Materials Science Forum, Vol.495-497, 537-542, 2005
Influence of boron on mechanical properties and microstructures of hot-rolled interstitial free steel
This paper examines an effect of boron (B) on dynamic softening behavior, mechanical properties and microstructures for Nb-Ti added high strength interstitial free (IF) steel. For this purpose, IF steels containing 0ppm B, 5ppm Band 30ppm B were chosen. Continuous cooling compression test was performed to investigate dynamic softening behavior. Mechanical properties and microstructures of pilot hot-rolled IF steel sheet were analyzed by uni-axial tensile test and electron back-scattered diffraction (EBSD). It was found that no-dynamic recrystallization temperature (T-ndrx) which can be determined from the relationship between flow stress and temperature is a constant of 955 C for all IF steels. However, an addition of B into IF steels increases work hardening rate at the temperature below T-ndrx. It was also verified that B retards phase transformation of austenite into ferrite. EBSD analysis revealed that absence of B induces fine: ferrite grain size and many high angle grain boundaries.
Keywords:interstitial free steel;dynamic recrystallization;EBSD;ferrite grain size;hot strip rolling