CRACK INITIATION ALONG THE INTERPHASE BOUNDARIES OF THE “PHASE SIDE BY SIDE” TYPE HETEROPHASE INCLUSIONS

Abstract

Purpose of research. Investigation into crack initiation features in heterophase inclusions of the “phase side by side” type during steel deformation. Methods. Destruction of various types heterophase inclusions is investigated during the deformation of samples from steels 08Ti, 08Al, 12MnSi, 08unk, 09Mn2Si, 08GSiAlTiV in the temperature range 20...1 200 °С. Samples of 08Ti and 08Al steels are subjected to tension, compression and bending, steel HB-57 − to tension and compression, steel 08unk, 08Cr, ATs45X ,ATs18XGT − to tension in vacuum at temperatures of 20...1 200 °С on experimental settings with special grips, which motion speed was 20 mm/min. Methods of investigation – petrography, X-ray microanalysis and optical microscopy were used. Results. It has been found that the diversity of phases composing the heterophase inclusions of the “phase side by side” type leads to their different behaviour under plastic deformation. The microcracks nitiation occurs along the internal interphase boundaries. Depending on the plasticity level of the phases composing the inclusion, these cracks can be brittle or ductile, which is also related to the effects of the deformation temperature. The features of microcracks initiation for different combinations of heterophase inclusions plastic and non-deformed phases of the “phase side by side” type are analysed. The interaction between heterophase inclusions of the “phase side by side” type and the steel matrix during deformation is discussed. Scientific novelty. The features of microcrack initiation related to heterophase inclusions of “phase side by side” type with different combination of brittle and plastic phases during steels deformation in a wide temperature range is determined. It was found that the microcracks initiation and spreading within inclusions “phase side by side” type occurs both in phases and along internal interphase boundaries. It is shown that the critical degrees of samples deformation, at which significant microcracks along the internal interphase boundaries occur, depend on the temperature and the inclusion phase. The critical degrees of samples deformation, upon reaching which significant microcracks occurred along the internal interphase boundaries, depended on the temperature and the nature of the “phase side by side” inclusions. The values of the critical degrees of deformation determine the level of cohesive strength of the internal interphase boundaries of the heterophase inclusions “phase side by side”. Practical significance. The use of obtained results will make it possible to develop technologies for producing steels with regulated types of heterophase non-metallic inclusions. This will substantially improve their technological and performance characteristics and prevent the various defects formation in the steel pressure treatment and the products operation.