Third International Symposium on Railroad Tank Cars I The Physical Metallurgy of Normalized Plate Steels

摘要

Normalizing of steel plates is primarily used to enhance toughness, reduce variability in machinability and mechanical properties, and make the mechanical properties within a plate more isotropic compared to rolled plates. Although the normalizing process has been used in the production of steel plates for many years, our understanding of the physical metallurgy of such steels continues to evolve. This paper reviews the physical metallurgy of normalized ferrite/pearlite and ferrite/pearlite/bainite steel plates. The effects of carbon and other elements in steel, prior structure, normalizing temperature, transformation temperature, cooling rate, precipitation in ferrite, and tempering are discussed. Recently developed data on the effects of niobium and titanium are also presented. In addition, guidelines for a good normalizing practice and suggested areas for further research are provided.