Effect of Cooling Rate on the Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of Nb-Microalloyed Steels

摘要

The paper describes the effect of cooling rate on the microstructure and mechanical properties of Nb-microalloyed steels that were processed as structural beams. With increase in cooling rate the microstructure transforms from predominantly ferrite-pearlite to lath/bainitic ferrite. This change in the morphology is responsible for superior strength-toughness combination at high cooling rates.