Effect of Rolling Process on the Microstructure and

Mechanical Properties of Low Carbon V-N Steel

CAO Yan1, HUANG Zhen-yi1, WANG Ping1, YIN Gui-quan1,
LIU Xiang-hua2, WANG Guo-dong2
(1. School of Material Science and Engineering, Anhui University of Technology, Maanshan 243002, China;
2. State Key Lab of Rolling and Automation, Northeastern University, Shenyang 110004, China)

Abstract: The effects of rolling process on the microstructure and mechanical properties were studied for the low carbon V-N steels
with different carbon contents. The tensile strength properties and microstructural features of steels under various reduction and
finish rolling temperature were determined. The results show that V-N strengthening effects were largely influenced by the rolling
process parameters in the low carbon V-N steels. With the increase of carbon content in the steel and rolling reduction, the resultant
ferrite grain size became smaller, and therefore caused the enhanced strength. It was observed that higher finish rolling temperature
and larger deformation were suitable for the V-N steels with the higher carbon content. On the other hand, lower finish rolling
temperature and larger deformation should be adopted for those with the lower carbon content.
Key words: V-N microalloyed steel; controlled rolling; mechanical properties

1 Introduction N), therefore change the microstructure and

Vanadium is an effective and controllable precipitation
strengthening element in low carbon steels. For low
carbon V-N microalloyed steels containing a higher N
content, the solubility of VN in austenite and ferrite is
much lower than that of VC. As a result, precipitation
of V(C, N) is usually accelerated and the precipitation
strengthening effect of V causes the higher strength in
the steels [1,2].
The controlled rolling has been well investigated in
V-N microalloying steels. It has been found that the
strengthening effects of V-N are largely determined by
the thermo-mechanical control process (TMCP)[3,4]. At
the beginning of the rolling, the austenitic grains are
refined through austenite recrystallization after the
rolling deformation[2]. There is no doubt that the finish
rolling temperature and reduction also influence the
growth of austenite grains and the precipitation of V(C,
mechanical properties of the rolled steels. However,
scarce work has been reported on the optimization of
the process parameters for the low carbon V-N steels.
In this work, the effects of rolling process parameters
on the microstructure and mechanical properties in the
steels containing V-N （ V: 0.10-0.12%, N:100-200
ppm）were investigated in order to obtain optimal
TMCP conditions for the steels.
2 Experimental Procedure
2.1 Materials
Three low carbon V-N steels with different carbon
contents are used in this research. The chemical
compositions of the steels are shown in Table1.
2.2 Controlled rolling process
The rolling experiments are carried out on a φ180 mm
two-roller rolling laboratory mill. Three groups of

Table 1 Chemical compositions of experimental steels (wt，%)

Sample C Si Mn P S V N Als
1 0.19 0.45 1.35 0.01 0.0059 0.100 0.014 <0.005
2 0.11 0.41 1.32 0.01 0.0062 0.110 0.014 -
3 0.06 0.41 1.32 0.01 0.0063 0.110 0.014 -

foundation Item: Item Sponsored by State Key Lab of Rolling and Automation, Northeastern University (2003-1)
Author: CAO Yan (1963 ), Femail, Associate professor, E-mail: caoyan@ahut.edu.cn
blank samples (H20×B40×L200 mm) were heated
in a furnace to 1150 ℃ for 30 min. The samples are
then rolled at a start rolling temperature 1100 ℃, and
finish rolling temperature 950 ℃ and 900 ℃
respectively. The rolling reduction is controlled to
30%, 40% and 50% respectively for different samples.
The rolling reduction per pass is larger than 20% in
order to avoid critical deformation and ensure refined
γ grain. The rolled samples are air-cooled after rolling.
2.3 Tension test and microstructure observation
Tensile specimens with a 20×20 mm section are
made. The tensile test was carried out on a universal
testing machine, and the yield strength and tensile
strength are measured.
Metallographic observation samples are prepared by
mechanical polishing and subsequently etching with
4% nitric acid alcohol solution. The metallographic
morphologies are observed with a Neophot-2 optical
microscope. The average grain size of the ferrite
microstructure is measured by the intercept method.
Each sample is observed and measured for about 500
grains, and the average grain size is then calculated[5].
600
950℃
σs/MPa
The mechanical properties of the three steels under the
different rolling process are showed in Fig.1. The
optimal rolling parameter for the steel with the higher
carbon content sample (No.1) is the finish rolling
temperature 950 ℃, and the reduction ratio 50%. The
higher finish rolling temperature and larger reduction
ratio are suitable for the carbon steel to obtain the best
mechanical properties through the recrystallization
control during rolling. On the other hand, the optimal
rolling parameters for the lower carbon content
samples (No.2 and No.3) are at a finish rolling
temperature of 900 ℃, and a reduction ratio of 50%
and 40%. In these steels, non-recrystallization control
rolling, i.e. the lower finish rolling temperature and
larger reduction ratio, is necessary for achieving best
mechanical properties.
With the lower carbon content, the recrystallization
temperature of the steel is increased. For sample No.1
the finish rolling temperature of 950℃ is in the range
of recrystallization temperature, and therefore belongs
to the recrystallization controlled rolling. The
recrystallization austenite grains form in the deformed
austenite through some time period and repeated
recrystallization occurs. The ferrite grains form at the
austenite grain boundaries with the γ → α
transformation processes. The refined austenite grains

