TECHNICAL INFORMATION

EFFECT OF INOCULATION ON THE PROPERTIES OF 7Kh2SMF

ROLLER STEEL
V. I. Kiselev, G. E. Zvigintseva,
and N. L. Nikolaeva

UDC 669.14.018.258.5

Premature failure of cold-rolled rollers is often caused by lamination, a defect which

is closely linked with the formation of fatigue failure sources [i]. Electroslag remelting
(ESR) has a positive effect on the resistance of steel to failure, since it facilitates the
reduction of its chemical heterogeneity, reduces the amount of nonmetallic inclusions, increases the density of the metal, etc.
It is a point of interest to study in great detail
the effect of ESR on the properties of roller steels.
In this investigation we give the results of a study of the effect of the electrochemical
inoculation of the 7Kh2SMF steel by rare earth (REM) and rare metals (RM) during electroslag
remelting.
The essence of the electrochemical inoculation is that in the composition of the flux used
in ESR, the oxides of elements inoculants are introduced, which in remelting are restored at
the metal-slag interface according to the electrochemical reactions and become dissolved in
the metal [2]. Such a method of inoculation ensures a uniform distribution of inoculants all
over the ingot volume, which has a positive effect on the steel properties [3, 4].
The remelting was done on an EShP-0.25 device in a 180-mm-diameter crystallizer under
flux ANF-6 with additions of REM oxides of the cerium group (OREM) and rare metals such as
niobium, tantalum, and zirconium (OREM) The flux for ESR was prepared by mechanical mixing
of fined materials.
As cathodes were used 90-mm diameter forged blanks; the chemical compositions of the initial and remelted metal are given in Table i.
An investigation of the macrostructure and the dendritic structure was carried out on
trasverse templates cut to half ingot height.
The dendritic structure was exposed by etching
in the Steda reagent.
As quantitative criteria of the dendritic structure were used its
density Pd, the ratio of the base and interbase sections of areas determined on the automatic
analyzer "Quantimet-720," and the degree of dispersion K0, the number of axes per unit length.
The content of nonmetallic inclusions was determined on specimens cut from peripheral at a
distance of 15 to 20 mm from the surface) and central zones of the ingot.
On each polished
specimen, using a magnification of 500, I00 fields of view were examined; the inclusions
were measured by means of an ocular rule and divided according to their composition into four
groups: oxides, sulfides, oxysulfides, and nitrides.
Specimens for mechanical testing were cut from longitudinal templates at a distance of
15-20 mm from the ingot surface according to GOST 1497-73.
The contamination of the metal was
assessed from the ratio of the number of inclusions to the surface area under consideration.
Up to 500 measurements were taken from one specimen for plotting graphs representing microhardness as a function of frequency.
The metal of all ingots is characterized by high density.
A qualitative analysis of
the microstructure showed its weak dependence on the type and amount of additions to the flux.
The templates show two structural zones: a peripheral (width 25-30 mm) with crystallites of
insignificant direction and a central which has coarser equiaxial crystallites.
However, it
should be pointed out that remelting under fluxes of varying composition causes considerable
changes in the dendritic structure.
The axes of dendrites thicken, i.e., the cross section
of the area of their branches increases, which in qualitative assessment shows itself as an
increase in the density of the dendritic structure as a result of inoculation.
For example,
Pd in the surface zone increases 1.5 to 2.7 times while in the center it increases 2.5-5 times
(Table 2). Simultaneously an equalization of the structure takes place over the ingot cross

Translated from Metallovedenie

September, 1987.

