machine Building, No. 10, pp. 493498,Octomber, 1976. [7] P.RCetlin1,S. Yue2,J.J.Jonas3,Warm Working of Ferrite in the Simulated Rod Rolling of IF Steels , Materials Science Forum, Vol.113/115, p.405, 1993. [8] M.C.Chaturvedi1,Y.Han,Y.,Effect of Cold and Warm Working on the Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of Alloy 718, Materials Science and Engineering, Vol. A 156, No. 1, pp.53-58, 1992, [9] C.Medrea-Bichtas1,G.Negrea2,S.Domsa3,Influence of warm working parameters on deformation behaviour and microstructure of AISI 1015 carbon steel ,International Journal for manufacturing science and technology,Vol.4 ,No 2,pp38-44,2003, [10]S.Serajzadeh1,Prediction of Flow Behaviour during Warm Working,The Iron and Steel Institute of Japan(ISIJ)International,Vol.44, No. 11, pp.1867-1873,2004 [11]R.T de Hoff1, Microscopie Quantitative, Masson Publishing House,pp.34-45,1972. [12]* * *, Aplikationzeitschift des VEB, Jenas Journal, No 5, pp.12-15, Karl Zeis Jena und der Angeschlossenen Betriebe(Austria), May , 1978. [13] K.Kostaki1,G.Kostaki2,H.Kostaki,3,Statistical methods for analysis of experimental results, Statistics Kostaki Publishing, p. 61-148, Athens (Greece), 2002. [14] F.Vasiliu1,N.Verciuc2,Writing Methods of analysis on quality of products , Editura Ceres, pp. 6165,pp.148, Bucharest (Romania), 1983.