Effect of Forging Parameters on the Microstructure and Properties of Medium Carbon Microalloyed Steels

In recent years, efforts at reducing manufacturing costs for moderate to high strength steel components has provided a major driving force for the development, evaluation and application of high strength low alloy (HSLA) or microalloyed (MA) steels with ferrite-pearlite microstructure. In order to improve or control the final properties of a part forged from MA steels, the effects of thermo-mechanical processing on final properties need to be investigated. Isothermal upset tests were conducted, on two MA steels, TMS-80R (Vanadium MA steel) and TMS-80R+Ti (Titanium modified Vanadium MA steel). The flow behavior as well as preliminary relationships between processing conditions and microstructure were established for these two steels. Further, forging trials were conducted at a forging facility to obtain relationships between processing conditions and mechanical properties. In this paper the results observed in the isothermal upset tests as well as the pancake forging trials are reported. The effect of forging temperature, and strain on microstructure, and mechanical properties as observed and recorded in the forging trials are summarized and reported here.