704

i Termicheskaya Obrabotka Metallov,

0026-0673/87/0910-0704512.50

No. 9, pp. 57-60,

1988 Plenum Publishing Corporation

TABLE i
E l e m e n t c o n t e n t , "@~
Melt

Flux ESR

Si

Mn [

A,[V
~.__i.~M.._.___Zo
N~ [

0,77 I0,012 O, 024 ,2,0

0,88 ] 0,006 0,029 , 9 5
0,88 ] 0,005 0,026 11,97
0,69 0,73 0,76 ] 0,003 0,028 2 , 0
0,72 I 0,75 0,4910,903 0,025 '2,01

0,79 0,93
0,78
0,66
0,77 0,65

Electrode t t
ANF-6
2
A N F - 6 ~.
+ s :4 t)REM
a
ANFg5-~
q- ~o ~ O R E M
4
ANF-5-~
+ 10% OREM

Ce

0,31 0,48 0,066 0,3I

0,20 0,46 iO, 028] 0,22
0,20 0,48 O,021 0,21 0,006
0,18 0,44 [0,024J 0,24 0,009
0,18 0,39 !0,0231 0,25

Note.
In addition to the listed elements melt 4 contained
0.025% Nb and 0.01% Zr.
TABLE 2.

o.)
I
1 ,0

~d

HV

46/0 24(1 99) 407/337 (I,2)

2 I~32/1~2 (1,{)
0,9/0,7 (1,28)
43 0,67/0,6 (1,12)

355/376 (0,95)
344/386 (0,89)
299/326(0,91)

Dispersion

343/514
342/553
585/648
384/490

Note.
The numerator gives the
properties of the ingot surface
and the denominator gives the
same for its center, the ratio
of these properties is shown in
brackets.
section: the ratio of densities
times.

Pd of the surface zone and the central zone decreases 1.5-1.7

The main effect of REM on the structure and properties of steels is associated with
their surface-active properties.
Therefore the most intense effect of EEM on the dendritic
structure of the steel under investigation compared with RM is attributable to their greater
activity (Table 2). The positive effect of inoculation additions to the distribution of the
structure over the ingot cross section can be due to the mode of their introduction in the
steel.
In addition, the effects being observed can be associated with the temperature conditions of crystallization at ESR [6].
The absorption phenomena within the steel crystallization process determine the conditions of crystal formation; they are apparently responsible for the changes in the ratio
of the areas of axial and interaxial sections.
In this connection the presence in the metal
of elements with surface-active properties can affect the microliquated chemical heterogeneity
More reliable information on the chemical heterogeneity as compared with the coefficients
of liquation is obtained from the determination of dispersion which characterizes the weighted
mean deviation of the experimental values of the concentrationof the liquefying element from
its average content [5].
The calculation of dispersion, carried out on the basis of measurements of hardness
(between the values of hardness and the carbon content in the hardened steel there exists a
direct relationship) showed that in ingots, after inoculating remelting with OREM, both in
the surface and in the central zones the degree of heterogeneity of carbon increase.
A less
distinct increase of the degree of heterogeneity near the surface and even a reduction of it
in the central zone of the ingot with RM is attributable to a different interaction of R E M a n d R M
with the components of the steel.
In addition, REM and P@I have a different effect on the
diffusion of carbon in its hard state, which shows itself in homogenization of varying degrees
during preliminary heat-treatment (annealing and heating for hardening).
Figure i shows the frequency graphs of hardness.
The inoculation of REM and RM causes a
causes a change in the type of distribution of carbon in steel.
If the hardness graphs of
the surface zone of ingots after ESR without additions to the flux and with 5% of OREM indicate

705

n,%

ii
fl],
60

40

I,

\1
250

500

350 600
b

Fig. 1

450 H

Fig. 2

Fig. i. Frequency graphs of microhardness (n is the frequency of cases): a, b)

