Project Report

ON

Effect of ROT cooling strategies on mechanical properties and

microstructure of high strength low alloy steel (BSK 46 GRADE)

UNDER THE GUIDANCE

OF
Badsa Benerjee
HOT ROLLING TECHNOLOGY

SUBMITTED BY:

PRASHANT VERMA MOHIT TANWAR

VT20142591 VT20132696
B.TECH, IIIrd YEAR B.TECH, IIIrd YEAR
Metallurgical Engineering Metallurgical and Materials Engineering
INDIAN INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY INDIAN INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
(BHU),VARANASI ROORKEE
 CANDIDATE’S DECLARATION

We hereby declare that the proposed work presented in this project “Effect of
microalloying elements on mechanical properties of BSK 46 grade high
strength low alloy steel ” for fulfilment of the requirements of the summer
internship in TATA Steel, Jamshedpur is an authentic record of my own work
carried out during the period from 20-05-2014 to 01-07-2014 (6weeks) under the
supervision of Mr. R. Sundara Bharathy , Head, Hot Strip Mill department, Tata
steel, Jamshedpur.
The content presented in this project report is for submission requirement in SNTI ,
IIT Roorkee and IIT(BHU),Varanasi (the institution to which the candidate
represents). No part of this report can be published anywhere without the prior
permission of TATA Steel.
Dated: 01/07/2014
Place: Jamshedpur

Mohit Tanwar Prashant Verma

IIT Roorkee IIT(BHU),Varanasi

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CERTIFICATE
This is to certify that the above statement made by the candidate is correct to the best of my
knowledge and belief.
 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

We would like to thank TATA Steel for giving me such a great opportunity to use its resources
and work at industrial platform.
We would like to express my sincere thanks to Mr, R.Sundara Bharathy, Head ,HSM. The
successful completion of this project was due to his guidance, knowledge and experience.
We would like to thank my guide Mr.Badsa Banerjee. Without his guidance, constant
encouragement and discussion throughout the project, it would not have been possible to
complete this project. We wish to express my thanks to Mr. Hrishikesh Jugade and Mr.
Dinesh Kumar Yadav for their support at regular interval of time.
We would like to thank all the member of Metallography laboratory, including Mr.Ishwar,Mr.
Alam and Mr. Subramanium for providing their valuable resources.
My project wouldn’t have been complete without the help and support provided by SNTI. I am
thankful to them for making this internship memorable.
Finally, we need to express extreme gratitude and appreciation towards our family, teachers,
seniors and friends whom have provided all of the help, encouragement needed during my
studies.
List of Figures:
Fig. 2.1 Hot strip mill layout.

Fig 3.3.1 Reheating of slab inWB type furnace

Fig 3.3.2 Roughing mill

Fig 3.3.3 Six stand finishing mill

Fig 3.4 Cooling at run out table

Fig 3.5 Down coiling

Fig 3.6 Schematic representation of temperature variation in hot strip mill

Fig 3.7 Schematic diagram of run out table in hot strip mill

Fig 4.1 Sampling strategy of the full width sample

Fig.4.2 Sample preparation by Disc cutter

Fig.4.3 Hot mounting machine.
Fig.4.4 Mounted sample.
Fig.4.5 Belt Polishing of sample.
Fig.4.6 Optical Microscope(LEICA DM6000 )

Fig.4.7 Optical Microscope(LEICA DFC295)

Fig. 5.1 to Fig. 5.59 Optical Microstructures at various magnifications.

Fig 5.60 to Fig 5.75 Scanning electron microscopy analysis.

List of Tables
Table3.2 Various parameters and property dependent steps in Hot Strip mill.

Table 4.4 The chemical composition of BSK 46 grade high strength low alloy.

