Effect of Process Parameters on Microstructure and Properties of 1500 MPa Grade Hot Formed Steel without Boron but Containing Niobium

Abstract

In this paper, a new type of automotive 1500 MPa grade hot-formed steel without boron but containing niobium was subjected to thermoforming experiments. The phase transition point and Continuous Cooling Transformation (CCT) curve of the hot-formed steel were measured by thermal dilatometer, and then the best austenitizing parameters was determined. The microstructure of the cold-rolled sheet and the hot-formed steel sheet were observed by electron microscopy. The microstructure of the steel sheet after hot forming was studied by X-ray diffraction (XRD) method to determine whether the microstructure after hot forming had residual austenite. The influence of residence conditions on its mechanical properties was studied. The experimental results has shown that the microstructure of the original cold-rolled sheet is mainly composed of ferrite and pearlite. After thermoforming, the basic microstructure are martensite and a small amount of ferrite; When the hot forming parameters is that 900 °C of the heating temperature, 3 min of the holding time, 8 s of the residence time, quenching temperature is the room temperature, the new 1500 MPa grade hot formed steel has the best mechanical properties that the tensile strength is 1519 MPa, the yield strength is 1060 MPa, the yield ratio is 0.73, and the elongation reaches 10.52%. The result shows that the new 1500 MPa grade hot formed steel could obtain excellent mechanical properties through a reasonable process under the premise of ensuring hardenability.