Journal of Metals, Materials and Minerals, Vol.20 No.3 pp.

37-41, 2010

Effect of Normalizing Temperature and Time on Microstructures and

Mechanical Properties of Hot Rolled Steel Strip for Gas Cylinder Production

Sorachai PITAKKORRARAS1*, Pongsatorn TANGROEKWARASAKUL1

and Nuntawat CHOKECHAITHANANAN1
1
Sahaviriya Steel Industries Public Co. Ltd., Prachuabkirikhan 77140, Thailand

Abstract

Normalizing heat treatment was applied to the hot rolled steel strip used for gas cylinder production
with various temperatures, 860-960°C, and time, 10-40 minutes. It was observed that with increasing
temperature and time, the strength decreased. The ferrite decarburization at the surface of the strip occurred
at a temperature of 860°C due to the fact that the steel was soaked at this temperature at which the
microstructure of the steel develops into ferrite and austenite duplex phase. The carbon depletion was
confirmed by micro hardness profile and EPMA mapping analysis. Ferrite and pearlite structure can be
observed at 900°C while acicular ferrite occurred at a higher temperature. Oxide scale thickness and phase
determination were also observed.

Key words: Hot rolled steel, Gas cylinder, Normalizing

Introduction
on the base steel properties and microstructures of
Hot rolled steel strip is one of the important base steel to acquire the steel properties suitable for
raw materials for petroleum pressure vessels gas cylinder production.
production, especially for liquid petroleum gas
(LPG) for household usage. Normalizing heat Materials and Experimental Procedures
treatment is carried out to produce uniform, fine
ferrite/pearlite microstructures in the steel(1) and The steel 245NB with average composition
reduce compositional segregation thus improving the shown in Table 1 was used in this investigation and
properties of HAZ and weldment.(2) Since minimum requirement of mechanical properties are
normalizing is conducted, weldment and HAZ are shown in Table 2. Steel with this composition was
improved, however, the properties of base steel are hot rolled to be a strip with 2.65mm thickness.
changed from the original hot rolled steel strip Finishing and coiling temperature was 870°C and
properties. Hot rolled steel strip properties are 540°C, respectively. In addition, coiling temperature
required to be controlled both before and after 650°C was applied on hot rolled strip to determine
normalizing in order to control the mechanical the effect of coiling temperature on the mechanical
properties of base steel to remain unchanged or properties of normalized steel samples.
only small deviation from the original properties and
finally meet the customer specification. Therefore, Table 1. Chemical composition of steel.(wt%)
suitable hot rolling temperature and normalizing
%C %Mn %Si %P %S %Al %Fe
condition is necessary to be carried out.
Steel
0.13 0.76 0.019 0.011 0.005 0.042 bal
There are some reports about the effect of 245NB
normalizing heat treatment on the mechanical
properties and microstructure of the steel.(3-4) Table 2. Mechanical properties requirement of P245NB
However, an investigation of the mechanical as per EN10120.
properties and microstructure of low carbon steel
strip for gas cylinder production is a specific case Yield Strength Tensile Elongation
and is necessary to be studied. Therefore, this study (MPa) Strength (MPa) (%)
Steel
focused on the effect of normalizing heat treatment 245NB
245 360-450 26

*Corresponding author Tel: +66 3269 1403; Fax: +66 3269 1408; E-mail: sorachaip@ssi-steel.com
38
PITAKKORRARAS, S. et al.

In order to investigate the mechanical both at the surface and center of the strip (Figures
properties and microstructure of steel strip, samples 2(c), 2(d) and 3).
were then normalized using heating furnace in air
atmosphere. Steel samples were preheated to 10 min 20 min 30 min 40 min
650°C for 30 minutes and then heated to 860, 900,
940 and 960°C with various soaking time which
were 10, 20, 30 and 40 minutes in each temperature
and then cooled in air (Figure 1).
Temperature
(°C)
860, 900, 940,
960 °C

10, 20, 30, 40

650 °C, minutes (a) 860 °C
30 minutes
Cool in air
10 min 20 min 30 min 40 min

Time
(minutes)
Figure 1. Heat cycle of normalizing of steel strip.

After these treatments, tensile tests were

carried out by a universal testing machine using
EN10002-1 specimens to investigate the mechanical
properties. Metallographic samples were prepared (b) 900 °C
and etched in 2% nital to reveal the microstructure.
In addition, hardness profile in through-thickness 10 min 20 min 30 min 40 min
direction was carried out by using micro-Vickers
hardness 10g load and 10 seconds dwell time.

