Development of Microstructural Prediction Technology for Ferritic Stainless Steel

Abstract

In the ferritic stainless steel, such as SUS430, grain refinement is one of the useful measures to improve the strength and the toughness. So it is important to optimize the rolling schedule as rough process of production with the view of grain refinement. In optimization of the rolling schedule, microstructural prediction by computer simulation is one of the most important elemental technologies from the viewpoint of cost reduction and superior quality. In this study, microstructural prediction technology for SUS430 has been developed to optimize the rolling schedule for grain refinement. And trial production in actual multi-stage mill has done to test accuracy of prediction.
Obtained results are as follows.
1. It became possible to predict microstructure on multi-stage rolling by application of incremental microstructure prediction method.
2. This system is useful for microstructure prediction on multi-stage rolling within adequate preciseness.
3. On designed rolling schedule wit t using microstructural prediction system, mean grain size of center in wire has been reduced about 36 %.