Table 4.5 The various physical parameters of BSK 46 grade high strength low
alloy.
CONTENTS:
➢ About TATA STEEL.
➢ INTRODUCTION.
➢ OBJECTIVE.
➢ LITERATURE SURVEY.
1. MODERN PROCESSING OF HIGH CARBON LOW ALLOY STEELS.
2. VARIOUR METALLURGICAL CONCEPTS INVOLVED IN HOT STRIL MILL PROCESS.
3. DIFFERENT PROCESSES INVOLVED IN HOT STRIP MILL.
• REHEATING/NORMALIZING.
• ROUGHING.
• FINISHING MILL.
• COOLING AND COILING.
4. TEMPERATURE VARIATION IN HOT STRIP MILL.
5. RUN OUT TABLE.
6. EFFECT OF MICROALLOYING ELEMENTS.
• VANADIUM.
• NIOBIUM.
• TITANIUM.
• CARBON.
• MANGANESE.
➢ EXPERIMENTAL SECTION.
1. PROCESS PARAMETERS.
2. SAMPLE PREPARATION.
➢ RESULT AND DISCUSSION.
1. MICROGRAPH ANALYSIS.
2. SEM ANALYSIS.
3. COILING TEMPERATURE GRAPH.
➢ CONCLUSION.
➢ REFERENCES.
 About TATA Steel

TATA STEEL LIMITED, formerly known as TISCO, began operations in Jamshedpur more
than 100 years ago. Starting as Asia’s first integrated steel manufacturer, the Tata Steel group
has grown to be a global corporation with over 31 million tons per annum of crude steel
production capacity. It ranks amongst the top 10 steel producers in the world, the largest private
sector steel company in India in terms of domestic production and is a Fortune Global 500
company
TATA STEEL is the 8th most valuable brand according to an annual survey conducted by Brand
Finance & The Economic Times in 2010.
Through investments in Corus-the second largest steel company in Europe; NatSteel Holdings,
Singapore-the top steel makers in the Asia Pacific region and Tata Steel Thailand (formerly
called Millennium Steel)-the largest long steel producer in Thailand, the company has created a
manufacturing and marketing network in Europe, South East Asia and the Pacific-rim countries.
The company also has proposed three Greenfield steel projects in the states of Orissa,
Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand in India and a Greenfield project in Vietnam.
The company takes credit for being the first integrated steel company outside Japan to have won
the Deming Application Prize for Excellence in Total Quality Management.
The Tata Steel Group’s vision is to be the world steel industry benchmark in terms of “Value
Creation” and “Corporate Citizenship”.
 1. INTRODUCTION:

Hot rolled products are widely used in many applications. The mechanical and physical property
of hot rolled steel mainly depends upon thermo-mechanical history. The parameters of rolling
process including metallurgical phenomena (deformation and cooling rates) mostly influence the
microstructure and property of final product. Hot rolled sheets are produced at elevated
temperatures on rolling mills and generate a material that is resistant to work hardening and
exhibits reduced levels of deformation residual stress. High carbon hot rolled strip is one of the
important flat products produced in hot strip mill.

Depending on the specific needs of the person using it, high carbon steel can have many advantages
over other options. This type of steel is excellent for making cutting tools or masonry nails. The
hardness levels and metal wear resistance of high carbon steel is also rated very highly. High carbon
steel is also preferred by many manufacturers who create metal cutting tools or press machinery that
must bend and form metal. High carbon steels are specifically used in the manufacture of tools and
dies, where the finished product needs to be very hard and wear-resistant. They are also used for
compression springs, cutting EDGEs, farming and gardening equipment, and other high-wear
applications. In current scenario some problem was observed about hot rolled coils.

When strip coils up in down coiler then it was in stressed condition so volumetric changes occur due
to transformation and coil split into parts. Sometimes there may be residual stresses which adversely
affects the properties of products. The change in mechanical properties on run-out table mostly
depends upon coiling temperature and cooling rate. Cooling rate on run-out determined by the finish
rolling temperature (FRT), coiling temperature (CT) and speed of the strip on run-out table. So we
have to study the effect of cooling rate on various mechanical properties by studying microstructures
of hot rolled sheets.

