Hot deformation behavior of non-alloyed carbon steels

Abstract

The hot deformation behavior of selected non-alloyed carbon steels was investigated by isothermal continuous uniaxial compression tests. Based on the analysis of experimentally determined flow stress curves, material constants suitable for predicting peak flow stress sigma(p), peak strain epsilon(p) and critical strain epsilon(crDRX) necessary to induce dynamic recrystallization and the corresponding critical flow stresses sigma(crDRX) were determined. The validity of the predicted critical strains epsilon(crDRX) was then experimentally verified. Fine dynamically recrystallized grains, which formed at the boundaries of the original austenitic grains, were detected in the microstructure of additionally deformed specimens from low-carbon investigated steels. Furthermore, equations describing with perfect accuracy a simple linear dependence of the critical strain epsilon(crDRX) on peak strain epsilon(p) were derived for all investigated steels. The determined hot deformation activation energy Q decreased with increasing carbon content (also with increasing carbon equivalent value) in all investigated steels. A logarithmic equation described this dependency with reasonable accuracy. Individual flow stress curves of the investigated steels were mathematically described using the Cingara and McQueen model, while the predicted flow stresses showed excellent accuracy, especially in the strains ranging from 0 to epsilon(p).