Warm-Forging Characteristics and Microstructural Response of Medium-Carbon High-Strength Steels for High-Duty Components

Paper presents deformation behaviour and microstructural response of selected medium-carbon high-strength steels commonly used for high-duty components deformed under high-strain-rate and warm work temperature range. The investigation of material behaviour is oriented at analysis of hot and warm workability of material and microstructure evolution resultant from deformation mechanisms, strain induced recrystallization and hardening at temperatures of lower forging regime and high strain rate deformation. The effect of these factors on microstructure after forging and subsequent direct-cooling was studied. Metallographic work aided with numerical methods of simulation of the metal flow and microstructure evolution during forging were used to correlate thermo-mechanical parameters observed with microstructure and mechanical properties after forging and cooling.