2. OBJECTIVE:
In one of the HSLA steel grade at TATA steel, problems of bow/camber were reported by end
customers while making the components. The problem of bow / camber is due to the residual
stress present in the material. The residual stresses are generated due to inhomogeneous cooling
at ROT (Run Out Table). In order to reduce the residual stresses in the material, plant decided to
take trials on different cooling strategies available in the system. The effect of different cooling
strategies on microstructure & mechanical properties were not studied in the past for this
particular grade of steel. Since the grade is micro-alloyed with Nb and Ti, it was decided to study
the effect of cooling strategies on microstructure& properties. This project work describes the
effect of different cooling strategies and its effect on microstructure as well mechanical
properties.
 3.LITERATURE SURVEY
Fig.3.1 MODERN PROCESSING OF HIGH CARBON LOW ALLOY STEELS:

Reheating Furnace(1200⁰C) Primary Descaler

Slab Caster
(Homogenization, dissolution (Remove Scale from Slab
(Liquid Steel to hot Slab) of precipitates and grain surface)
growth)

Pyrometer
(RMT)
Coil box
Roughing Mill
(To homogenize temperature (Slab to transfer bar)
throughout the length) Four high reversing mill

(Uncoiling)

Secondary
Descaler Finishing Mill
(Remove scale (Finish Rolling or final pass)
from Transfer Six stands of four high type.
Bar surface)

Pyrometer
(FRT)

Down Coiler Pyrometer Run Out Table

Hot rolled coil
(Final Product) (Coiling of strip) (FRT) (Cooling of Hot Strip,
Phase
Transformation takes
place)

Fig3.1: Hot Strip Mill Process Layout

 In the hot-strip mill process, starting from the slab material the steel is first subjected to
reheating. In this process, the steel is allowed to austenetize d at high-temperature, allowing for

uniform grain size. In the roughing phase, the steel is rolled for the first time, at high
temperature. In this process, austenite grains are deformed and then allowed to recrystallize as
smaller austenite grains. Finishing refers to the final hot-rolling passes and occurs at lower
temperatures, to allow the austenite to deform but not recrystallize. Finally, the steel is cooled
using some cooling system, from the final rolling temperature. This cooling is rapid and
continues until the steel reaches a desired coiling temperature. From there, the steel is allowed to
slowly cool to ambient temperature.[1]

3.2Various Metallurgical Concepts involved in Hot Strip Mill Process:

Hot Strip Reheating Roughing Finish Rolling Cooling Coiling

Mill steps

Physical Austenizing Grain Grain Transformation Precipitation

Metallurgy Resolving Refinement Refinement of
Precipitation Recrystallization Prevention of Microstructure
Grain Recrystallization
Growth
Processing Temperature Temperature Temperature Cooling Rate Temperature
Parameter Time Deformation Deformation

Mainly Strength Toughness Strength Strength Strength

influence Toughness Toughness Toughness
Steel
Properties

Table3.2: Various parameters and property dependent steps in Hot Strip mill[1]
3.3DIFFERENT PROCESSES INVOLVED IN HOT STRIP MILL:
3.3.1REHEATING:
In the thermo-mechanical processing, the first step is usually reheating. In this process, the steel
is brought to a high temperature and allowed to homogenize. This temperature is known as the
soaking or reheating temperature and usually is in the range of greater than 1200°C . The slab is
reheated for approx.. 180 min. to achieve desired temperature.[1]

Fig3.3.1: Reheating of slab in moving type furnace

3.3.2ROUGHING:
After reheating, the steel is allowed to move on to the roughing mill. Roughing is where
most of the reduction occurs, and is intended to achieve a fine and homogeneous
austenite grain structure. This grain refinement is achieved through the deformation and
recrystallization of the austenite grains and the deforming passes must take place at temperatures
usually above 1000°C. It has been found that the amount of deformation should be around 60%
in order to achieve the maximum grain refinement for a particular roughing temperature.
Multiple (7 passes) rolling passes at roughing temperatures can further refine the austenite grain
size, as long as enough time is allowed to pass. This ‘interpass’ time, which is usually between
20-30 seconds, allows for the recrystallization to be completed before the next rolling pass.[1]

Fig3.3.2: Roughing Mill

3.3.3FINISHING MILL:

The finishing passes also occur above the austenite transition temperature in order to deform the
austenite grain structure. However, the finishing passes occur below the recrystallization stop
temperature. This means the resulting deformed austenite grains cannot recover from the rolling
fast enough and a pancake microstructure remains. The elongated and deformed grains
produced in the finishing passes create nucleation sites for the formation of the pearlite.[1]

Fig 3.3.3: Six stand finishing mill

3.3.4 COOLING AND COILING:

After the finishing passes are complete and the steel has left the rolling mills, the product is
subjected to final cooling. During cooling the temperature is carefully controlled in order to
achieve the properties desired. By controlling the temperature and cooling rate the desired final
microstructure and properties are achieved. It is also important to understand that increased
cooling rate from rolling temperature promotes the formation of finite pearlite.

