Mechanical Properties of Carbon Steels during Solidification

Abstract

A technique for tensile tests has been developed for the investigation of mechanical properties of carbon steels during solidification. The equipment enables the test piece to melt and solidify without a crucible at a predetermined cooling rate. The tensile strength and ductility of Fe-C-1 mass% Mn samples have been measured during and after solidification. Temperature Range of Strength Generation (TRSG) during solidification is determined. It has been verified that ZST (Zero Strength Temperature), the maximum temperature showing the strength of sample by the tensile loading is different from ZDT (Zero Ductivity Temperature), the temperature showing the brittle-ductile transition. These mechanical properties of steels have been examined in relation with solid fraction which is evaluated from numerical analysis for micro-segregation during solidification, TRSG is the temperature range where solid fraction is 0.6-0.8, ZST is the temperature at which the solid fraction 0.6-0.7, and ZDT is about 1. The influence of carbon contents on the tensile strength of sample has also been studied.