Microalloyed Strip Steels for the 21st Century

Abstract

Over the last quarter-century, microalloyed steels (MA) have attained a premier position in the spectrum of high-quality steel products. Recent history has shown that microalloyed steels are used when high performance and low cost are essential. In the early days of MA steels, around 1970, they were little more than modifications of existing carbon steels. The most popular examples of the early MA steels were products intended for linepipe, strip and forging use. As a better understanding of the behavior of microalloying elements evolved, especially the synergy with hot deformation, the later MA steels started to take on characteristics quite different from both carbon and even earlier MA steels. The evolutionary improvement in MA steels will undoubtedly continue well into the 21st century. This evolution will be aided by understanding how MA elements (MAE) act in contemporary steels. The purpose of this paper is to discuss some recent advances in our understanding of modern MA strip and sheet steels. It is hoped that a better understanding of the various metallurgical phenomena will not only lead to better steels in the future but also aid in the more realistic modeling of these materials.