Electron probe micro analysis was used to

observe the carbon and other elements distribution
along through-thickness direction. Moreover, phase
determination of scale on the surface of the steel
strip was carried out and oxide scale layer thickness
was also measured.
(b) 940 °C
Results and Discussion

Effect of Normalizing Temperature and Time on 10 min 20 min 30 min 40 min

Microstructure of Hot Rolled Strip Sample

The microstructure of normalized steel at

various temperature and time is presented in Figure
2. It is found that the ferrite decarburization occurs
at the surface of the strip at the normalizing
temperature 860°C (Figure 2(a)). The decarburizing
depth was in range between 15-40 micrometers.
At 900°C, polygonal ferrite and pearlite microstructure 50micron
is found (Figure 2(b)). At higher normalizing temperature, (d) 960 °C
940 and 960°C, acicular ferrite can be observed Figure 2. Microstructure at the strip surface, normalized
among the polygonal ferrite and pearlite structure at (a) 860°C (b) 900°C (c) 940°C (d) 960 °C
at various soaking time
 39
Effect of Normalizing Temperature and Time on Microstructures and Mechanical Properties
of Hot Rolled Steel Strip for Gas Cylinder Production

It can be explained that ferrite decarburization 210

Decarburization Layer
occurred at the surface of the strip due to the steel
was soaking at the temperature at which the 190
microstructure of the steel becomes ferrite and

Hardness (HV)
austenite duplex phase.(3) This is confirmed by the
calculation of A3 of this steel using the equation 1(5) 170

which A3 is about 840-860°C.

150
A3 = 910 − 203 • (%C ) − 15.2 • (% Ni ) + 44.7 • (% Si) (1) 860°C 900°C
+ 104 • (%V ) + 31.5 • (% Mo) + 13.1 • (%W ) 940°C 960°C
130
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35
Where %X means concentration of X element in mass % Distance from Surface (Micrometers)

Moreover, Vickers hardness profile (Figure 4)

and EPMA investigation result confirm that carbon Figure 4. Micro-Vickers hardness profile of steel sample,
10 minutes soaking time at various temperatures.
depletion occurs at the surface of the strip (Figure 5).
EPMA mapping analysis shows that at the surface
of the strip, less carbon content appears than the
inner part. In addition, Vickers hardness profile Decarburized Layer
gives the same trends of carbon depletion at the
surface of the strip which is less hardness value
than inner part of strip.

Figure 5. EPMA mapping analysis of normalized steel

sample, 860 °C, 10 minutes soaking time.

In addition, microstructure of steel surface

reveals that oxide scale which formed on the outer
surface of the specimens becomes thicker with
increasing temperature from 860°C to 940°C
(a) (Figure 6(a)). It is also observed that oxide scale
thickness increases considerably when normalizing
temperature is reached 960°C. In the meantime,
oxide scale thickness increases a little when
increasing soaking time (Figure 6(b)).
p
100

80
Thickness (microns)

60

40

(b) 50 μm 20

Figure 3. Acicular ferrite in mixture with polygonal 0

ferrite and pearlite, normalized at (a) 960°C, 840 860 880 900 920 940 960 980
10 minutes soaking time (b) 960°C, 40 minutes Norm alizing Tem perature (°C)

soaking time.
(a) 10 minutes soaking time
40
PITAKKORRARAS, S. et al.
25
both in the surface and inner part of strip (Figures
2(d) and 3).
22.5
Thickness (microns)

20
Effect of Strip Coiling Temperature on Tensile
Properties of Normalized Steel Strip
17.5
The tensile strength of steel strip, which
15
was hot rolled and coiled at 650°C, slightly
0 10 20 30 40 50 decreases when coiling temperature is increased as
Norm alizing Tim e (m inutes)
normalized at 900°C. However, at 960°C, tensile
(b) Normalized at 900 °C strength is quite not changed when increasing
coiling temperature (Figure 10). In the meantime,
Figure 6. Scale layer thickness (a) 10 minutes at various yield strength tends to decrease when increasing
temperatures (b) 900°C at various soaking time. coiling temperature (Figure 11).
430
Besides the microstructure of normalized
steel samples, cross sectional samples analysis was 425

carried out to determine the phase of oxide scale

Tensile Strength (MPa)
420 860°C
and scale layer thickness. Electron micrograph 900°C
940°C
shows that mixture of Magnetite (Fe3O4) and 415
960°C
Hematite (Fe2O3) are observed (Figure 7). This 410
oxide scale characteristic is quite similar to those
occurs in hot rolled steel strip, which temperature 405

is below 500 °C.(6) 400

0 10 20 30 40 50
Time (Minute)
Fe2O3
Figure 8. Tensile strength of hot rolled steel sample
normalized at 860-960°C, soaking time 10-
40 minutes.
Fe3O4
365
360

