Characterization of Hardenability and Mechanical Properties of B-Bearing Microalloyed Steels for Cold Forging

붕소함유 냉간단조용 비조질강의 경화능 및 기계적 특성평가

Four microalloyed steels containing B were investigated in terms of hardenability, mechanical properties and microstructure depending upon the cooling rates in order to develop the steel grade for the cold forged fasners. The alloy with the largest DI value among 4 alloys, which contains $0.12\%\;C,\;1.54\%\;Mn,\;0.65\%\;Cr,\;0.11\%V,\;0.040\%Ti\;and\;0.0033\%B$, showed the larest shift to the right hand side in the TTT diagram, implying the wide allowable cooling rate range subsequent to hot rolling in long bar processing, Mechanical tests indicated that yield strength are dependent upon the DI value in water quenched specimens but other properties showed almost the same values. In the same grade of steel, the increase in cooling rates causes the decrease in elongation but the increase in strength, reduction of area and Charpy impact values. Microstructural examination in steel grade with the larest DI values revealed martensitic structure In the water quenched state, a mixture of martensite and bainite in the oil quenched, and ferrite + pearlite in the air cooled and the forced air cooled but the latter showed finer microstructure.