Objectif
Modern high-strength, high-toughness bainitic steels derive their favourable properties from the ultra-fine bainitic ferrite grains in which the contribution from precipitation strengthening is of paramount importance. The precipitation strengthening reactions in bainitic ferrite remain, however, unclear.
This project will exploit the benefits of intense precipitation by Ti,Nb,V,Cu to increase strength while improving ductility and toughness by lowering the carbon content. Models will be developed to predict precipitation behaviour and strength properties and these will be utilised to aid industrial scale evaluation of new high-strength steels with low and ultra-low carbon contents as well as engineering bainitic steels.