Micro-structuring micro-alloyed steels via non-metallic precipitate formation
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Manchester
Department Name: Materials
Abstract
Abstracts are not currently available in GtR for all funded research. This is normally because the abstract was not required at the time of proposal submission, but may be because it included sensitive information such as personal details.
Publications
Cai B
(2017)
Deformation mechanisms of Mo alloyed FeCoCrNi high entropy alloy: In situ neutron diffraction
in Acta Materialia
Panagos P
(2017)
Characterising precipitate evolution in multi-component cast aluminium alloys using small-angle X-ray scattering
in Journal of Alloys and Compounds
Wang H
(2019)
High-energy, high-resolution, fly-scan X-ray phase tomography.
in Scientific reports
Wang Y
(2018)
Probing deformation mechanisms of a FeCoCrNi high-entropy alloy at 293 and 77 K using in situ neutron diffraction
in Acta Materialia
Wang Y
(2018)
Investigating nano-precipitation in a V-containing HSLA steel using small angle neutron scattering
in Acta Materialia
Wang Y
(2018)
Investigating nano-precipitation in a V-containing HSLA steel using small angle neutron scattering
in Acta Materialia
Wang Y
(2020)
Small-angle neutron scattering reveals the effect of Mo on interphase nano-precipitation in Ti-Mo micro-alloyed steels
in Scripta Materialia
| Description | We have successfully used small angle neutron scattering (SANS), combined with transmission electron microscopy (TEM) to characterise the evolution of precipitates, and their influence on microstructural evolution and final properties in commercial micro-alloyed steels. In a fundamental study, we have determined the average size and volume fraction of nanoscale vanadium carbide precipitates in a commercial micro-alloyed steel using small angle neutron scattering (SANS). The SANS measurement volume contained billions of particles and, by conducting complementary transmission electron microscopy and modelling of SANS, we have shown that the precipitates formed with a disc shape by the interphase precipitation mechanism with a composition close to VC. Measurements of hardness (related to yield strength) correlate well with the precipitation hardening effect calculated from a simple model of mechanical behaviour. Overall, we have successfully related the strength of nano-precipitation strengthened microalloy steel to the microstructure and the thermal processing of the alloy. In a commercial context, significant attention has been given to multiple microalloy additions to optimize the properties of a new family of steels strengthened with nanoscale carbides. We have undertaken a SANS study of a steel containing both titanium and molybdenum to elucidate how these elements interact. We have found that they form a mixed carbide nanoprecipitate and the effects of thermal processing on microstructure and strength properties have been established. Through analysis of the SANS data, we have determined the ratio of Ti to Mo in the precipitates and measured the the increase in average precipitate diameter with time at elevated temperature. This is important as strength depends on precipitate size. We have shown that it is important to extract both the nuclear and the magnetic scattering signals from the SANS data in order to quantify nanoscale carbide precipitation behaviour in partially and fully transformed ferritic steel samples. |
| Exploitation Route | The new insights we have obtained into nanoprecipitation strengthened steels confirm the clear potential of these materials to be adopted in the manufacture of high strength and highly formable automotive sheet steel. Our results on process-structure-property relationships, focussed on nano-carbide development, provide a foundation for further optimization of the hot rolling stages of steel production to obtain the best combination of properties. Ultimately this will lead to reduced emissions and lower energy consumption in vehicles. |
| Sectors | Aerospace, Defence and Marine,Transport |
| Description | Small angle scattering of neutrons has been employed within the framework of this grant to study the nano-precipitation behaviour in complex industrially relevant steels used in automotive applications. A journal publication on a vanadium micro-alloyed steel demonstrates the advances that we have made in using and applying small angle scattering techniques at Diamond and ISIS. The collaboration with both Tata Steel illustrates the potential for these studies to be translated into changed industrial practice and, ultimately, to the development of new and improved alloys capable of reducing vehicle weight and therefore, energy consumption in the automotive sector. |
| First Year Of Impact | 2017 |
| Sector | Energy,Manufacturing, including Industrial Biotechology,Transport |
| Impact Types | Economic |
| Description | Hybrid Semi-Solid Forming |
| Amount | € 511,249 (EUR) |
| Funding ID | RFCS 800763 |
| Organisation | Research Fund for Coal and Steel |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | Belgium |
| Start | 09/2018 |
| End | 02/2022 |
| Description | RAEng CiET: Transforming Additive Manufacturing Via Multiscale Imaging (TAMMI) |
| Amount | £2,687,000 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Royal Academy of Engineering |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 04/2019 |
| End | 03/2029 |
| Description | Ford and Tata Steel |
| Organisation | Ford Motor Company |
