Materials Science and Engineering, 62 (1984) 109-119
The Precipitation of AIN and NbC and the Hot Ductility of Low Carbon Steels
Y. MAEHARA and Y. OHMORI
Central Research Laboratories, Sumitomo Metal Industries Ltd., 1-3 Nishinagasu-hondori, Amagasaki 660 (Japan)
(Received March 11, 1983; in revised form June 1, 1983)
SUMMARY
The hot ductilities o f aluminium-killed and
niobium-bearing steels were studied in order
to elucidate the mechanism o f surface crack-
ing in continuous casting slabs with particular
emphasis on A I N and N b C precipitations. The
ductility trough in slow strain rate tensile
tests is observed in the temperature range
from the low temperature austenite region to
the 7 - ~ duplex phase region with an inter-
granular microvoid coalescence mode o f frac-
ture along the 7 grain boundaries. Such a
ductility loss is induced by the densely dis-
persed precipitates o f A I N and/or N b C on the
7 grain boundaries and enhanced by the strain
concentration in the softer layers along the ~/
grain boundaries such as the grain boundary
allotriomorphs o f ferrite or the precipitation-
free zones. The poor ductility can be remark-
ably improved by coarsening the grain
boundary A l N and/or N b C particles. The
matrix-strengthening mechanism is also dis-
cussed in relation to the precipitation o f N b C
during deformation and the 7 -~ a transforma-
tion behaviour.
1. INTRODUCTION
Surface cracking of continuously cast slabs
normally occurs during the straightening
operation after the moulding [1, 2]. The cause
of such cracking is believed to arise from the
superposition of a slow strain rate deforma-
tion and the precipitation of A1N and/or NbC
and has been the subject of numerous investi-
gations [1-6]. The strain and the strain rate
on the slab surfaces are estimated to be about
2% and about 3 × 10 -4 s-1 respectively [1, 2].
The models proposed to explain the mecha-
nism of such cracking can be summarized as
follows.
0025-5416/84/$3.00
109
(1) The precipitation of fine carbonitrides
during hot deformation retards the 7 phase
recrystallization and enhances the inter-
granular fracture in the 7 phase [3, 5].
(2) The precipitation of nitrides and/or
carbides on 7 phase grain boundaries provides
potent nucleation sites for intergranular
microvoids during hot deformation [ 2, 4-6].
(3) When the material is deformed in
the 7-~ duplex phase region, the strain con-
centrates within the soft grain boundary allo-
triomorphs [7] of ferrite and leads to the
interface decohesion of intergranular precipi-
tates, resulting in microvoids [2, 4-6].
Some observations, however, conflict with
the above models, e.g. surface cracking always
occurs at a small strain insufficient for the 7
phase recrystallization even if the effect of
strain concentration along grain boundaries
is considered. Also the effects of either matrix
strengthening due to the precipitation of fine
carbonitrides [8-12] during deformation
(dynamic precipitation [8]) or the change in
the ~/-~ ~ transformation behaviour arising
from carbonitride precipitation [ 13-23 ] on
h o t ductility have not been discussed in detail.
Thus the aim of the present study is to
assess these individual effects of A1N and/or
NbC precipitations on hot ductility at various
deformation temperatures, thermal histories
and strain rates, and to elucidate the mecha-
nism of the surface cracking in continuously
cast slabs.
2. EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURE
The chemical compositions of the materials
used are given in Table 1. They were pre-
pared in a vacuum induction furnace as 17 kg
ingots and were hot rolled into plates 12 mm
thick. Tensile specimens were machined from
these plates in a direction parallel to the
© Elsevier Sequoia/Printed in The N e t h e r l a n d s
110

TABLE 1
Chemical compositions of the steels used

Steel C (wt.%) Si (wt.%) Mn (wt.%) P (wt.%) S (wt.%) Nb (wt.%) Soluble A1 N (wt.%)

(wt.%)

