Microstructure Evolution Near Interface and the Element Diffusion Dynamics of the Composite Stainless Steel Rebar
GUO Xingxing1, SHUAI Meirong1(), CHU Zhibing1, LI Yugui2, XIE Guangming3
1 Engineering Research Center Heavy Machinery Ministry of Education, Taiyuan University of Science and Technology, Taiyuan 030024, China 2 School of Mechanical Engineering, Taiyuan University of Science and Technology, Taiyuan 030024, China 3 State Key Laboratory of Rolling and Automation, Northeastern University, Shenyang 110819, China
Cite this article:
GUO Xingxing, SHUAI Meirong, CHU Zhibing, LI Yugui, XIE Guangming. Microstructure Evolution Near Interface and the Element Diffusion Dynamics of the Composite Stainless Steel Rebar. Acta Metall Sin, 2025, 61(2): 336-348.
The composite rebar of stainless steel is used as a new type of structural material and can meet the strict performance requirements of marine service, effectively solving the overcapacity problem of basic materials. The quality of the composite interface generally depends on the interface microstructure and the distribution of interface compounds. However, the deformation parameters also indicate the interface quality, and a composite product with a uniform interface and excellent performance could be obtained by controlling the reduction rate. Herein, high-temperature compression experiments were conducted on the composite materials of 304/Q235. The near-interface characteristics of the microstructure evolution were studied under a strain rate of 1 s-1 and reduction rates of 20%, 40%, and 60% to elucidate the dynamic nucleation mechanism and grain boundary migration of the stainless steel side of the interface. Based on Fick's second law of one-way flow under unsteady conditions, an element diffusion model of the composite interface transition region was established to explore the correlation between the interface microstructure evolution and element diffusion behavior. The results show that there is an uncoordinated dynamic recrystallization occured on both sides of the interface at the temperature of 1000 oC. The grains completely change during dynamic recrystallization at the carbon steel side of the interface, while the recrystallization dominated by the dislocation mechanism significantly occurs under the working condition with a high pressure rate (60%) at the stainless steel side. At a deformation temperature of 1100 oC, dynamic recrystallization is controlled by the dominant twinning mechanism at the stainless steel side, where Σ3 twinning accelerates the recrystallization process. At this time, the coordination of deformation is significantly improved on both sides of the interface. Further studies show that grain refinement and the movement of dislocation and twin defects have a positive effect on the element diffusion behavior. In addition, interfacial intermetallic compound evolution and cavity closure have a significant enhancement effect on interfacial elemental diffusion behavior. The Boltzmann-Matano method is employed to determine the position of the Matano surface, and the Levenberg-Marquardt method is employed to fit the multivariate nonlinear parameters. The established element diffusion model can accurately reflect the elemental concentration in the composite interface transition region, which provides theoretical support for the improvement of metallurgical bonding quality and interface performance control of composite materials.
Fund: National Natural Science Foundation of China(52075357);Key Research and Development Projects of Shanxi Province(201903D121043);Education and Innovation Subject of Graduate Student of Shanxi Province(20-21Y709; 2022Y709);Open Subject of State Key Laboratory of Rolling and Automation (Northeastern University)(2020RALKFKT013)
Corresponding Authors:
SHUAI Meirong, professor, Tel: 13935124835, E-mail: 2001041@tyust.edu.cn
Table 1 Chemical compositions of stainless steel and carbon steel
Fig.1 Thermal compression test flow-process diagram (a) and shematic of compression specimen selection (b) (—strain rate, ε—true strain)
Fig.2 Schematic of the measurement zone (a) and SEM images of the composite interface of composite stainless steel rebar with reduction rates of 20% (b), 40% (c), and 60% (d) at 1000 oC (Black dash lines in Figs.2b-d show the boundaries of carburized layer, and red dash lines show twin boundaries. The schematic of the measurement zone is illustrated by an example with reduction rate of 40%)
Fig.3 Inverse pole figures (IPFs) (a, c, e) and grain boundary diagrams (b, d, f) of the composite interface of composite stainless steel rebar with reduction rates of 20% (a, b), 40% (c, d), and 60% (e, f) at 1100 oC (The green, black, and red lines in Figs.3b, d, and f represent boundaries with 2° ≤ θ < 15°, θ ≥ 15°, and Ʃ3 twin boundaries, respectively. θ is misorientation angle of the boundary. SS—stainless steel, CS—carbon steel)
Fig.4 Distributions of dynamic recrystallized grains (a, c, e) and corresponding stainless steel side grain boundary orientation distribution maps (b, d, f) of the composite interface of composite stainless steel rebar with reduction rates of 20% (a, b), 40% (c, d), and 60% (e, f) at 1100 oC (The green, yellow, and blue regions in Figs.4a, c, and e represent deformed, substructure, and recrystallized grains, respectively. The black and red lines in Figs.4a, c, and e represent boundaries with θ ≥ 15° and Ʃ3 twin boundaries, respectively. is average misorientation angle of the boundary in Figs.4b, d, and f)
Fig.5 Changes of the volume fractions of different grain boundaries and dynamically recystallized (DRX) grain with reduction rates at 1100 oC
Fig.6 XRD spectra of the composite interface of composite stainless steel rebar with reduction rates of 20% (a), 40% (b), and 60% (c) at 1100 oC
Fig.7 EPMA images showing the interface microstruc-tures with reduction rates of 20% (a), 40% (b), and 60% (c) at 1100 oC
Reduction rate
Point
Mass fraction of element / %
Ratio
Si
Mn
O
Fe
Cr
C
Mn∶Si∶O
M∶C
20%
1
20.2
20.8
59.9
-
-
-
1∶1.03∶2.97
-
2
-
-
-
33.6
45.3
21.1
-
22.4∶6
40%
3
20.0
19.5
60.5
-
-
-
1∶0.98∶3.03
-
4
-
-
-
26.8
52.5
20.7
-
22.9∶6
60%
5
20.6
20.9
59.5
-
-
-
1∶1.01∶2.89
-
6
-
-
-
29.1
50.7
20.2
-
23.7∶6
Table 2 EDS analysis results of points 1-6 in Fig.7
Fig.8 EPMA line scan spectra near the composite interface of composite stainless steel rebar with reduction rates of 20% (a), 40% (b), and 60% (c) at 1100 oC
Fig.9 Effects of reduction rate on the diffusion distance at 1100 oC
Reduction rate
Element
A
B1
B2
α
β
D1
D2
20%
Fe
0.808
0.161
0.145
0.328
1.921
2.171
2.000
Cr
0.094
-0.102
-0.086
0.591
1.050
3.150
2.452
Ni
0.041
-0.043
-0.039
-2.304
2.444
1.353
0.905
40%
Fe
0.801
0.153
0.154
1.014
1.386
1.509
1.204
Cr
0.087
-0.109
-0.077
1.185
1.554
4.085
1.679
Ni
0.043
-0.042
-0.042
-0.252
-1.445
2.827
6.530
60%
Fe
0.801
0.156
0.153
1.308
0.862
2.005
3.193
Cr
0.096
-0.099
-0.085
2.952
1.443
0.859
3.311
Ni
0.042
-0.045
-0.042
0.790
-0.321
1.268
3.816
Table 3 Fitting parameters of the element diffusion model at 1100 oC
Fig.10 Distribution curves of element concentration in interface transition zone of composite stainless steel rebar with reduction rates of 20% (a), 40% (b), and 60% (c) at 1100 oC
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