Segregation Neutralised Steels: Microstructural Banding Elimination from Dual-Phase Steel Through Alloy Design Accounting for Inherent Segregation

Abstract Banding in commercial dual-phase steels, such as banded ferrite and pearlite or martensite microstructures, is inherited from segregation during solidification continuously cast material, predominantly Mn segregation, subsequent rolling. The microstructures lead to anisotropic mechanical properties which generally undesirable. This paper presents an alloy design approach (termed “segregation neutralised” steels) remove banding of the second phase by utilising co-segregation both austenite stabilisers reduce local variability stability. new composition proposed also considers achieving same strength levels through maintaining fraction, grain size solid solution strengthening increments. Phase field modelling has been used predict transformation behaviours for a steel neutralised steel. A 5 kg laboratory production route (casting, hot rolling coiling simulation, cold annealing) shown that structure seen steels accurately reproduced reduced dramatically rolled condition well after annealing Chemical analysis distribution shows no correlation bands, due achieved balance stabilisers.