Optimization of mechanical properties of a micro alloyed steel

In this work, the effect of hot deformation temperature on microstructure and mechanical properties of micro alloyed steel was studied. The results indicated that by decreasing the deformation temperature final microstructure is refined and the volume fraction of grain boundary ferrite is increased and some pearlite is produced. Therefore both the yield strength and ultimate tensile strength is increased, while the toughness is preserved in comparison to a ferritic–pearlitic microstructure. Also a model was developed to relate the deformation condition to the volume fraction of acicular ferrite at mixed microstructure.