Nature of large precipitates in titanium-containing HSLA steels

Abstract

Samples of concast Nb–V, Nb–V–Ti, and Nb–Ti steels have been examined using analytical electron microscopy. It has been shown that the addition of titanium to niobium-containing high-strength low-alloyed (HSLA) steels results in undesirable precipitation in the steels, i.e. precipitation of large precipitates with various morphologies. The composition and distribution of the large precipitates has been determined. The thermal stability of these large precipitates has been assessed by carrying out various heat treatments such as annealing at and quenching from temperatures between 1050 and 1250°C, and using heat cycles which simulate the heat affected zone in welds. It has been found that some of these large precipitates are stable up to 1150°C and some up to the melting point of the steels. The significance of these observations is discussed in terms of the addition of titanium to HSLA steels.MST/641