Influence of Boron Addition on the Hot Ductility of Low-Carbon Aluminum-Killed Steel

The hot ductility of low-carbon aluminum-killed steel with different boron contents was investigated. The hot tensile experiment was conducted using Gleeble3500 simulator. The reduction of area of each specimen was determined to estimate the quality of hot ductility. The changes of precipitates in studied steel were calculated by Thermo-Calc software. The microstructures of specimens were observed using optical microscopy (OM), sanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Based on the experimental results, the fracture types of specimens were analyzed. The results show that the hot ductility improves with increase in boron content. In the experimental condition of this study, the combining ability of boron with nitrogen is greater than that aluminum and nitrogen in the energetics point of view. Coarse BN particles decrease the effect of pinning grain boundary by fine AlN. Boron in solid solution plays a role of inhibiting the austenite/ferrite transformation. The improvement of hot ductility is caused by the formation of coarse BN and existence of boron in solid solution.