Solubility Products for VC and NbC in Bake Hardenable ULC Steels

摘要

For Ti-V and Ti-Nb bake hardenable Ultra Low Carbon (ULC) steels, the level of solute C must be controlled carefully during annealing of the steel in the ferritic region, and thus, knowledge of the solubility products of microalloy carbides such as NbC and VC in ferrite has a special significance. In this paper, solubility products for VC and NbC in Ti-bearing ULC steels alloyed with either V or Nb are obtained, based on an analysis of Snoek peak-heights measured using torsion pendulum internal friction testing. The methodology developed in this work includes consideration of applicable precipitation sequences, and the results are critically assessed in the context of previous reports.