In modern mills the cooling process happens in two parts. Initially, from finished rolling
temperature the strip is cooled rapidly. Once a predetermined temperature is reached this rapid
cooling is then stopped at a temperature known as the 'coiling temperature.’ From this the hot
strip is gathered into a coil, stored, and allowed to cool to ambient temperature at a much slower
rate. This coiling procedure has become a necessity because of economic and industrial
requirements, but also has its effects on the final product. For instance, by lowering the coiling
temperature through longer periods of accelerated cooling, enhance transformation.[1]
 Fig 3.4:Cooling at run out table fig 3.5: Coiling of strip

3.4 TEMPERATURE VARIATION IN HOT STRIP MILL:

Fig 3.6: Schematic representation of temperature variation in hot strip mill[1]

3.5 RUN OUT TABLE (ROT):
The run-out table (ROT) is the next process of the hot strip finishing mill, and it
is a very important process where the structure and the property of the steel are determined. The
temperature control on the ROT is the technology which controls the temperature by the
radiation and the cooling water and the phase transformation by the property prediction of the
steel. Since the uniform shape and the property of the strip are related to the cooling rate of the
steel. Most often best cooling and coiling condition not achieved due to
some reason. [1]

Fig 3.7: Schematic diagram of run out table in hot strip mill
3.6 EFFECT OF MICROALLOYING ELEMENTS:
3.6.1: VANADIUM:

Vanadium is used in micro alloyed steels to form vanadium carbonitrides. Its content ranges
from 0.03 to 0.05%V. The main action of vanadium in these steels is dispersion hardening,
refinement of ferrite grains and inhibiting grain growth of austenite up to 1050 ºC, but it is
detrimental to the formation of acicular ferrite. As the solubility of vanadium in austenite is high
there is a weak influence of vanadium on the non-recrystallization temperature (Tnr ) of
austenite. The solubility of vanadium in ferrite, however, is low, and its addition is extremely
effective in the precipitation strengthening of ferrite.
Vanadium carbonitrides will mostly dissolve in austenite at about 900 ºC[9] . Vanadium also
inhibits grain growth of austenite up to 1050 ºC. It passes completely into solid solution above
1050 ºC for typical line pipe compositions. Vanadium has no effect on the recrystallization of
hot-deformed austenite above 900 ºC.

