Niobium is a widely used microalloying element in many steel products, e.g. plates,
strip, sections and linepipe. Niobium has important effects on transformation
behaviour, grain size refinement and precipitation strengthening during hot rolling
and subsequent cooling, with even a low content of niobium having a strong effect
on the transformation rate from austenite to ferrite. The purpose of this research was
to accurately characterise and quantify the effects of solute niobium atoms and
niobium carbo-nitride precipitates on phase transformations from austenite and
ferrite, and to incorporate these effects into metallurgical models to predict the
transformation behaviour and microstructure of niobium containing steels, which can
benefit industry through their use of the models to optimise processing conditions. [Continues.]
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Aeronautical, Automotive, Chemical and Materials Engineering