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Influence of Microalloying Additions (Nb, Ti, Ti/B, V and Mo) on the Microstructure of TWIP Steels

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Abstract

High-Mn austenitic twinning-induced plasticity (TWIP) steels have become nowadays one of the most innovative and attractive materials due to their excellent combination of high strength and high ductility. Along with this, the addition of microalloying elements in the composition of TWIP steels generates a remarkably increase in mechanical properties. The main objective of this research work is to determine the influence of Nb, V, Mo, Ti and Ti/B, as microalloying elements on the microstructure of high-Mn austenitic TWIP steels after as-solutioned and thermomechanical treated conditions. Once melted, TWIP steels were subjected to a homogenization treatment and then hot-rolled with a reduction of 60%. Both processes were carried out at 1200 °C. Afterward, the laminated pieces experimented a solution treatment at 1100 °C and then were water-quenched. Equilibrium phase diagrams of the studied TWIP steels were calculated by using JMatPro. Metallographic characterization was carried out by light optical microscopy and scanning electron microscopy-energy dispersive spectroscopy. X-ray diffraction analyses and Vickers microhardness tests were also performed. In general, results showed that inclusions of MnS and AlN act as nuclei for the microalloying elements precipitation. On the other hand, microalloying additions to TWIP steels resulted in a grain size refinement effect, being the V-bearing TWIP steel the one that presented the highest grain size reduction. X-ray diffraction results showed that austenite phase was stable, as no observation of martensite transformation was noticed. The Ti- and V-bearings TWIP steels exhibited the highest microhardness values.

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Acknowledgments

This research was supported by the National Council on Science and Technology (Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnología-CONACYT-México) through the project CB-2012-01-0177572. The present research was also supported by the Coordinación de la Investigación Científica-UMSNH (México) (CIC-1.8). D. Mijangos’s studies were sponsored by CONACYT-México, N.B. 740053. Dr. J.M. Cabrera thanks the financial funding from CONACYT-México to partially support his sabbatical leave at UMSNH (CVU 985797).

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  1. Department of Mechanical Metallurgy, IIMM, Universidad Michoacana de San Nicolas de Hidalgo, Edif. U-3, Ciudad Universitaria, 58030, Morelia, Michoacan, Mexico

    D. Mijangos, I. Mejia & J. M. Cabrera

  2. Department of Materials Science and Engineering, EEBE, Universitat Politecnica de Catalunya, c/Eduard Maristany 10-14, 08019, Barcelona, Spain

    J. M. Cabrera

  3. Fundacio CIM UPC, c/Llorens i Artigas 12, 08028, Barcelona, Spain

    J. M. Cabrera

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Mijangos, D., Mejia, I. & Cabrera, J.M. Influence of Microalloying Additions (Nb, Ti, Ti/B, V and Mo) on the Microstructure of TWIP Steels. Metallogr. Microstruct. Anal. 11, 524–536 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13632-022-00871-w

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