mechanical and service properties of low carbon steels processed by severe plastic deformation

The structure and properties of the 0,09% C-Mn-Si-Nb-V-Ti, 0,1% C-Mn-V-Ti and 0,09% C-Mo-V-Nb low-carbon steels were studied after cold equal-channel angular pressing (ECAP). ECAP leads to the formation of partially submicrocrystalline structure with a grain size of 150 – 300 nm. The submicrocrystalline 0,09% C-Mn-Si-Nb-V-Ti steel compared with the normalized steel is characterized by Re higher more than by a factor of 2 and by the impact toughness higher by a factor of 3,5 at a test temperature of -40°C. The plasticity in this case is somewhat lower. The high-strength state of the submicrocrystalline 0,1% C-Mn-V-Ti and 0,09% C-Mo-V-Nb steels after ECAP is retained up to a test temperature of 500°C. The strength properties at 600°C (i.e. the fire resistance ) of these steels are higher by 20-25% as compared to those of the undeformed steels. The strength of the 0,09% C-Mo-V-Nb steel at 600°C is substantially higher than that of the 0,1% C-Mn-V-Ti steel.