Development of Laminar Flow Cooling of Ultra-High Strength Ferrite-Bainite Dual Phase Steel

In the present paper, controlled cooling in different ways was performed using a laboratory hot rolling mill in ultra-high strength hot rolled ferrite-bainite dual phase (DP) steel. The results have shown that the final microstructures of DP steel comprise ferrite, bainite and a small amount of retained austenite and martensite. DP steel has a tensile strength ranging from 1010 to 1130MPa and yet retains considerable total elongation in the range of 14–17%. The addition of Mn and Nb to DP steel leads to the maximum ultimate tensile strength, yield strength and the product of ultimate tensile strength and total elongation due to the formation of retained austenite and granular bainite structure. Laminar flow cooling after hot rolling results in a significant increase in the quantity of ferrite and bainite due to the suppression of pearlite transformation, and as a result, the present steel possesses high strengths and good toughness.