1 900℃
500 900℃ therefore reduce a refined ferrite microstructure with
2 950℃ the increased austenite grain boundaries[2]. For
3 900℃
950℃ samples No.1 the finish rolling temperature of 900℃
400
is lower than the recrystallization temperature of the
20% 30% 40% 50% 60%
steel. Therefore larger reduction ratio is required in
Deformation
order to obtain the optimized mechanical properties.
750 For samples of No.2 and No.3 that have lower carbon
950℃
1 contents, the finish rolling temperature of 950℃ and
σb/MPa

650 900℃

2 900℃ 900 ℃ , is in the range of non-recrystallization

950℃
550 3 900℃ temperatures, and the rolling therefore belongs to
950℃
non-recrystallization controlled rolling. However, VN
450 precipitation occurs at this finish rolling temperature,
20% 30% 40% 50% 60% and the lower finish rolling temperature causes the
Deformation more obvious VN precipitation. The precipitation
Fig. 1 Mechanical property of the three steels hot-rolled brings in more nucleation sites, and the finer ferrite
under the different rolling parameters grains are obtained after γ → α transformation.
1 - Steel No.1; 2 - Steel No.2; 3 - Steel No.3 Meanwhile, more deformation bands occur at lower
finish rolling temperature, which is beneficial for the
3 Results and Discusses formation of fine ferrite gains. The density of the
3.1 Rolling parameter optimization for the deformation bands increases obviously with the
TMCP process increase of reduction ratio. An adequate reduction
ratio is necessary to avoid the retainment of
deformation bands in the microstructure. Experiment
shows that the optimal mechanical properties are
obtained with lower finish rolling temperature and
larger reduction ratio. As reduction ratio becomes
larger, grain deformation is increased and grain
refining is enhanced. Theσb is reduced relatively as
the σs is ascended.
3.2 Effects of the rolling parameters on final
microstructure
The microstructure of the samples under several
rolling processes is observed. The original austenite
microstructure and the ferrite microstructure under the
optimal parameters are shown in Fig.2.
The microstructure under various rolling processes is
composed of ferrite grains and pearlite microstructure.
The ferrite grains are quite refined. As shown in
Fig.2(b), finer ferrite grains are obtained in samples
No.1 at the high finish rolling temperature and the
larger deformation amount. And the percentage of
pearlite microstructure has also increased obviously.
(a) Microstructures of initial austenite
(c) Steel No.2, finish rolling at 900℃, deformation 50%
Fig. 2 Microstructures of the steels under different rolling processes
In the other case, a mixed grain structure, has also
been found. It is considered that the recrystallization
grains after deformation is softer than the grains
without recrystallization. And the soft grains may be
easily deformed and subsequent recrystallization
occurs in those grains and makes the local regions
much finer. As a result, the inhomogeneous
microstructure is retained in the steels. As shown in
Fig.2(c), ferrite bands are clearly observed with large
fraction. The lower rolling temperature causes the
intensified austenite deformation bands, and ferrite
grains form in the former austenite bands with the
similar morphology. In contrast, with a lower rolling
reduction of 40% at the finish rolling temperature of
900 ℃ homogeneous ferrite grains are observed, as
shown in Fig.2(d). In this case austenite deformation
bands have not developed obviously.
Fig.3 shows the average grain size in the three steels
under different rolling processes. A larger rolling
reduction causes the decreases of ferrite grain size in
all the steels.
(b) Steel No.1 , finish rolling at 950℃, deformation 50%
(d) Steel No.3 , finish rolling at 900℃, deformation 40%
 rolling parameters of higher carbon content are higher
16
1号钢 finish rolling temperature and larger reduction ratio.
14 2号钢
3号钢 The better rolling parameters of lower carbon content
12
are lower finish rolling temperature and larger
10

8
reduction ratio.
μm

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