# The Effect of the Finishing Deformation Temperature on the Microstructure of CrVNb Micro-Alloyed Steel

## TL;DR

This paper studies how the finishing deformation temperature affects the microstructure and properties of a specific type of steel.

## Contribution

The study reveals how deformation temperature influences grain structure and precipitate formation in CrVNb micro-alloyed steel.

## Key findings

- Lower deformation temperatures refine ferrite grains but can lead to bimodal structures.
- Lower temperatures increase strain-induced precipitates but reduce finer precipitate density.
- Hardness peaks when deformation occurs between 950–850 °C.

## Abstract

This study explored the effects of the finishing deformation temperature on the microstructure and properties of CrVNb micro-alloyed steel following thermomechanical processing (TMP). The investigation encompassed the influence of the deformation temperature on the ferrite grain size, precipitate characteristics, hardness and flow stress. The microstructure characterization was performed using optical and electron microscopy techniques. The results show that decreasing the deformation temperature refined the ferrite grains, though a bimodal ferrite grain structure formed when the deformation temperature fell to about 100 °C below the Ar3 temperature. Additionally, lower deformation temperatures increased the number density of strain-induced precipitates (SIPs), whereas the density of finer precipitates (random and interphase precipitates (IPs)) decreased. The highest hardness was observed in a sample deformed at 950–850 °C temperatures. These findings highlight the impact of the finishing deformation temperatures on the microstructural and mechanical properties, providing valuable insights for optimizing steel processing conditions.