MicDif - Microstructure evolution in high precision strip steel during heat treatment
| Reference number | |
| Coordinator | SWERIM AB - Produktionsteknik |
| Funding from Vinnova | SEK 498 000 |
| Project duration | November 2020 - December 2022 |
| Status | Completed |
| Venture | Research infrastructure - utilisation and collaboration |
| Call | Industrial pilot projects for utilisation of large-scale infrastructures for neutron and photon based techniques – 2020 |
| End-of-project report | 2020-03796__voestalpinePrecisionStripAB.pdf (pdf, 218 kB) |
Important results from the project
The goal of the work is to investigate the relationship between heat treatment and microstructure in high-performance martensitic steels. Multiple phases form in martensitic steel after heat treatment in a certain quantity depending on the alloy composition which is not yet fully understood. In the project, we tried to monitor the evolution and quantify the phase composition of the material during and after heat treatment. The following phase evolution was not satisfactory, but the quantitative studies performed on pre-treated materials are highly satisfactory.
Expected long term effects
The project generated valuable knowledge about the effects of heat treatment on the phase composition of martensitic steel. The ability of the instrument for in-situ heating and simultaneous measurements was confirmed and some of the limitations were also identified. The project also helped to validate the results of some of the previous works performed using conventional techniques at Swerim and voestalpine Precision Strip AB.
Approach and implementation
High energy synchrotron X-ray diffraction allows to reliably characterize phases in the steel during simulated heat treatments which are used by the industry. The measurements were performed at the P07 beamline at DESY in close collaboration with the facility staff. The sample preparation and data analysis routines were tested and will be used by Swerim and voestalpine in other projects involving similar techniques. We foresee in the future that the P07 beamline or other similar beamlines can become a platform for studying microstructure in steel during or after heat treatments.