3.6.2 NIOBIUM:
Niobium carbide is fully dissolved between 1225 and 1250 ºC. It has a greater refinement effect
on ferrite grain size, dispersion hardening and reduction of pearlite content. Niobium has a
stronger effect on recrystallization of hot-deformed austenite. Niobium in solution is also
considered to suppress the ɣ/α transformation due to pining of the ɣ/α interfaces by NbC. The
solute niobium strongly segregates to ɣ/α boundaries and reduces ferrite growth kinetics because
of a solute drag effect. Accordingly, niobium additions suppress or delay the formation of
polygonal ferrite and pearlite, and promote the formation of acicular ferrite[4] or
bainite/martensite-austenite constituents and increases the bainitic hardenability. The solubility
temperature of niobium increases from about 1170 ºC in a typical of niobium leads to a higher
amount of titanium precipitating in the low temperature range, up to the dissolution of complex
Ti-Nb carbonitrides. Consequently, it can be concluded that high titanium concentrations present
in Nb-Ti steels, exert a significant influence on the grain coarsening behaviour. Some
strengthening will result from NbN or Nb(C,N) precipitation in the au stenite. However, the most
effective precipitation strengthening comes from NbC precipitation in ferrite .
The main effects of niobium in these steels are as follows:
(i) Much greater refinement of ferrite grains due to increasing the inhibiting effect of the
growth of austenite grains with Nb%;
(ii) Dispersion hardening;
(iii) Reduction of pearlite content due to the binding of carbon in Nb(C,N); and
(iv) Stronger inhibiting effect on recrystallisation[27] of hot-deformed austenite below
950 ºC , thereby raising the non-recrystallisation temperature (Tnr) due to the
precipitation of Nb(C,N) during hot rolling[28].
3.6.3 TITANIUM:
Titanium can refine ferrite grains, suppress recrystallisation of hot-deformed austenite and
reduce pearlite formation. Titanium will bind with free N during solidification of the steel. TiN is
very stable at high reheating temperatures (such as 1250 ºC), thus retarding grain growth during
the reheating process. TiN will also retard grain growth between rolling passes. If it binds all of
the free N, this will result in a significant increase in niobium available in the ferrite to
precipitate as NbC. The stoichiometric ratio of Ti to N in TiN, is 3.4/1. Titanium can be used to
control the sulphide inclusion shape, thus preventing MnS stringer inclusions.
The precipitation start temperature for TiN is 1633 ºC[15] while that of TiC is less than that of
TiN’ (<1000 ºC[5] for TiC). Therefore, the alloy needs sufficient titanium content for TiC to
form (Ti>0.4N)[14]. The stoichiometric ratio Ti/N is 3.4/1 but it may change depending on
several factors, such as the reheating temperature before hot rolling and the content of other
micro-alloying elements.
The main effects of titanium in high-strength low alloy steels are as follows:
(i) Refining of ferrite grains[30,31]: The optimum Ti/N ratio is close to 2 for Nb-free and V-
free steels[29]. Titanium at levels of 0.02 to 0.03% has a much greater refinement effect on
ferrite grain size. It inhibits the growth of austenite grains by the difficult-to-dissolve TiN and
Ti(C,N) during heating. It inhibits grain growth most effectively at 1150 ºC and an addition of
0.015% Ti has a much greater refinement of austenite grains than the addition of the same
amount of Nb[11]. Titanium in excess after binding with free nitrogen will be available to bind
with sulphur.
(ii) Suppression of recrystallisation of hot-deformed austenite: Titanium has a stronger
inhibiting effect on recrystallisation at 1050 ºC than niobium. There is a contradictory result,
however, that 0.03% Ti does not have a substantial effect on the recrystallisation of the austenite
of low alloy steels due to differences in the composition of these steels.
(iii) Dispersion hardening: Because TiC forms at lower temperatures, the titanium content
must exceed the bound content from TiN (Ti>0.4N).
(iv) Reduction of pearlite formation

3.6.4 CARBON:
Carbon level in these steels is maintained below 0.06% for the following purposes:
(i) Lowering the carbon equivalent (CE) for improved weldability:The maximum CE
specification is 0.45;
(ii) High toughness;
(iii) Less micro- and macro-segregation;
(iv) More effective dissolution of niobium: increasing the strength of steels; and
(v) Less pearlite: improving toughness, formability, SSCC (sulphide stress corrosion
cracking).
3.6.5 MANGANESE:
An increase in the manganese content prolongs the incubation time for polygonal ferrite
formation. The manganese addition extends the polygonal ferrite curve of continuous cooling
transformation (CCT) diagrams. Accordingly, acicular ferrite structures can be obtained at a
slower cooling rate with an increase in the manganese content. The addition of manganese delays
the precipitation of titanium and niobium, and increases the solubility of NbC by decreasing the
diffusivity of niobium in austenite[4]. Manganese also increases the solubility for nitrogen in
austenite significantly.
 4.EXPERIMENTAL SECTION
In one of the HSLA steel grade at TATA steel, problems of bow/camber were reported by end
customers while making the components. The problem of bow / camber is due to the residual
stress present in the material. The residual stresses are generated due to inhomogeneous cooling
at ROT (Run Out Table). In order to reduce the residual stresses in the material, plant decided to
take trials on different cooling strategies available in the system. The effect of different cooling
strategies on microstructure & mechanical properties were not studied in the past for this
particular grade of steel. Since the grade is micro-alloyed with Nb and Ti, it was decided to study
the effect of cooling strategies on microstructure& properties. This project work describes the
effect of different cooling strategies and its effect on microstructure as well mechanical
properties.
Accordingly the samples were selected for microstructural studies. The details of the chemical
composition & process parameters of the hot rolled coils used in this project are listed blow,