A 0.21 0.33 1.50 0.021 0.007 0.005 0.030 0.0117

B 0.21 0.35 1.57 0.022 0.005 0.055 0.012 0.0027

rolling direction. The gauge length, the diam-
eter and the fillet radius of a specimen were
20 mm, 8 mm and 5 mm respectively. Hot
tensile testing was carried out using an Instron-
type tensile machine. The specimens were
placed in the machine and austenitized for
10 min at 1373 K and cooled to deformation
temperatures from 873 to 1473 K in a flow-
ing argon atmosphere with an IR imaging
furnace attached to the tensile machine. The
cooling rate was about 140 K min -1. After
the specimens had been kept for 1 min at the
deformation temperatures, they were pulled
isothermally at constant cross-head speeds
(strain rates ranging from 0.83 X 10 -4 to
0.83 X 10 -1 s-1) until final fracture occurred.
A and B respectively, and the decrease in RA
can clearly be recognized in the temperature
range from 973 to 1173 K. By decreasing the
strain rate, this ductility loss is much en-
hanced and the temperature for the minimum
RA is slightly raised. It should also be noted
10C
SC
8C
E
rr

4C
In addition to this, the effects of isothermal
holding at intermediate temperatures between
the austenitizing and the deformation tem- 20
peratures on hot ductility were also examined
with particular interest in the carbide and 0 I I I I I
800 1000 1 2 0 0 1400 1800
nitride morphologies. Although the transfor- DEFORMATION TEMPERATURE (K)
mation temperatures Ar 3 (i.e. the temperature Fig. 1. Variation in R A with d e f o r m a t i o n t e m p e r a t u r e
at which austenite begins to transform to at various strain rates (steel A): v , e = 0.83 × 10 -1 s - l ;
ferrite during cooling) at the same cooling 0, G = 0 . 8 3 × 10-2s-1; t , G = 0 . 8 3 X 10-3s -1.
rate (about 140 K min -1) were confirmed to
be 895 K and 873 K for steels A and B respec-
tively, the microstructural observation re-
10C :~Fe--e-
vealed that the transformation was largely
accelerated by deformation at temperatures 8G wv""~
below 1000 K.
Metallographic and fractographic examina-
tions by means of scanning electron micros-
copy and transmission electron microscopy as
well as optical microscopy were also carried
4(I •
out on the ruptured specimens.
2c ',:,1
\./. / i
3. R E S U L T S I I I I I
800 1000 1200 1 4 0 0 1800
DEFORMATION TEMPERATURE (½}
3.1. Tensile p r o p e r t i e s
Fig. 2. Variation in R A with d e f o r m a t i o n t e m p e r a t u r e
Figures 1 and 2 show the variation in the at various strain rates (steel B): ~, e = 0.83 x 10 -1 s-l;
reduction in area (RA) with deformation 0, e -- 0.83 × 10 -2 s-l; I , ~ = 0.83 X 10 -3 s-l; A, ~ =
temperature at various strain rates in steels 0.83 x l O - 4 s -1.
 IIi

250

•/ •/ • ~8 73 K
/!\. ! /\
200
•/e""~973 K
e / o/
~15C / / , / 1073K
,,, / //I/ z 20

~I0c .4`9 8
/ a 1223K z 10

o / . / ' /
F, 0 I {O) t I I I I ~
800 900 1000 1100 1200 1300 1 4 0 0 1500
.//*//.v~ DEFORMATION TEMPERATURE (K)
I I I I I I Fig. 4. Variation in difference in peak stresses be-
o lO_S lo.4 lo_3 lo_2 lO_1 1°0 tween steels A and B with deformation temperature
STRAIN RATE (~1) at various strain rates: o, ~ = 0.83 × 10 -1 s-l; A, e =
Fig. 3. Variation in peak stress with strain rate at 0.83 × 10 -2 s-l; t , 6 = 0.83 × 10 -3s-l; ~, 6 =0.83 ×
various deformation temperatures: A, ©, D, <>,v, steel 10-4s-1; ( ) , extrapolated values.
A; A, e, .,, 0, v, steel B.

