Role of Vanadium Microalloying in Austenite Conditioning and Pearlite Microstructure in Thermomechanically Processed Eutectoid Steels

Multipass torsion tests were carried out with two eutectoid steels, one microalloyed with vanadium, using different deformation sequences. The aim of the study was to investigate the potency of vanadium in the retardation of recrystallization for accumulating strain in the austenite. The study showed that at certain deformation conditions well defined non-recrystallization temperatures (Tnr) were observed in the vanadium microalloyed steel. As a consequence, an increase in the austenite grain boundary area per unit volume (SV) was obtained which led to a refinement of the "ferrite unit" size in the pearlite.