4.1 PROCESS PARAMETERS:

COIL ID CAST THICKNESS(mm) WIDTH(mm) YS(MPa) UTS(MPa) EL(%) YS/UTS

NUMBER
78340441 V79238 6 1250 495 555 27 .8877

78340451 V79238 6 1250 520 586 29 .8895

79280681 V79238 6 1250 516 598 28 .8786

TABLE 4.1: Tabulation of data from tensile test

Coil ID FRT CT Ret. Time (Hr:Min)

SDOT (Deg C) RMET (Deg C)
78340441 893 656 2.46 1190 1068
78340451 932 612 2.41 1187 1075
79280681 875 647 3.11 1165 1056
TABLE 4.2: Tabulation of other parameters
COIL ID 78340441 78340451 79280681

TYPE LSA LSA LSA

C 0.075 0.075 0.075

Mn 0.89 0.89 0.89

S 0.005 0.005 0.005

P 0.02 0.02 0.02

Si 0.06 0.06 0.06

Al 0.048 0.048 0.048

N 27 27 27

V 0.001 0.001 0.001

Nb 0.033 0.033 0.033

B 0.0001 0.0001 0.0001

Ni 0.021 0.021 0.021

Cr 0.021 0.021 0.021

Cu 0.004 0.004 0.004

Mo 0.001 0.001 0.001

Ti 0.027 0.027 0.027

TABLE 4.3: Chemical composition of different coils

4.2 SAMPLE PREPARATION:
BSK 46 grade samples were received from hot strip mill for these experiments. These samples of the
coils were divided into five different parts so called zones according to different cooling rates
namely:

• Centre
• Operator side
• Drive side.
• Middle of Centre to operator side.
• Middle of center to drive side.

Rolling direction
1
CUTTING 1
2
5
USING DISC CUTTER 3

Fig. 4.1 Hot rolled sheet being cut into five different parts 5

Then samples were cut into a proper dimension which is suitable for mount preparation machine ,the
so called hot mounting machine. The samples were mounted in conducting mount.

Then the mounted sample went through lincering machine,the so called belt polisher to make it
better to use it on other polishing machines .Then further the samples were polished on polisher with
diamond solution. Further the samples were polished on cloth polisher using lower sized diamond
particle solution and alcohol.

Then we rinsed the sample with alcohol and dried it properly to remove any kind of stains.

Then we put the etchant NITAL on it and kept it for few seconds(3 to 4 seconds) then again rinsed
with alcohol and properly dried. Now the sample was ready for microstructural analysis through
optical microscope and scanning electron microscope.
Fig.4.2 Sample being cut by Disc cutter Fig.4.3 Hot mounting machine

Fig.4.4 Mount being prepared. Fig.4.5 Belt Polishing of sample

Fig.4.6 Optical Microscope(LEICA DM6000 ) Fig.4.7 Optical Microscope(LEICA DFC295)

Table 4.4 The chemical composition of BSK 46 grade high strength low alloy is as follows

C Mn S P Si Ti Nb V Al
0.12 1.0 0.025 0.025 0.04 0.045 0.060 0.045 0.02
max max max max max max max max min

Table 4.5 The various physical parameters of BSK 46 grade high strength low alloy is as
follows

U.T.S. 490 – 610

Y.S. 450 – 550
 5.RESULT AND DISCUSSION:
5.1 MICROGRAPH ANALYSIS:
As per seen from optical microscopy following result were obtained for different hot rolled coils
at different cooling strategies (near grouped, far distributive, near distributive).
5.1.1 COIL ID-78340451: (COOLING STRATEGY-NEAR DISTRIBUTED)
A.OPERATOR SIDE:
ASTM E112 Planimetric method.
Average grain number : 11
As observed from microstructure there were deformed fine ferrite grains which were fine due to
pinning action of micro alloying elements(Nb,Ti).The microstructure also contained certain
amount of second phase which is identified by analysis through SCANNING ELECTRON
MICROSCOPY(SEM) , which turned out to be7-9% pearlite present in microstructure.

Fig.5.1 At 100X Fig.5.2 At 200X

Fig.5.3 At 500X Fig. Fig.5.4 At 1000X

B.CENTRE SIDE:

ASTM E112 Planimetric method.

Average grain number : 12
As observed from microstructure there were deformed fine ferrite grains which were fine due to
pinning action of micro alloying elements(Nb,Ti).The microstructure also contained certain
amount of second phase which is identified by analysis through SCANNING ELECTRON
MICROSCOPY(SEM) , which turned out to be7-9% pearlite present in microstructure.

