Influence of Carbon Content on Superplastic Behaviour in Ti and B Doped Cr-Mo Steels

Superplasticity has been investigated in various ferrous alloys and steels. However, in these materials, especially in the hypoeutectoid steel bellow A1 temperature, the relationship between the content of carbon and elongation to failure is not obvious. In the present investigation, the influence of carbon content on superplastic behaviour is studied using carbon steels based on Cr-Mo steel. In order to obtain the fine grain structure, a small amount of Ti and B were added and the content of carbon was controlled to be in the range of 0.24% to 0.83%. The largest value of elongation to failure was 644% which was obtained by the tensile test of the specimen containing 0.58% carbon. The temperature and strain rate at which the maximum value was obtained were 710°C and 5×10-4s-1 respectively. Of all the specimens, this specimen had the minimum grain size. Moreover, the area fraction of carbide took the maximum value at the temperature where the largest elongation value was obtained. These results show that the addition of carbon has an effect on grain refinement by formation of carbide, but excess amounts of carbons (>0.6%) bring about premature failure because of coarse microstructure and larger carbide.