The Basics of Ferrous Metallurgy

Thermodynamics of TiN Formation in Melts: Part One

In steelmaking process, a strong nitride forming element such as titanium is often added to stabilize nitrogen and improve mechanical properties of steel through the grain refinement during hot rolling.
Recently, the formation of titanium nitride as a secondary inclusion precipitated during solidification received great interest because it is known to help the formation of equi-axed cast structure. On the other hand, titanium nitride formed in liquid steel can agglomerate and cause a nozzle clogging during continuous casting and surface quality problems of final products. In order to control the formation titanium nitride in various grades of steel, it is essential to have accurate thermodynamic data of titanium and nitrogen in steel.

Thermodynamics of TiN Formation in Melts: Part Two

In steelmaking process, a strong nitride forming element such as titanium is often added to stabilize nitrogen and improve mechanical properties of steel through the grain refinement during hot rolling.
The validity of TiN thermodynamic parameters can be examined by constructing the stability diagram of TiN for both Fe-Cr and Fe-Si melts and by observing the formation of primary and secondary TiN inclusions at controlled titanium and nitrogen contents in melt.

Ultra Low Carbon Bainitic Steels: Part One

A relatively new class of material, ULCB steels have been developed over the last twenty years or so with an aim to producing materials with all-purpose high strength and toughness.
By comparing cooling behavior in CCT diagrams between HSLA-80 and a ULCB steel it is possible to make some interesting conclusions related to the micro structure of the materials and the challenges associated with classification using optical microscopy.

Ultra Low Carbon Bainitic Steels: Part Two

Although one of the most hotly debated microstructure topics, control of bainitic transformation can lead to a range of diversified gains over the mechanical properties of the finished product.
Specific studies of the relationship between cooling rate and finished cooling temperature show interesting findings related to the distribution of granular bainite, martensite-austenite constituent, bainitic ferrite, and polygonal ferrite.

Ultra Low Carbon Interstitial Free Steels

This article examines Ultra Low Carbon (ULC) Interstitial Free (IF) steels, highlighting their significance in automotive and industrial applications. These specialized steels, characterized by the absence of interstitial solute atoms in their iron lattice, offer superior formability and excellent surface quality. The paper discusses their production processes, chemical composition, and stabilization techniques using titanium and niobium.

Ultra-Fine Grained Steels