central and surface zones of ingots respectively; 1,2,3,4) No. of melts.
Fig. 2. Microstructure of the 7Kh2SMFsteel in the surface zone (250): a,b) are
melts 1 and 2, respectively.
a smooth, relatively uniform variation of carbon content within the crystallite, then after
ESR with 10% OREM and 10% ORM there appears a sharp distribution over the zones with different
average carbon contents. Consequently, the inoculation of the steel being investigated
facilitates the development of microchemical heterogeneity in its surface layer. In the
central zone of ingots with REM, on the other hand, the microzonal (predominantly interdendritic) distribution of carbon is more uniform. The character of the liquating heterogeneity with regard to carbon in the ingot center with RM relative to the surface zone does
not change.
Thus, the inoculation of the 7Kh2SMF steel during ESR, REM, and RM affects not only the
degree of microheterogeneity with regard to carbon, but also the character of its distribution.
In addition, an analysis of the mean values of hardness showed that in different crystallization conditions the mass transfer of carbon in the presence of REM and RM changes to such an
extent that it affects the zonal liquation: in the central part of the inoculated ingots the
carbon content is higher than in the surface part. This effect becomes most intense for ESR
with a i0% addition Of OREM to the flux.
Metallographic investigations showed that an increase in the microliquation heterogeneity
of carbon in the surface zone of the ingot leads to the strengthening of the carbide heterogeneity. In the interdendritic regions, at the points of increased carbon content larger
accumulations of carbides take place. Etching of hardened specimens by the reagent which is
used to expose the melt structures with silicon [mixture of fluoric and nitric acids (2:1)
with glycerine] also clearly illustrate the heterogeneity of distribution of the main alloying
components with inoculation (Fig. 2). Areas with such structural heterogeneity are correlated
with the density of the dendritic structure. At the same time the structure in the areas with
increased etching ability changes in proportion to the change of inoculating additions. The
acicular structure similar to martensite changes, owing to a reduction in the size of needles
and greater smudging, becomes more "structureless".
The introduction of REM in steel has a considerable effect on the composition, size, and
number of nonmetallic inclusions (Fig. 3). The metal in the surface zone of the ingot melted
under a flux containing 10% OREM is much less contaminated by inclusions of all types. The
content of oxide inclusions decreases in this case as a result of reduction of the amount of
fine inclusions. The oxide parameters being considered in the ingot center are practically
independent of the presence in the flux of OREM, although as far as other types of nometallic
inclusions are concerned the metal in this case remains in the ingot center also of higher
purity. Notice should be taken of the heterogeneity of contamination of ingots over the
section by sulfides, oxysulfides, and nitrides.

706

TABLE 3

o,~ I %

Melt

N/ram z

690
635
565
620

a B

950 1 1 3 , 7 5
910 I 1 2 ' 7 5
820
14,25
890
14,0

Ilcm2
36,0
32,5
39,0
34,0

24,0/6,95
26,5/8,20
31,0/7.35
27,0/10,0

Note. The numerator gives the

impact strength after annealing
and the denominator gives the
same after hardening and
tempering.
Sgrface
NOxides f ~ ~ n e
f~

OFNII
6
1

D
8~iI

6 III I"

f 17~3

III
i

iI

II

r ~m

Central
~ne

IM
I

'

!ll

!~;

l~li
I!

NI

I~

12

I~

it]'~ 7 lja3

Fig. 3. Distribution of
nonmetallic inclusions with
regard to their sizes over
the different zones of ingots
from the 7Kh2SMF steel (N is
the amount of inclusions in
i mm2): I) size of inclusions
smaller than 2 Dm; II) 2-4
~m; III) more than 4 Dm;
1,2,3,4) Nos. of melts.
The best refining effect from the use of oxides, sulfides, and oxysulfides was obtained
with ESR under a flux containing i0% ORM. The advantages of such a remelting include the
reduction of oxide inclusions, which facilitate in greater degree the development of fatigue
microcracks as compared with sulfides and oxysulfides [7]. However, it should be noted that
the introduction of strong nitride-forming elements leads to a sharp increase in the nitride
content (Fig. 3), which is not desirable.
Comparing the strength characteristics of inoculated and not inoculated steel certain
reduction of ov and o t of the latter (Table 3) should be noted. Such plasticity characteriStics as percentage elongation and contraction did practically not change, although the impact
strength, a metal characteristic particularly sensitive to structural features and to the
degree of purity, shows a tendency to increase. The maximum effect is observed for a steel
inoculated by RM when remelting substantially reduces the impurity caused by nonmetallic
inclusions.
Thus, as a result of electrochemical inoculation within the process of ESR, reduction
in the content of nonmetallic inclusions, the levelling out of the structure over the ingot
cross section, takes place although the microliquated heterogeneity of carbon distribution
increases.

707

LITERATURE CITED
i.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.

V. P. Polukhin and M. L. Bernshtein, Rollers of Multiroller Mills, [in Russian], Metallurgiya, Moscow (1983).
B. M. Lepinskikh and A. I. Monakov, Physical Chemistry of Oxide and Oxyfluoride Melts [in
Russian], Nauka, Moscow (1977).
B. M. Lepinskikh and S. A. Istomin, Electrochemical Alloying and Inoculation of Metal [in
Russian], Nauka, Moscow (1984).
I. N. Golikov, Dendritic Liquation of Steel [in Russian], Metallurgizdat, Moscow (1958).
N. N. Kachanov, "On the criteria of chemical heterogeneity of melts," Zavod. Lab., No. 5,
588-591 (1977).
M. M. Klyuev and S. E. Volkov, Electroslag Remelting [in Russian], Metallurgiya, Moscow

(1984).
7.

Ya. I. Spektr and V. P. Lyashchenko, "The effect of the nature and dimensions of nonmetallic inclusions on fatigue microcrack growth in bearing steels," Stal', No. 5, 384-386 (1979).

EFFECT OF WELDING THERMAL CYCLE ON THE MECHANICAL

PROPERTIES OF STEELS 14G2SAF and 14Kh2GMR
V. P. Larionov, P. P. Barashkov,
and A. P. Ammosov

UDC 620.186:620.172.251:
621.791.052:669.15-194.2

The mechanical properties (of, Oy, and ~) of steels 14G2SAF (0.14% C; 1.6% Mn; 0.6 Si;
0.1% V; 0.03% S; 0.03% P) and 14Kh2GMR (0.14% C; 1.06 Mn; 1.4% Cr; 0.47% Mo; 0.3% Si) have
been determined in the temperature range -50 to 700C in an IMASh-20-75 unit "ALA-TOO" after
treatment simulating a welding thermal cycle (TC) in the most brittle part of a welded joint,
i.e., the overheated section in the zone near the weld (ZNW). In the as-suppled condition,
steels 14G2SAF and 14Kh2GMR had a ferritic-pearlitic and bainitic structure, respectively.
Specimens 3 2 mm in cross section, thinned over an area i0 mm long approximately in
the center, were heated at a rate of 80 deg K/sec by passage of an electric current to 1200C,
held at this temperature for 10-15 sec, and cooled at a rate of W 0 = 4 deg K/sec in the temperature range of least austenite stability (600-500C). The original structural state of steels
14G2SAF and 14Kh2GMR was retained by heating them to 650C, and intense austenitizing occurred
in the temperature range 720-860C.
During cooling at the given rate a structure forms in steel 14G2SAF consisting of about
33% and 67% bainite, and in steel 14Kh2GMR of 88% bainite and 12% martensite [i].
The mechanical properties of steel 14G2SAF and 14Kh2GMR in the temperature range -50 to
700C were ~valuated by two variants: I) with specimen heating from normal to test temperature
(ttest), i.e., a ferritic-pearlitic and fine-grained bainitic condition respectively; 2) after
simulating the welding TC and cooling to ttest, i.e., in the ferritic-bainitic and bainiticmartensitic conditions, respectively.
The nature of the curves for temperature dependences of mechanical properties for steels
14G2SAF and 14Kh2GMR are similar over the whole test temperature range (see Fig. i).
It can be seen that for specimens tested by variant 2, of and oo. 2 are higher than for
testing by variant I in the temperature range -50 to 500C, i.e., in that region where there
is bainitic (steel 14G2SAF) or bainitic-martensitic (steel 14Kh2GMR) transformation.
With an increase in test temperature by variant 1 from -50 to 600C the ductility of
steel 14G2SAF increases from 40 to 80%, then with ttest > 600C it decreases by 10%. The
ductility of steel 14Kh2GMR decreases a little in the temperature range 200-300C; with a
further increase in Ttest it increases to the maximum value at 700C.
With cooling from 12000C (variant 2) the nature of change in ~ is more complex. For
steel 14Kh2GMR ductility properties decrease in the martensitic transformation region. At
Institute of Physicotechnical Problems of the North, Yakutsk. Translated from Metallovedenie i Termicheskaya Obrabotka Metallov, No. 9, pp. 60-61, September, 1987.
708

0026-0673/87/0910-0708512.50

1988 Plenum Publishing Corporation