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Controlled Forging of a Nb Containing Microalloyed Steel for Automotive Applications

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Abstract

Controlled forging of microalloyed steels is a viable economical process for the manufacture of automotive parts. Ferrite grain refinement and precipitation hardening are the major microstructural parameters to enhance the mechanical properties of the forged components. In the current study, a modified thermomechanical treatment for additional ferrite grain refinement is developed by exploiting the effect of Nb in increasing the T NR (no recrystallization temperature) and via phase transformation from a pancaked austenite. This is accomplished by performing the final passes of forging below the T NR temperature followed by a controlled cooling stage to produce a mixture of fine grained ferrite, small scaled acicular ferrite as well as a limited amount of martensite. The effect of processing parameters in terms of forging strain, cooling rate and aging condition on the microstructure and mechanical properties of a medium carbon, Nb containing microalloyed steel is investigated. An attempt is made to identify a suitable microstructure that provides a proper combination of high strength and good impact toughness. The processing-microstructure relationships for the proposed novel forging procedure are discussed, and directions for further improvements are outlined.

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Acknowledgments

The authors would like to express their gratitude for cooperative supports of Part Sazan Forge Corporation. Iran Alloy Steel Corporation is also highly appreciated for providing the Nb microalloyed steel.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Materials Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, P.O. Box 91775-1111, Mashhad, Iran

    Davood Nakhaie (MSc Student), Mohammad Mazinani (Professor) & Mahmoud Reza Ghandehari Ferdowsi (MSc Student)

  2. Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, The University of British Columbia, 2360 East Mall, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z3, Canada

    Pooya Hosseini Benhangi (PhD Student)

  3. Department of Materials Engineering, The University of British Columbia, 6350 Stores Road, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z4, Canada

    Fateh Fazeli (Research Scientist)

  4. Canmet Materials Technology Laboratory, Hamilton, ON, Canada

    Fateh Fazeli (Research Scientist)

  5. Department of Materials Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Islamic Azad University-Mashhad Branch, Mashhad, Iran

    Ebrahim Zohourvahid Karimi (Professor)

Authors
  1. Davood Nakhaie
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  2. Pooya Hosseini Benhangi
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  3. Fateh Fazeli
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  4. Mohammad Mazinani
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  5. Ebrahim Zohourvahid Karimi
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  6. Mahmoud Reza Ghandehari Ferdowsi
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Pooya Hosseini Benhangi.

Additional information

Manuscript submitted November 24, 2011.

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Nakhaie, D., Hosseini Benhangi, P., Fazeli, F. et al. Controlled Forging of a Nb Containing Microalloyed Steel for Automotive Applications. Metall Mater Trans A 43, 5209–5217 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11661-012-1353-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11661-012-1353-8

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