Swift Processing for New Generation Hydrogen Resistance Steels

Developing a new depth of understanding to control highly refined, complex, multiphase microstructures of modern steels has the potential to create radically new generation of steels. Currently, there is a gap in knowledge on how to control/tailor the microstructures at nanometre level. To bridge this gap, I propose integrating novel science-based approaches such as swift partitioning, chemical heterogeneity engineering, accelerated bainitizing, linear complexions and nanomechanical engineering. These methods enable innovative processes for creating tough, ultra-strong hydrogen resistance steels (NewGenH2Steel) based on nanoscaled martensite/bainite-austenite structures. The novel concept of swift partitioning, based on spike induction heating, is to enrich the finely divided austenite with C and/or Mn for stabilization down to room temperature, thus enabling transformation induced plasticity to maximize the strength-ductility combination. Due to innate versatility, the designed processes will have strong potential in numerous key applications including energy, construction and transportation sectors. The emphasis in these approaches is to adopt short-time accelerated partitioning via high frequency induction heating. This environment-friendly process is attractive, because of low CO2 emissions, clean environment and energy conservation. These approaches will enable realization of a material with nanoscaled multiphase metastable microstructure (N3M). The control of the fraction, stability and morphology of retained austenite is quite puzzling and requires multidisciplinary approach to comprehend its role in deformation behaviour. Another objective is to gain a deep understanding of microstructural heterogeneities such as C-content, size and nature of the phases surrounding the austenite grains with a special emphasis on chemical heterogeneities and linear complexions. Further, the project aims to explore industrial feasibility of N3M-based NewGenH2Steel.