1.

Optical General Microstructure

1.1. Microstructures of Air-Cooled Steels
Figures 1(a) to (c) show the optical microstructures of granular bainite (GB) and lath or platelike bainite (PB) obtained in the steels processed at different FRTs. Granular bainite is usually
distinguished as small (<10 m) grains with grey contrast. Presence of prior austenite grain
boundaries (PAGB) is also apparent which is normally considered as the nucleating site for
bainitic ferrite (BF) penetrating towards grain interior. Similar type of microstructural
observations have also been reported earlier in a low carbon (0.06 wt %) microalloyed steel by
Chen et al. [1]. Ghosh et al.[2] reported a similar type of observation in Ti, Nb microalloyed
HSLA steel.The measured average grain size of pan-caked austenite grains lies in the range of
20-30 m at 850C FRT. The grain size is found to decrease with lowering of FRT which is in
good agreement to the achievable grain refinement with the lowering of FRT.
1(a
)

1(b
)

1(c)

Fig.1. Optical micrographs of air cooled specimens processed at (a) 850C FRT, (b) 800C FRT and (c)
750C FRT.

1.2. Microstructures of Water-Quenched Steels

Figs. 2(a) to (c) show the optical microstructures of water quenched steels processed at different
FRTs. The microstructural features exhibit mixture of lower bainite and lath martensitic structure in prior
pan-caked austenite grains (15-20 m) which are clearly demarcated by the contrast developed by the
bright martensitic lath and shaded bainitic lath. It is perceived that lath structure becomes gradually finer
with the lowering of FRT which is in good agreement with the results reported earlier [48, 50 of project].

2(a)

2(b

2(c)

Fig. 2. Optical micrograph of water quenched specimens processed at (a) 850C FRT, (b) 800C FRT and
c) 750C FRT.

Fig. 2. Optical micrograph of water quenched specimens processed at (a) 850C FRT, (b) 800C FRT and
c) 750C FRT.

2. TEM microstructure
2.1. Microstructures of Air-Cooled Steels
Fig. 3 shows the bright field (BF) electron image of the air cooled steel processed at different FRTs.
Primarily bainitic lath along with the fine microalloying precipitates (< 35-40 nm) inside the lath is seen
in Fig. 3(a) whereas Fig. 3(b) shows the needle like carbide particles as the characteristic features of
bainitic lath. Fig. 3(c) demonstrates plate like lower bainite consisting of plate like ferrite with carbide
inside the bainitic ferrite lath. The average width of bainitic lath is obtained as about 400 nm (Fig. 3(c)).
The high density dislocation networks and dislocation tangles inside the bainitic lath can also be seen in
Fig. 3(d) which is additional contributor to ultra high strength in the present steel. The abundant planar
array of dislocations, dislocation nodeprecipitate interaction as seen in Fig. 3(d) are the other significant
parameters contributing to strengthening of the present steel which is in good conformity to the results
reported earlier [3].

3a

3b

6PA

6QA

3c

6RA
Fig. 3. Bright field TEM images of air cooled samples processed at different FRTs
showing (a) fine microalloying precipitates inside bainitc lath, (b) needle like carbide
inside the lath, (c) plate like lower bainite inside bainitc ferrite lath.

2.2. Microstructures of Water-Quenched Steels

The bright field (BF) electron image of the water quenched steel processed at 750C FRT is depicted in
Fig. 4. Mixture of lower bainite and lath martensitic structure along with dislocations and precipitation of
microalloying carbide and carbonitride particles are characteristic microstructural features of the water
quenched steel which can be seen in Fig. 4(a). The average width of lath martensite has been found to be
about 150-200 nm. A fine precipitate in the range of 35-40 nm inside the lath is shown in Fig. 4(b). Both
the refinement of lath structure and microalloying precipitates is readily attributed to lower FRT. The dark
interlath region of the lath martensite and its corresponding dark field (DF) image along with the SAD
pattern at the inset are shown in Fig. 4(c) and (d) respectively. The dark field image shows the interlath
region of white contrast which can be conjectured as the film of retained austenite (R) elongated towards
the direction of deformation.

6PW

4(a)

6PW

4(b)

6PW

4(C
)

4(d
)

Fig. 4. Bright field TEM images of water quenched samples processed at 750C FRT showing (a) Mixture
of lower bainite and lath martensite along with microalloying precipitates, (b) fine precipitate inside
martensite lath, (c) dark interlath region of lath martensite and (d) corresponding DF image of the
interlath region showing film of retained austenite showing the SAD pattern at the inset.

3. Microalloying precipitates
3.1. Microalloying precipitates of Air-Cooled Steels
Fig.5(a) to (f) show the TEM BF micrograph dark precipitate particles within the bainitic ferite
of air cooled steel obtained at different FRTs and EDS spectra from the precipitate particles.
Fig. 5(e) and (f) show the TEM BF micrograph of dark coarse precipitate particles within the bainitic
ferrite of air cooled steel obtained at 750C FRT and the corresponding EDS spectra from the precipitate
particles. The corresponding EDS spectra from these coarse particles reveal that the particles are rich in
Ti and Nb indicating formation of (Ti, Nb)C precipitates within bainitc ferrite lath and Ti and Nb along
with C and N resulting in the indication of the formation of (Ti, Nb)CN particle within the aforesaid lath.

6PA

5(a)

5(b)

6QA

5(c)

5(d
)

6RA
RA

5(e)

5(f)

Fig.5. TEM BF micrograph showing dark precipitate particles within the bainitic ferite of air
cooled steel obtained at different FRTs and EDS spectra from the precipitate particles.

3.2.

Microalloying

precipitates

of

Water-Quenched

Steels
Fig.6(a) to(f) show TEM BF micrograph of fine precipitate particles within the lath martensite of
water quenched steel obtained at differrent FRTs and the corresponding EDS spectra from the
precipitate particles. The fine precipitate inside lath martensite is a typical (Ti, Nb)C particle and
Ti, Nb along with C and N resulting in the indication of the formation of (Ti, Nb)CN particle
within the lath as obtained from the signal of EDS spectrum.
During rolling, the deformation induced abundant dislocation arrays and dislocation nodes could act
as preferred nucleation sites for these precipitates. It is worth mentioning that nano-sized fine precipitate
has pronounced effect in grain refinement by the pinning action to the grain boundary migration; whereas
the relatively large precipitate is less effective in this regard. So, grain refinement and dislocationprecipitate interactions are basically two phenomena which contribute significantly to ultra high strength
properties in the present steel.

6PW

6(a)

6PW

6(b
)

6QW

6(c)

6(d)

6RW

6(e)

6(f)

Fig. 6. TEM BF micrograph showing the dark precipitate particles within the lath martensite of
water quenched steel obtained at 750C FRT and EDS spectra from the precipitate particles.

References
1.Chen Jun, Tang Shuai, Liu Zhen-Yu, Wang Guo-Dong, Microstructural characteristics with
various cooling paths and the mechanism of embrittlement and toughening in low-carbon high
performance bridge steel, Materials Science & Engineering A 559 (2013) 241249.
2. A. Ghosh, S. Das, S. Chatterjee, B. Mishra, and P. Ramachandra
Rao: Mater. Sci. Eng., 2003, vol. A348, pp. 299308.
3. Queyreau Sylvain, Monnet Ghiath, Devincre Benoit, Orowan strengthening and forest
hardening superposition examined by dislocation dynamics simulations, Acta Materialia 58
(2010) 55865595.