Effect of V Distribution Characteristics on the Hardenability of a Novel 980 MPa Grade Extra-Thick Steel Plate for Marine Engineering

doi:10.11900/0412.1961.2024.00010

Acta Metall Sin

2025, Vol. 61

Issue (9): 1344-1352 DOI: 10.11900/0412.1961.2024.00010

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Effect of V Distribution Characteristics on the Hardenability of a Novel 980 MPa Grade Extra-Thick Steel Plate for Marine Engineering

FU Wantang¹(

), WANG Wei¹, REN Liguo¹^,², BAI Xinghong¹^,², LV Zhiqing¹, LI Rongbin³, LIU Haonan¹, QI Jianjun⁴

1 State Key Laboratory of Metastable Materials Science and Technology, Yanshan University, Qinhuangdao 066004, China
2 Tianjin Heavy Equipment Engineering Research Co. Ltd., Tianjin 300399, China
3 Shanghai Engineering Research Center for Hot Manufacturing of Heavy Forgings, Shanghai Dianji University, Shanghai 201306, China
4 HBIS Group Technology Research Institute, Shijiazhuang 050023, China

Cite this article:

FU Wantang, WANG Wei, REN Liguo, BAI Xinghong, LV Zhiqing, LI Rongbin, LIU Haonan, QI Jianjun. Effect of V Distribution Characteristics on the Hardenability of a Novel 980 MPa Grade Extra-Thick Steel Plate for Marine Engineering. Acta Metall Sin, 2025, 61(9): 1344-1352.

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Abstract

Improving the hardenability of a ferrous alloy to achieve uniform microstructures and mechanical properties along the direction of the plate thickness is a key challenge in the production of high-grade extra-thick steel plates suitable for marine engineering (hereinafter referred to as “marine steel”). Hence, in this study, the effect of V distribution on the microstructures and hardenability of marine steel was investigated by employing the following procedure: a novel 980 MPa grade extra-thick steel plate was subjected to austenitization at 850 and 910 ^oC; subsequently, through thermal expansion and Jominy end-quench tests combined with fixed nitrogen treatment with aluminum. The microstructures and state of V atoms in the marine steel sample were characterized using SEM, EPMA, and TEM. Results showed that the occurrence of AlN during austenitizing at 910 ^oC promoted the segregation of V atoms on the original austenite grain boundaries, improved the stability of undercooled austenite, and delayed the transformation of proeutectoid ferrite. Thus, this study showed that the incorporation of V in marine steel substantially improved the hardenability of marine steel over a wide range of cooling rates (corresponding to steel plates with thicker cross-sections) and facilitated better microstructure uniformity, performance in marine environments, and matching between the required strength and toughness.

Key words: extra-thick plate hardenability V segregation AlN Jominy test

Received: 15 January 2024

ZTFLH:

TG142.1

Fund: National Natural Science Foundation of China(52171050);Natural Science Foundation—Steel and Iron Foundation of Hebei Province(E2020203195);Shanghai Engineering Technology Research Center for Hot Manufacturing of Heavy Forgings(18DZ2253400)

Corresponding Authors: FU Wantang, professor, Tel: 18633525885, E-mail: wtfu@ysu.edu.cn

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	FU Wantang
	WANG Wei
	REN Liguo
	BAI Xinghong
	LV Zhiqing
	LI Rongbin
	LIU Haonan
	QI Jianjun

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https://www.ams.org.cn/EN/10.11900/0412.1961.2024.00010 OR https://www.ams.org.cn/EN/Y2025/V61/I9/1344

Fig.1 Jominy curves of test steel after austenitizing at 850 and 910 ^oC

Fig.2 Continuous cooling transformation (CCT) curves (a) and microhardness as a function of the cooling rate (b) of test steel after austenizing at 910 ^oC for 30 min (M—martensite, B—bainite; A_c1—starting temperature of austenite form-ation, A_c3—finishing temperature of austenite formation, M_s—starting temperature of martensite formation, M_f—finishing temperature of martensite formation, B_s—starting temperature of bainite formation, B_f—finishing temperature of bainite formation, v—cooling rate, R²—goodness of fit)

Fig.3 OM images of test steel at the distances of 5 mm (a, d), 30 mm (b, e), and 55 mm (c, f) from the quenched end after austenitizing at 910 ^oC (a-c) and 850 ^oC (d-f)

Fig.4 SEM images of original austenite grain bound-aries in test steel after austenitizing at 910 ^oC (a) and 850 ^oC (b) for 30 min

Fig.5 AlN and VN precipitation curves in test steel calculated by Thermo-Calc

Fig.6 TEM images and EDS analyses of the test steel quenched after austenitizing at 910 ^oC for 30 min
(a) bright field TEM image
(b) local enlargement of Fig.6a
(c) EDS result of precipitate in Fig.6b (d-f) elemental mappings of V (d), Al (e), and N (f) of Fig.6b

Fig.7 Bright field TEM image (a) and elemental mappings of N (b) and V (c) of the test steel quenched after austenitizing at 850 ^oC for 30 min

Fig.8 Grain boundaries (a, c) and corresponding distributions (EPMA) of V (b, d) quenched after austenitizating at 910 ^oC (a, b) and 850 ^oC (c, d) for 30 min

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