t h a t t h e a d d i t i o n o f n i o b i u m yields a signifi- 120

c a n t l y large decrease in t h e m i n i m u m R A and ~ l l ~ (I073K)
'E 110 - ~ B
enlarges the t e m p e r a t u r e r a n g e o f d u c t i l i t y z
v
e ~ e ~
loss in c o m p a r i s o n w i t h t h a t o f a l u m i n i u m . u3 100 8(1373K) \
o3
T h e v a r i a t i o n s in t h e first p e a k stresses in ILl
:r
I--
90
s t r e s s - s t r a i n curves w i t h t h e strain r a t e at (,/3 ,x
v a r i o u s t e m p e r a t u r e s are s h o w n in Fig. 3. T h e ""
,< 80 , ~---.___,xA(1073K)
UJ
Q.
p e a k stress o f steel A increases g r a d u a l l y w i t h 70 - " A ~ A A A(1373K)
increasing strain r a t e at all t e m p e r a t u r e s (a) 100._L/%il i i I I iilll , i , I ,Jill
e x c e p t at 873 K, a n d t h e g r a d i e n t o f the p e a k . f~i,~ A (1373 K)
stress w i t h r e s p e c t to t h e strain rate increases
w i t h decreasing t e m p e r a t u r e . T h e p e a k so / /B(1373K)
stresses o f steel B are m u c h higher t h a n t h o s e
o f steel A at t e m p e r a t u r e s b e l o w 1 2 2 3 K a n d 60 • /
e x h i b i t u p w a r d c o n c a v i t y w i t h r e s p e c t to the
l o g a r i t h m o f strain rate. T h e d i f f e r e n c e s in - A (1073K)
~" 4 0 -- Oo- ~ ' a; ~ _ ~
p e a k stresses b e t w e e n steels A a n d B are
"O~oB(1073 K)
illustrated in Fig. 4 as a f u n c t i o n o f d e f o r m a - 20
tion temperature. Two peaks indicated by (h) ~,, .,,, . . . . , , ,,, . . . . ,
0 " 10 20 50 100 200 500 1000
a r r o w s are r e c o g n i z e d at t e m p e r a t u r e s a r o u n d ISOTHERMAL HOLDING TIME(rain)
1 0 7 3 and b e l o w 973 K at each strain r a t e Fig. 5. Effect of isothermal holding during cooling
e x c e p t 0.83 × 10 -1 s-1. T h e m a x i m u m differ- prior to deformation at 1073 K at a strain rate of
ences in t h e p e a k stresses b e t w e e n steels A 0.83 × 10-3s -1 on (a) peak stress and (b) RA.
a n d B are o b t a i n e d f o r a strain r a t e o f 0.83 ×
i0-3 s-1.
Figure 5 shows the effects of isothermal
holding at both 1373 and 1073 K during
cooling to deformation temperature on the h o l d i n g t i m e . Whereas t h e R A is increased
R A and peak stress. The deformation in this r e m a r k a b l y in b o t h steels b y i s o t h e r m a l hold-
case was carried out at 1073 K at a strain rate ing at 1 3 7 3 K during cooling to t h e d e f o r m a -
of 0.83 X 10 -3 s-1. At 1073 K, both the I%A t i o n t e m p e r a t u r e , a d e c r e a s e in s t r e n g t h can
and the peak stress decrease with increasing also be r e c o g n i z e d as in 1 0 7 3 K holding.
112
Fig. 6. I n t e r g r a n u l a r cracks in r u p t u r e d steel B: (a) T = 973 K, ~ = 0.83 x 10 -3 s-l; (b) T = 1073 K, ~ = 0.83 × 10 -4 s-1
(T and ~ are t h e d e f o r m a t i o n t e m p e r a t u r e a n d t h e strain rate respectively).
3.2. Fractography
Figures 6(a) and 6(b) show typical ex-
amples of microcracks observed in the vicinity
of the fractured surfaces on the longitudinal
sections of the specimens which were de-
formed at 973 K (the ~/-~ duplex phase region)
and at 1073 K (the low temperature austenite
region) respectively. Both specimens exhibit
quite a low ductility as shown in Fig. 2. In the
specimen deformed at 973 K, a sharp crack
lies within the grain boundary allotriomorphs
of ferrite (Fig. 6(a)). It should be noted that
the ferrite separated by this crack consists of
extremely fine grains. This fact indicates that
the strain concentration during the crack
propagation induced the recrystallization of
ferrite. In Fig. 6(b), in contrast, cracks propa-
gate along the prior austenite grain boundaries
where the primary ferrite such as that in
Fig. 6(a) cannot be detected. This result im-
plies that such cracks were formed prior to
the ferrite nucleation.
Figure 7 shows the fractured surfaces of
steel A deformed in the ~/-~ duplex phase
region and those of steel B deformed in the
low temperature austenite region. The frac-
ture modes in both cases are intergranular
microvoid coalescence as can be seen in the
detailed examinations (Figs. 7(b) and 7(d)),
the mean diameter of the dimples being 7 #m
and 12/~m respectively.
Figure 8 illustrates the effect of deforma-
tion on the fracture mode of steel B. The low
ductility intergranular fracture occurs in the
specimen deformed at 1073 K at a strain rate
of 0.83 X 10 -4 s-i (Fig. 8(a)), and the fracture
mode changes to a much more ductile mode
by increasing either the deformation tempera-
ture to 1223 K (Fig. 8(b)) or the strain rate to
0.83 X 10 -i s-i (Fig. 8(c)). It should be noted
that the transgranular ductile fracture is
initiated by the decohesion of non-metallic
inclusion-matrix interfaces in the specimen
deformed at a higher strain rate as seen in

Fig. 7. S c a n n i n g e l e c t r o n m i c r o g r a p h s o f f r a c t u r e d surfaces: (a), (b) steel A, T = 1 0 2 3 K, e = 0.83 x 10 -3 s - l ; (c),
(d) steel B, T = 1 0 7 3 K, ~ = 0.83 x 10 -3 s-1.
Fig. 8(c), and quite large dimples were formed.
Figure 9 shows the variation in fracture mode
in steel A with the isothermal holding prior to
the deformation at 1073 K at a strain rate of
0.83 X 10 .3 s-1. The fraction of intergranular
microvoid coalescence mode is increased by
holding for I h at 1073 K (Fig. 9(b)), but the
transgranular ductile fracture with large
dimples predominates in the specimen held at
1373 K for 2 h (Fig. 9(c)).
3.3. Precipitation of AlN and NbC
Figures 10 and 11 illustrate the carbon
extraction replica micrographs in the vicinity
of main cracks and show the effects of thermal
history on the morphologies of A1N and NbC
particles respectively. Specimens were de-
formed at 1073 K at a strain rate of 0.83 X
1 0 -3 S-1. The grain boundary precipitation of
AIN in steel A is accelerated by isothermal
113
holding at 1073 K for 2 h (cf. Fig. 10(a) with
Fig. 10(b)). Grain boundary precipitation of
NbC in steel B deformed directly after cooling
from the solution treatment temperature
could not be detected by the carbon extrac-
tion m e t h o d because the particles are too
small. However, precipitation at the austenite
grain boundaries can clearly be recognized in
the specimen isothermally held at 1073 K for
2 h prior to deformation, as shown in
Fig. l l ( a ) . The interparticle spacings of A1N
and NbC in the above conditions are 250 nm,
500 nm and 200 nm respectively. The iso-
thermal holding at 1373 K for 2 h yields a
much more homogeneous dispersion of coarse
A1N and NbC particles within the matrices as
shown in Figs. 10(c) and l l ( b ) respectively.
The precipitation of fine NbC particles
within the austenite matrix is also of interest
in view of strengthening as well as grain
114

Fig. 9. Fractured surfaces of steel A deformed at

1073 K at a strain rate of 0.83 × 10-3 s-1 after iso-
Fig. 8. Fractured surfaces of steel B: (a) T = 1 0 7 3 K,
thermal holding at (a) 1073 K for 1 min, (b) 1073 K
=0.83X10- 4 S-1; ( b ) T = 1 2 2 3 K, ~ = 0.83 X10- 4 s':1;
for 1 h and (c) 1373 K for 2 h .
(c) T=1073 K, e = 0 . 8 3 X10- i s -I.

boundary precipitation. The austenite of low of NbC particles dispersed within the untrans-
carbon microalloyed steels, however, trans- formed austenite is quite difficult to achieve.
forms almost completely into ferrite during As will be shown below, this difficulty has
subsequent cooling and the direct observation been overcome by transmission electron

Fig. 10. E x t r a c t i o n replica images o f steel A iso-
t h e r m a l l y held at (a) 1 0 7 3 K for 1 rain, (b) 1 0 7 3 K
for 2 h a n d (c) 1 3 7 3 K for 2 h d u r i n g cooling t o de-
f o r m a t i o n at 1 0 7 3 K at a s t r a i n rate o f 0.83 X 10 -3 s-1,
s h o w i n g A1N p r e c i p i t a t i o n .
115
S
0
NbC """~G'
O
O
1
O
Fig. 11. E x t r a c t i o n replica images o f steel B iso-
t h e r m a l l y held a t (a) 1 0 7 3 K for 2 h a n d (b) 1 3 7 3 K
for 2 h d u r i n g cooling t o d e f o r m a t i o n at 1 0 7 3 K at a
strain r a t e of 0.83 X 10 -3 s-1, s h o w i n g N b C precipita-
tion.
microscopy observation of the NbC particles
dispersed in polygonal ferrites. Figure 12
shows the weak beam dark field image ob-
tained using a {111} reflection from NbC in
steel B fractured at 1073 K at a strain rate of
0.83 X 10 -4 s-1. The traces of lattice defects
within the austenite were eliminated by 7 ~
diffusional transformation. At least two
modes of NbC precipitation, i.e. precipitation
on the prior austenite grain boundaries with
an interparticle spacing of about 5 nm and
precipitation along the curved lines within the
matrix, can be seen. It should be noted that
diffraction contrast due to these curved lines
could not be obtained even under various
diffraction conditions. The images of NbC
particles consist of parallel moir~ fringes
arising from {110}~//(111}sb c since the spac-
116
Fig. 12. Transmission electron micrograph showing NbC precipitation of steel B ruptured at 1073 K at a strain
rate of 0.83 × 10-4s -1.
ing of these fringes is 0.9 nm. The diameter
of NbC particles is in the range between 3 and
9 nm, the average value being 4 nm. A distri-
bution of fine NbC particles on the curved
lines suggests that the particles were formed
in the austenite prior to 7 -~ ~ transforma-
tion in a dynamic fashion, because the in-
visible curved lines can be explained as the
traces of austenite dislocations which dis-
appeared as the result of diffusional transfor-
mation. If the particles formed on dislocations
after 7 --> ~ transformation, they should be
extremely fine and the dislocations will not
disappear because of a strong pinning effect.
4. DISCUSSION
4.1. Strengthening due to precipitation o f
NbC
Since intergranular ductile fracture can
occur as a result of a strain concentration
sufficient for the nucleation of microvoid$ at
the grain boundaries, matrix strengthening is
also important as well as the properties of
boundaries. Thus the effect of the addition
of niobium on the strengthening of austenite
will be discussed.
It has been well established mainly by the
works of Jonas and coworkers [8, 10-12] (see
also refs. 9 and 24) that the dynamic pre-
cipitation of NbC during the hot deformation
of austenite after solution treatment at higher
temperatures increases the peak strain {the
strain corresponding to the peak stress) and re-
sults in an upward concavity in the plots of the
peak strain versus the logarithm of the strain
rate. The fact that NbC precipitation has a
similar effect on the peak stress has also been
recognized in the temperature range between
1223 and 973 K, as shown in Fig. 3. In con-
trast, the strengthening due to A1N precipita-
tion was not significant. This result suggests
that hot deformation characteristics are
largely affected by the precipitation harden-
ing due to NbC. The present study reveals
some other features of matrix strengthening,
i.e. the difference in the peak stress between
aluminium-killed and niobium-bearing steels
exhibits two distinct peaks at around 1073 K
and at a temperature below 973 K, and a
small trough at 1023 K can be seen in Fig. 4.
The two peaks are largest for the deformation
at a strain rate of 0.83 >( 10 -3 S-1. The first
peak at 1073 K can be explained in terms of
the dynamic precipitation of NbC [8-12, 24].
The mechanism for the second peak will be

discussed below. The grain boundary allotrio-
morphs of ferrite nucleate at temperatures of
around 1023 K in both steels. It should be
noted that the rate of the ~ -~ ~ transforma-
tion in this temperature range is largely re-
tarded by the addition of niobium with
solution treatment at higher temperatures
[13]. As analysed by Gray and Yeo [14], the
rate of the interphase reaction producing the
rows of NbC particles in the primary ferrite
[14-23] is thought to be controlled by the
diffusion of niobium atoms within the ferrite
grains. This fact suggests that the amount of
the untransformed ~/in the specimen de-
formed at temperatures below 1023 K is in-
creased by the addition of niobium and will
result in the peak stress difference. By lower-
ing the deformation temperature as well as
by reducing the strain rate, the ~ ~ a trans-
formation rate will become much faster than
that of deformation and the peak stress
difference will finally disappear, resulting in
the formation of the second peaks as shown
in Fig. 4.
Thus the precipitation of NbC particles
during slow strain rate deformation predomi-
nates in the strengthening of the matrix as
well as in the 7 -~ (~ transformation behaviour
and will have a marked effect on the hot
ductility.
4.2. H o t ductility
The hot ductilities in the aluminium-killed
and the niobium-bearing steels after solution
treatment at 1573 K are reduced in the slow
strain rate deformation in the temperature
range between the 7 - ~ duplex phase region
and the lower temperature austenite region
as in Figs. 1 and 2. The fracture mode in these
ranges is intergranular failure due to micro-
void coalescence with shallow dimples and
can be closely related to the austenite grain
boundary precipitation of A1N and/or NbC
[2, 5, 6]. In fact, increasing the grain bound-
ary precipitations of A1N and/or NbC by iso-
thermal holding at 1073 K prior to deforma-
tion reduces the hot ductility, and coarsening
of these particles by holding at 1373 K re-
markably improves it.
It should also be noted that ductility loss in
the aluminium-killed and the niobium-bearing
steels occurs in the temperature range where
117
AIN and/or NbC particles are expected to
precipitate either dynamically [8-12] or in
the 7 - a interphase mode [ 1 4 - 2 3 ] . Although
the presence of precipitation-free zones
(PFZs} along the austenite grain boundaries
could not be confirmed in the present study
because of the indirect observation as a result
of ~ -~ a transformation, PFZs are expected
to exist [25]. In fact, the formation of PFZs
has been confirmed by the present authors in
niobium-bearing austenitic stainless steels
[26]. Thus, it seems reasonable to assume
that the matrix strengthening of austenite due
to dynamic precipitation accelerates the strain
concentration in the vicinity of the austenite
grain boundaries where much softer PFZs
exist [27]. An effect similar to that due to
PFZs can also be expected in the case where
the growth of grain boundary ferrites is sup-
pressed by the addition of niobium, because
the ferrite is much softer than the untrans-
formed ~/at these temperatures [4] and the
strain will concentrate in the narrow soft
region if the ferrite does not grow. These
factors will thus enhance intergranular micro-
void formation by the decohesion of the pre-
cipitate-matrix interfaces.
Such effects of matrix strengthening on
ductility can be seen in Fig. 5, i.e. the duc-
tility of the niobium steels is significantly
smaller than that of the aluminium-killed
steel for the same isothermal holding condi-
tions. The difference is especially marked
for isothermal holding at 1373 K for periods
longer than 50 min where the coarse grain
boundary precipitates disperse with large
interparticle spacings in both steels as shown
in Figs. 10(c} and l l ( b ) . It should be empha-
sized that, although the improvement in the
RA with coarsening of the grain boundary
precipitates due to holding at 1373 K for 2 h
can reach 36%-45%, the effect of matrix
stengthening due to NbC precipitation is only
a b o u t 10% for the same thermal history as
shown in Fig. 5. Thus it can be concluded
that the major factor controlling the ductility
loss is the morphology of grain boundary pre-
cipitates. The matrix strengthening accelerates
the loss together with the formation of soft
layers in the vicinity of the austenite grain
boundaries, e.g. the PFZs and the boundary
allotriomorphs of the ferrite.
When the above results are considered,
intergranular fracture enhanced by NbC pre-
118

or
Matrix ppt of NbC

: :i-" ".', ........ ,." ' .... .~:.':.;.~:":..::':g;.'~'.~ : ' : : ! - . : : i , ! ' , " : : : ' ~

(a) -20Ohm Grainboundary~(b

ppt
:;.:i",ij~:~i::..-~:";.(7::;!i:;:(i~::~.:!/'!.:.:.i:-: (e)
Microvoid
coalescence
-lO,um

Grain boundary ?

(7

Fig. 13. Schematic illustrations showing intergranular mierovoid coalescence of niobium-bearing steels by defor-
mation in (a)-(e) the low temperature austenite region and (d)-(f) the ~,-0~duplex phase region.

cipitation can be postulated schematically as shallow dimples along the austenite grain
shown in Fig. 13. Figures 13(a) and 13(d) boundaries.
illustrate the microstructures in the low (3) In the specimens fractured with low
temperature austenite region and the 7 - a ductility, densely precipitated A1N and/or
duplex phase region prior to and at the initial NbC particles are observed on the austenite
state of deformation. During deformation, grain boundaries. In addition to the grain
small submicrovoids will be formed by the boundary precipitates, very fine NbC particles
decohesion of precipitate-matrix interfaces precipitate within the matrix when the speci-
on the grain boundaries and will coalesce into men is deformed in the low temperature
so-called "microvoids" of dimensions 7-12 austenite region.
#m, as shown in Figs. 13(b) and 13(e). Final (4) The strengthening at higher tempera-
fracture will occur as the result of microvoid tures due to NbC precipitation arises for t w o
coalescence as shown in Figs. 13(c) and 13(f). reasons, i.e. the dynamic precipitation in
In fact, the interparticle spacings of grain austenite at around 1073 K and the retarda-
boundary precipitates in both steels for the tion of the 7 -~ a transformation by the 3,-a
minimum ductility conditions are in the range interphase precipitation at temperatures
0.2-0.5 pm and much smaller than the spacing lower than 973 K. The maximum strengthen-
between intergranular dimples which is 7-12 ing in both cases occurs at a strain rate of
#m. This fact suggests that a considerable 0.83 × 10 -~ s-1.
number of particles contribute to the forma- (5) A significant decrease in hot ductility
tion of individual intergranular dimples. is accelerated by the strain concentration in
Thus, the ductility loss and t h e fracture the softer PFZs in the vicinity of the grain
mode can be explained consistently by the boundaries or the grain boundary allotrio-
grain boundary precipitation and existence of morphs of ferrite, and a remarkable improve-
softer layers along grain boundaries. ment in the ductility can be obtained by
coarsening the grain boundary precipitation
of A1N and/or NbC.
(6) The diameters of intergranular micro-
5. CONCLUSIONS voids are much larger than the interparticle
spacings on the austenite grain boundaries.
(1) A hot ductility trough in slow strain This fact suggests that a microvoid comprises
rate tensile tests is observed in the tempera- a considerable number of submicrovoids
ture range from the low temperature austenite formed by the decohesion of precipitate-
region to the ~/-a duplex phase region. matrix interfaces on the boundaries.
(2) The fracture mode in this range is of an (7) The main cause of the ductility loss is
intergranular microvoid coalescence type with the intergranular precipitation of AIN and/or

NbC, and the matrix strengthening due to
N b C p r e c i p i t a t i o n e n h a n c e s it t o g e t h e r w i t h
t h e f o r m a t i o n o f s o f t l a y e r s in t h e v i c i n i t y o f
t h e a u s t e n i t e grain b o u n d a r i e s such as t h e
P F Z s or t h e grain b o u n d a r y a l l o t r i o m o r p h s o f
ferrite.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
T h e a u t h o r s w o u l d like t o t h a n k Dr. K.
Nishioka, General Manager and Director of
Central Research Laboratories, Sumitomo
M e t a l I n d u s t r i e s L t d . , f o r his p e r m i s s i o n t o
p u b l i s h this p a p e r . T h a n k s are also d u e t o
Dr. T. K u n i t a k e , Dr. F. T e r a s a k i a n d Mr. Y.
Sugitani for their valuable comments and to
Mr. T. F u j i t a f o r t e c h n i c a l assistance.
REFERENCES
1 W. T. Lankford, Metall. Trans., 3 (1972) 1331.
2 B. Mintz and J. M. Arrowsmith, Met. Technol., 6
(1979) 24.
3 G. Bernard, J. P. Birad, B. Conseil and J. C.
Humbert, Rev. Mdtall., 75 (1978) 467.
4 K. Yamanaka, F. Terasaki, H. Ohtani, M. Oda and
M. Yoshihara, Trans. Iron Steel Inst. Jpn., 20
(1980) 810.
5 H. G. Suzuki, S. Nishimura and S. Yamaguchi,
Tetsu To Hagan$, 65 (1979) 2038.
6 C. Ouchi and K. Matsumoto, Trans. Iron Steel
Inst. Jpn., 22 (1981) 181.
7 C. A. DubS, H. I. Aaronson and R. F. Mehl, Rev.
M~tall., 55 (1958) 201•
119
8. I. Weiss and J. J. Jonas, Metall. Trans. A, 10
(1979)831.
9 M. J. Luton, R. Dorvel and R. A. Petkovic,
MetaU. Trans. A, 11 (1980) 411.
10 I. Weiss and J. J. Jonas, Metall. Trans. A, 11
(1980) 403.
11 M. G. Akben, I. Weiss and J. J. Jonas, Acta
Metall., 29 (1981) 111.
12 J. P. Michel and J. J. Jonas, Acta Metall., 29
(1981) 513.
13 R. C. Sharma and G. R. Purdy, Metall. Trans., 5
(1974) 939.
14 J. M. Gray and R. B. G. Yeo, Trans. Am. Soc.
Met., 61 (1961) 255.
15 W. B. Morrmon, J. Iron Steel Inst., London,
201 (1963) 317.
16 W. C. Leslie, The Relation between Structure and
Mechanical Properties o f Metals, National Physical
Laboratory Conf., H.M. Stationery Office,
London, 1963, p. 337.
17 F. B. Pickering and T. Gladman, ISI Spec. Rep.
81, 1963, p. 10 (Iron and Steel Institute,
London).
18 A.T. Davenport, F. G. Berry and R. W. K.
Honeycombe, Met. Sci. J., 2 (1968) 104.
19 A. T. Davenport and R. W. K. Honeycombe,
Proc. R. Soc. London, Ser. A, 322 (1971) 191.
20 D. W. Edmonds and R. W. K. Honeycombe, J.
Iron Steel Inst., London, 211 (1973) 209.
21 Y. Ohmori, Trans. Iron SteeI Inst. Jpn., 15 (1975)
194.
22 R. W. K. Honeycombe, Metall. Trans. A, 7 (1976)
915.
23 R. W. K. Honeycombe, Scand. J. Met., 8 (1979)
21.
24 Y. Maehara, T. Kunitake and N. Fujino, Tetsu To
Hagan$, 67 (1981) 2182.
25 E. A. Starke, J. Met., 22 (1970) 1.
26 Y. Ohmori and Y. Maehara, Trans. Jpn. Inst.
Met., to be published•
27 E. Hornbogen and M. Graf, Acta Metall., 25
(1977)877•