Fig.5.5 At 500X Fig.5.6 At 1000X

Fig.5.7 At 500X Fig.5.8 At 1000X

C.DRIVE SIDE:

ASTM E112 Planimetric method.

Average grain number : 12
As observed from microstructure there were deformed fine ferrite grains which were fine due to
pinning action of micro alloying elements(Nb,Ti).The microstructure also contained certain
amount of second phase which is identified by analysis through SCANNING ELECTRON
MICROSCOPY(SEM) , which turned out to be7-9% pearlite present in microstructure .But
when we closely observed we saw a different alignment of grains similar to banded structure.

Fig.5.9 At 100X Fig.5.10 At 200X

Fig.5.11 At 500X Fig.5.12 At 1000X

D.CENTRE TO OPERATOR SIDE:

ASTM E112 Planimetric method.

Average grain number :11
As same as the above observation because we saw the same pattern in microstructure and there
was no such variation to be mentioned

Fig.5.13 At 100X Fig.5.14 At 200X

Fig.5.15 At 500X Fig.5.16 At 1000X

E.CENTRE TO DRIVE SIDE:

ASTM E112 Planimetric method.

Average grain number : 12
Same as the above obseravtions.

Fig.5.17 At 100X Fig.5.18 At 200X

Fig.5.19 At 500X Fig.5.20 At 1000X

5.1.2 COIL ID-7834-44: (COOLING STRATEGY-FAR DISTRIBUTED)

A.OPERATOR SIDE:

ASTM E112 Planimetric method.

Average grain number : 12
From the microstructure we can see the grains are very fine and on further magnification the
overall observation remained same.

Fig.5.21 At 100X Fig.5.22 At 200X

Fig.5.23 At 500X
B.CENTRE SIDE:

ASTM E112 Planimetric method.

Average grain number : 11
As observed from microstructure there were deformed fine ferrite grains which were fine due to
pinning action of micro alloying elements(Nb,Ti).The microstructure also contained certain
amount of second phase was found to be7-9% pearlite present in microstructure.

Fig.5.24 At 100X Fig.5.25 At 200X

Fig.5.26 At 500X Fig.5.27 At 1000X

C.DRIVE SIDE:

ASTM E112 Planimetric method.

Average grain number : 11
Same as above we saw fine grains with same second phase that is pearlite.

Fig.5.28 At 100X Fig.5.29 At 200X

Fig.5.30 At 500X Fig.5.31 At 1000X

D.CENTRE TO OPERATOR SIDE:

ASTM E112 Planimetric method.

Average grain number : 12
As observed from microstructure there were more fine ferrite grains due to pinning action of
micro alloying elements(Nb,Ti).The microstructure also contained certain amount of second
phase was found to be7-9% pearlite present in microstructure.Through SEM we could see
further broader microstructure.

Fig.5.32 At 100X Fig.5.33 At 200X

Fig.5.35 At 1000X
Fig.5.34 At 500X
E.CENTRE TO DRIVE SIDE:

ASTM E112 Planimetric method.

Average grain number : 12

Same as above we saw fine grains with same second phase that is pearlite.

Fig.5.36 At 100X Fig.5.37 At 200X

Fig.5.38 At 500X Fig.5.39 At 1000X

5.1.3 COIL ID-7928-068: (COOLING STRATEGY-FAR GROUPED)

A.OPERATOR SIDE:

In these far distributed cooled coils we observed from microstructure there were deformed fine
ferrite grains which were fine due to pinning action of micro alloying elements(Nb,Ti).The
microstructure also contained certain amount of second phase was found to be7-9% pearlite
present in microstructure.

Fig.5.40 At 100X Fig.5.41 At 200X

Fig.5.42 At 500X Fig.5.43 At 1000X

B.CENTRE TO OPERATOR SIDE:

Same as above we saw fine grains with same second phase that is pearlite.To have a clear
picture we increased the intensity of light.

