Effects of Ti and B Addition on Microstructures and Mechanical Properties of Hot-Rolled High-Strength Nb-Containing Steels

Four microalloyed samples were designed to study the effects of Ti and B additions on microstructures and mechanical properties. Experimental results show that the samples without B addition mainly contain well-developed pearlite and polygonal ferrite, whereas the B-containing samples consist of degenerated pearlite, polygonal ferrite, and Widmanstatten ferrite (WF). The B addition promotes the precipitation of the complex (Ti,Al,Nb)N and (Ti,Al,Nb)2CS phases during the hot-rolling process. Grain sizes are significantly refined by the combinations of undissolved (Ti,Al)N, (Ti,Al,Nb)N complex, (Ti,Al,Nb)2CS, and fine inclusions, which act as the nucleation sites of intragranular ferrite. The core of complex (Ti,Al,Nb)N precipitate is undissolved Ti-N-rich (Ti,Al)N phase, and the cap is Nb-N-rich (Nb,Ti)N phase. The property measurements show that the B addition enhances comprehensive properties of tensile strength and elongation, but decreases fracture toughness due to higher contents of the WF and subgrains.