355
Yield Strength (MPa)

350
860°C
345
900°C
340 940°C
Steel Matrix 960°C
335
330
325
320

315
Figure 7. Electron micrograph of oxide scale layer, 0 10 20 30 40 50
normalized at 960°C and 40 minutes soaking time. Time (Minute)

Effect of Normalizing Temperature and Time on Figure 9. Yield strength of hot rolled steel sample
Tensile Properties of Hot Rolled Steel Strip Samples normalized at 860-960°C, soaking time 10-
40 minutes.
Tensile and yield strength of steel strip
decrease when increasing normalizing temperature. 425
Normalized 900 °C - 10 minutes
This is also similar when holding time is increased, 420
Tensile Strength (MPa)

tensile and yield strength tends to decrease (Figures 8 415

and 9). All of these mechanical properties value are 410
still conformed to the product specification. 405
However, a slightly increasing of tensile and yield Normalized 900 °C - 40 minutes
400
strength when holding time is 40 minutes at 960°C
395
can be observed. This can be affected from the
high amount of acicular ferrite occurred in the steel 390
540 650
Coiling Temperature (°C)
 41
Effect of Normalizing Temperature and Time on Microstructures and Mechanical Properties
of Hot Rolled Steel Strip for Gas Cylinder Production

425
at 960°C can be observed. This can be affected
420
Normalized 960 °C - 40 minutes from the high amount of acicular ferrite occurred in
Tensile Strength (MPa)

415 the steel both in the surface and inner part of strip.
410
Normalized 960 °C - 10 minutes 3) The tensile strength of steel strip, which
405 was hot rolled and coiled at 650°C, slightly
400 decreases when coiling temperature is increased as
395 normalized at 900°C. However, at 960°C, tensile
390 strength is quite not changed when increasing coiling
540
Coiling Temperature (°C)
650
temperature. Yield strength tends to decrease when
increasing coiling temperature.
Figure 10. Tensile strength of hot rolled steel sample 4) Oxide scale formed on the outer surface
with different coiling temperature (540 and of the specimens became thicker with increasing
650°C).
temperature. Remarkable increase of oxide scale
360 layer thickness was observed at temperature 960°C.
350
Normalized 900 °C - 10 minutes
In the meantime, oxide scale thickness increased a
little when increasing soaking time.
Yield Strength (MPa)

340

330
Normalized 900 °C - 40 minutes
Acknowledgements
320

310 The authors would like to thank Prof.

300
Takateru Umeda, and Mr. Thinnakorn Phadungwong,
540 650 executive advisor and assistant vice president of
Coiling Temperature (°C)
Sahaviriya Steel PCL for giving valued advice.
360

350
References
Normalized 960 °C - 10 minutes
Yield Strength (MPa)

340
1. Krauss, G. (2006). Steels: processing, structure,
330 and performance (2nd ed.). Materials Park,
320 OH : ASM International: pp. 253.
Normalized 960 °C - 40 minutes
310
2. William, F.S. (2004). Foundations of materials
science and engineering (3rd ed.). Mcgraw-
300
540 650
Coiling Temperature (°C)
Hill : pp. 455-456.
Figure 11. Yield strength of hot rolled steel sample with
3. Nomura, M., Morimoto, H. & Toyama, M. (2000).
different coiling temperature (540 and 650°C).
Calculation of ferrite decarburizing depth,
considering chemical composition of steel and
Conclusions
heating condition. ISIJ Int. 40(6) : 619-623.
1) Ferrite decarburization occurred at the
4. Fukui, T. & Tokihiro, Y. (1966). Effect of
surface of the strip at the normalizing temperature
carbon content on 750°C decarburization
860°C which decarburizing depth was in range
structure of a plain carbon steel. Memoirs
between 15-40 micrometers. Ferrite decarburization
of the Faculty of Engineering, Yamaguchi
occurred at the surface of the strip due to the steel
University. 17(3) : 49-56
was soaking at the temperature at which the
microstructure of the steel became ferrite and
5. Panigrahi, B.K. (2001). Processing of low carbon
austenite duplex phase. At 900°C, polygonal ferrite
steel plate and hot strip-an overview. Bull.
and pearlite microstructure was observed while at
Mater. Sci. 24(4) : 361-371.
940 and 960°C, acicular ferrite occurred in mixture
with polygonal ferrite and pearlite.
6. Ginzburg, V.B. (1989). Steel rolling technology:
2) Tensile and yield strength of steel strip
theory and practice. New York, NY: Marcel
decreased when increasing normalizing temperature
Dekker Inc: pp.483-484.
and time. However, a slightly increasing of tensile
and yield strength when holding time is 40 minutes