Fig.5.44 At 100X Fig.5.45 At 200X

Fig.5.46 At 500X Fig.5.47 At 1000X

C.CENTRE SIDE: As same as the above observation because we saw the same pattern in
microstructure and there was no such variation to be mentioned

Fig.5.48 At 100X Fig.5.49 At 200X

Fig.5.50 At 500X Fig.5.51 At 1000X

D.CENTRE TO DRIVE SIDE:

As same as the above observation because we saw the same pattern in microstructure and there
was no such variation to be mentioned.

Fig.5.52 At 100X Fig.5.53 At 200X

Fig.5.54 At 500X Fig.5.55 At 1000X

E.DRIVE SIDE:

Fig.5.56 At 100X Fig.5.57 At 200X

Fig.5.58 At 500X Fig.5.59 At 1000X

5.2 SEM ANALYSIS:
COIL ID-78340451:

A.OPERATOR SIDE:

FIG 5.60: AT 5000X

FIG 5.61: AT 15000X

B.CENTRE SIDE:

FIG 5.62: AT 5000X

FIG 5.63: AT 15000X

C.DRIVE SIDE:

FIG 5.64: AT 5000X

FIG 5.65: AT 15000X

D. CENTRE TO OPERATOR SIDE:

FIG 5.66: AT 5000X

FIG 5.67: AT 15000X

E.CENTRE TO DRIVE SIDE:

FIG 5.68: AT 5000X

FIG 5.69: AT 15000X

COIL ID-7834-44:

A.OPERATOR SIDE:

FIG 5.70: AT 5000X

FIG 5.71: AT 15000X

B.CENTRE SIDE

:
FIG 5.72: AT 5000X

FIG 5.73: AT 15000X

C.DRIVE SIDE:

FIG 5.74: AT 5000X

FIG 5.75: AT 15000X

5.3 COILING TEMPERATURE PROFILE:
5.CONCLUSION
From microstructural analysis, following conclusion can be drawn,

➢ Out of total 8 cooling strategies due to time constraints we could use only 3 strategies
from which we came to a conclusion that there was no major change observed in grain
size at microstructural level.
➢ Coil shape was found good with increased in coiling temperature from 600 deg C to 630
deg C.
➢ The coils will be offered to market for validating the performance with respect to camber.

FUTURE SCOPE:
➢ Results can be more precise by using all the 8 cooling strategies.
➢ Precipitates morphology need to be further analyzed using TRANSMISSION
ELECTRON MICROSCOPE (TEM).
➢ Amount of phase fraction will also need to be calculated for determining the effect on
mechanical properties.
6. REFERENCES

1. The hot rolling process-CSI.

2. Siamak Serajzadeh, Prediction of temperature distribution and phase transformation on the

run-out table in the process of hot strip rolling, Applied Mathematical Modeling 27 (2003) 861–
875.

3. Giovanni Giuseppe Facco, Effect of cooling rate and coiling temperature on final
microstructure of HSLA steel after HSM and/or laboratory TMP processing.

4. B. K. Panigrahi, Processing of low carbon steel plate and hot strip—an overview, Bull.
material Science, Vol. 24, No. 4, August 2001, pp. 361–371, Indian Academy of Sciences.

5. K. Banks, A. Tuling and B. Mintz, Influence of chemistry and run-out table parameters on hot
coil collapse in C–Mn steels.

6. P. Suwanpinij, N. Togobytska, U. Prahl, W. Weiss, D. Homberg, and W. Bleck, Numerical

Cooling Strategy Design for Hot Rolled Dual Phase Steel, Steel research int. 81 (2010) No. 11.

7. Ananya Mukhopadhyay, Sudipta Sikdar, Implementation of an on-line run-out table model in

a hot strip mill Journal of Materials Processing Technology 169 (2005) 164–172.

8. Wlodzimierz Filipczyk, Pressing, Cooling and Coiling – China Steel HSM #1.

9. Ming-Chun Zhao, Ke Yang, Fu-Ren Xiao, Yi-Yin Shan, Continuous cooling transformation
of unreformed and deformed low carbon pipeline steels, Materials Science and Engineering
A355 (2003) 126-136.

10. Wlodzimierz Filipczyk, Fredrick Williams, Chang Fu-Hsiang, Advanced control of coiling
temperature in China steel’s hot mill.

11.University of Pretoria etd- Tang , Z(2007),production of high strength low alloy

steel(microalloyed) pipe lines.