The influence of copper addition on microstructure and mechanical properties of thermomechanically processed microalloyed steels

• DOI: 10.1007/s10853-008-3051-x
• Publication Date: 2008-11-09T18:30:27Z
• Authors: S. K. Ghosh; A. Haldar; P. P. Chattopadhyay
• Keywords: 0205 materials engineering; 0211 other engineering and technologies; 02 engineering and technology

The present study concerns the influence of Cu addition on the microstructural evolution and mechanical properties of directly air-cooled microalloyed thin-gauge steel. For this purpose, 1.5 wt% Cu was added to a Ti–B microalloyed steel. It is known that Ni addition to Cu-containing steel is beneficial to eliminate hot shortness caused by Cu. Therefore, the effect of Ni addition (half that of Cu in wt%) on the microstructure formation and mechanical properties has also been studied. Microstructures and mechanical properties of the directly air-cooled steels have demonstrated that addition of 1.5 wt% Cu along with 0.8 wt% Ni in Ti–B microalloyed steel results in a dual phase-like microstructure, which yielded attractive tensile strength (746 MPa) and ductility (31%). However, Cu addition deteriorated the impact toughness of the directly air-cooled Ti–B microalloyed steels.