| Country | United States |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | Industrial collaborations with Ford and with Tata Steel have been sustained and further developed through the Impact Acceleration Fellowship. One of the outcomes of the Fellowship has been greater links with Ford on alloy development for next generation automotive engines. Their overall aim is to manufacture engine parts with mechanical properties that are retained to higher temperatures and hence improve engine efficiency, reduce emissions and make better use of energy resources. A programme of fundamental science has been initiated between Prof Lee's group and Ford to provide fundamental understanding of precipitation in Al alloys for such applications. This involves a small angle X-ray scattering study at Diamond to complement other work on material properties and microstructural characterization. |
| Collaborator Contribution | The companies have provided a range of alloys and expertise, as well as EM characterisation. |
| Impact | ICME tools have developed that are being used to optimise components. |
| Description | 2016 Royal Society Summer Exhibition: 4D Science |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | This exhibition on "4D Science" highlighted how we've used 4D synchrotron X-ray tomography to solve a range of challenges from materials science to geology to food stuffs. Highlights included replicating the flow of magma to better understand volcanic eruptions, to the coarsening of ice crystals to understand why some ice cream tastes better. 16,000 visitors came to the week long exhibition. The Lee group led the work, together with Diamond Light Source, the Lavallee group at Liverpool, the Research Complex at Harwell, and Unilever. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
| URL | https://royalsociety.org/science-events-and-lectures/summer-science-exhibition/exhibits/4d-science/ |
| Description | Diamond Open Days and School Visit Days |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | Diamond Light Source holds both regular open days for the general public, and also separate days for school visits. Being based in the RCaH, my group regularly sets up one stand or posters as part of many activities. Demonstrations included 3D printing demonstrations, a lego working replica of a tomography beamline, and examples of how tomography is used to research problems in multiple length scales e.g. from looking inside bioactive implants to looking inside a battery during discharge. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2013,2014,2015,2016,2017 |
| URL | http://www.diamond.ac.uk/Public/VisitUs.html |
| Description | Member, STFC Scientific Advisory Board Meeting, Feb 2019 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Professor Peter D Lee invited to be a member of the Scientific Advisory Board of the STFC Annual Meeting |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| Description | Royal Society Satelitte Exhibition |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | This exhibit showed how we've used 4D synchrotron X-ray tomography of magma to better understand volcanic eruptions, and of ice crystals, to work out why some ice cream tastes better! This was a repeat of the summer exhibition held outside London as part of Manchester Science Festival, nearly 13, 000 visitors came over the 5 day exhibition |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
| URL | https://royalsociety.org/science-events-and-lectures/science-exhibition-manchester/ |
| Description | Talk, "For the love of engineering show - feature a unique blend of short films, music, science comedy and engineering research", UCL, Oct 2019 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Peter D Lee & Le Gall gave a presentation of the research carried out in our group to the general public in a London West End Theatre |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| URL | https://mecheng.ucl.ac.uk/events/for-the-love-of-engineering/ |
| Description | Talk, TMS 2020 Annual Meeting & Exhibition, Feb 2020 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Tim Wigger gave a talk at the TMS 2020 Annual Meeting & Exhibition, on "In-situ Synchrotron Examination of the Evolution and Transition of Nodular, Compacted and Laminar Graphite During Solidification of Cast Iron" |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| URL | http://www.programmaster.org/PM/PM.nsf/ApprovedAbstracts/1DED883D92983DDE85258424005A1971?OpenDocume... |
| Description | Talk, TMS 2020 Annual Meeting & Exhibition, Feb 2020 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Tim Wigger gave a talk at the TMS 2020 Annual Meeting & Exhibition, on "In-situ Tomographic Investigation of Co-base Alloy Solidification Features" |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
| URL | http://www.programmaster.org/PM/PM.nsf/ApprovedAbstracts/1DED883D92983DDE85258424005A1971?OpenDocume... |
| Description | UK Research and Innovation Launch Event |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | PDL Participated in UK Research and Innovation (implementing policy) |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| URL | https://blogs.bl.uk/living-knowledge/2018/05/uk-research-and-innovation-launched-at-the-british-libr... |
| Description | UKRI Research Infrastructure Roadmap Workshop |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | PDL Participated in UKRI Research Infrastructure Roadmap Workshop (implementing policy) on 14 June |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |