W –ABS-131

ALLOY CONSERVATION THROUGH PRECIPITATION

STRENGTHENING BY MICROALLOY ADDITION IN STEEL
FOR AUTOMOTIVE APPLICATION
Niranjan More, Sunil Nair & K R Srinivasan
Mukand Ltd, Mumbai
Abstract :

The effectiveness of enhancing metallurgical features through microalloying practice using Vanadium, Niobium or Titanium is by now established universally, with
Vanadium topping the list. It has been possible to obtain a good combination of strength, ductility and machinability characteristics through careful microalloying
percentages. The precipitation mechanism of Vanadium as a microalloying constituent for achieving the desired mechanical properties has been outlined in this paper.
With control on base microstructure through optimized chemistry and hot working temperature, it was established by industrial research trials that the Microalloy
technique could replace some of the conventional alloy steel grades, thus leading to alloy conservation. Typical properties obtained and their applications have been
outlined for two microalloyed grades, with Vanadium as the principal microalloying constituent. There is a huge potential for use of these grades in different
applications, replacing the conventional alloy grades.

1.0 INTRODUCTION 3.0 RESULTS 4.0 BENEFITS

 The industrial experience gained in developing two microalloyed steel MICROSTRUCTURE OF HOT ROLLED BAR RELATED TO PROCESS STEP REDUCTION BY USE
grades, 38MnVS6 and 27MnSiVS6 for autocomponent application is COOLING OF MICROALLOYED STEEL
described in this presentation.
7 step
 The strength of microalloyed steels is obtained through precipitation Coarse Fine
process; 4
heating & 3
Microstructure Microstructure
of microalloy constituents such as carbides and nitrides in the matrix shaping

microstructure of ferrite and pearlite.

 Vanadium is preferable as a microalloy addition because of its
solubility at normal hot working temperatures.
 Scope exists for using this steel for auto component applications such
as connecting rods, crankshafts, power steering rack bar and shaft
applications. 3 step
1000°C Still Air Cooled 1000°C Forced Air Cooled process; 1
heating &

2.0 STUDY CARRIED OUT MECHANICAL PROPERTIES RELATED TO HOT WORKING

TEMPERATURE AND COOLING CONDITION
2 shaping

Solubility limits of Vanadium & Nitrogen Effect of hot working temperature on Hardness Effect of hot working temperature on Hardness
& Tensile strength of 38MnVS6
at various austenitising temperatures 285 940
& Tensile strength of 27MnSiVS6
265 900
38MnVS6 280
920
Tensile strength (Mpa)

27MnSiVS6 255 860

APPLICATION BASED DEVELOPMENT OF
Hardness (BHN)

275

Tensile Strength (Mpa)

Hardness (BHN)

Microalloyed Steels 900

270 245 820 MICROALLOYED STEEL GRADES
880
265 TYPE STRENGTHENING GRADE APPLICATIONS
235 780
860 MECHANISM COMPOSITION
1200°C 260
225 740 Basic Precipitation of Medium C Connecting Rod
840
255 Vanadium micro alloyed Crank Shaft
1100°C Carbide steel
250 820 215 700 Wheel Hub
1000°C 1100°C 1200°C 1000°C 1100°C 1200°C Improved Intensify Microalloyed Front Axle
Temperature Temperature Toughness precipitation of steel with lower Steering
Normalising Forced Air Cooled Hardness Still Air Cooled Tensile strength Still Air Cooled Hardness Forced Air Cooled Hardness V compounds C, and small Knuckle
38MnVS6, 27MnSiVS6 Forced Air Cooled Tensile Strength Still Air cooled Hardness Still Air Cooled tensile strength Forced Air Cooled Tensile strength
Lower Carbon addition of Cr Rear hub
Still Air & Forced Air Cooled support
EXAMPLES OF REPLACEMENT OF CONVENTIONAL QUENCH Connecting Rod
AND TEMPERED ALLOY STEELS WITH MICROALLOY GRADES High Lower Carbon Low Carbon Knuckle Spindle
FOR AUTOCOMPONENT APPLICATION Toughness Forms Direct
High Martensite / quenching
Strength Banite
1000°C 1200°C
From the above curve it is possible to
determine the hot working temperature
1100°C
5.0 CONCLUSIONS 20µ

for a given concentration of Vanadium

and Nitrogen. In the heat manufactured
by us Vanadium level was kept at 0.15%
and Nitrogen at 0.015%. From the above
graph the hot rolling temperature was
decided at 1220 deg C. This temperature
ensured that the austenite was
homogeneous prior to hot working.
1. Microalloyed steels are finding greater
 Resulting properties studied: acceptance in the autocomponent
 Microstructure properties industry due to its cost effectiveness w.r.t
 Hardenability
to processing and alloy composition.
 Tensile Properties
 Hardness, BHN
2. With proper hot working temperature
Vanadium goes completely into solution
and precipitates uniformly as V(C,N) or
VN particles giving maximum strength in
the direct cooled post forged component.

CHEMICAL COMPOSITION: 3. Mechanical properties obtained in as

forged condition are equivalent to the
Grade Type %C %Si %Mn %P %S %Cr %Mo %V %Ti %Al
N2 conventional Quench & Tempered alloy
(ppm) Rack Bar 27MnSiVS6 steel grades made of costly alloying
Microalloyed elements like Mo and Cr. Therefore ,
38MnVS6 0.38 0.59 1.26 0.013 0.034 0.13 0.007 0.155 0.015 0.015 158
Steel 1200°C Fan Cooled considerable alloy conservation could be
38MnVS6
Conventional obtained with the use of Microalloy steel
42Cr4Mo2 0.42 0.22 0.75 0.025 0.023 1.05 0.22 - - 0.025
Alloy Steel
technology.
Microalloyed
27MnSiVS6 0.27 0.60 1.48 0.020 0.034 0.17 0.007 0.11 0.014 0.015 178
Steel 4. It is recommended that the hot rolling
Conventional temperature be maintained as per
41Cr4 0.43 0.22 0.85 0.020 0.020 1.15 - - - 0.022
Alloy Steel
solubility curves. It is preferable to have
forced air cooling to obtain relatively
MECHANICAL PROPERTIES: finer grain size and better mechanical
properties.
Designation 0.2% Proof UTS Elongation Post forging heat treatment
stress ( MPa ) ( MPa ) (%) Air Cooled Quench & Temper 5. 38MnVS6 achieved very good results in
42CrMo4 680 min 850 - 1000 13  Pulsation test as reported by our
customer.
38MnVS6 580 min 850 - 1000 12 
(C38mod ) 6. Studies related to microstructure and
mechanical properties of higher
41Cr4 560 min 850 -1000 12  Axle shaft Vanadium and Nitrogen grades are being
27MnSiVS6 450 min 700 – 900 14  38MnVS6 44MnVS6
carried out.