Laboratory for Advanced Steels for Agricultural Equipment

Scientific results:

We developed the chemical compositions of the following steels and produced experimental fuses:

• Steel 0,22% C-1,5% Si-1,2% Mn-0,5% Cr-0,2% Mo-0,03Ti—0,04Nb-0,002% B of the type 25HGSMR.
• Steel 0,22% C-1,5% Si-1,2% Mn-0,4Cr of the type 20HGS.
• Heavy-duty steel 0,32% C-1,7% Si-1,2% Mn-0,6Cr of the type 32HGS.
• Steel 0,33% C-1,7% Si-1,2% Mn-0,6% Cr-0,2% Mo-0,03Ti—0,04Nb-0,002% B of the type 33HGS2MR.
• Steel 0,32% C-1,7% Si-1,2% Mn-0,8% Cr-0,14% V-0,04% Nb-0,2% Mo of the type 32G2S2HFBM.
• Heavy-duty steel 0,4% C-1,6% Si-1% Mo -1% Cr-0.03%Ti-0,1%V-0,04%Nb-0,003% of the type 40HS2MFBR.
• Steel 0,4% C-0,6% Si-1% Mn-1% Cr-0,7%Mo-0,03%Ti-0,04% Nb-0,003%B of the type 40HG2S2MBR. 
• Heavy-duty steel 0,55% C-1,5% Si-0,7% Mn-0,7% Cr-0,15% V-0,05% Nb of the type 55HGS2FB.
• Steel 0,4% C-1,8% Si-1,5% Mn-0,8% Cr-0,2% Mo of the type 40HG2S2M.
• Steel 0,6% C-1,6% Si-1% Mo -1% Cr-0,12V-0,04Nb of the type 60HS2MFBR.
• Heavy-duty steel 0,4%C-0,6%Si-1,2%Mn-1,2%Cr-2%Ni-0,6%Mo-0,1V-0,05Nb-0,03Ti- 0,005B.

We have developed thermal and thermochemical processing modes:

1. Thermal treatment schemes for low-alloy steels by quenching and tempering to produce maximum durability, the maximum plasticity, maximum impact strength as well as treatment to attain the optimal combination of these properties.
2. Thermomechanical treatment with subsequent quenching and tempering to produce a martensitic structure with a reduced size of austenitic grains. This treatment was developed for the seteels 0,25С-1,6Si-1,47Mn- 0,51Cr-0,27Mo, 0,33С-1,85Si-1,44Mn-0,58Cr, 0,34С-1,77Si-1,35Mn-0,56Cr-0,20Mo-0,04Nb-0,031Ti, 0,44С-1,81Si- 1,33Mn-0,82Cr-0,28Mo, 0,43С-1,60Si-0,01Mn-1,1Cr-0,95Mo-0,08V-0,05Nb-0,04Ti and 0,53С-1,60Si-0,90Mn-0,76Cr-0,14V- 0,05Nb.
3. Three-stage thermal treatment by quenching and partitioning (Q&P), including austenization with subsequent quenching into a molten salt for incomplete martensitic transformation and subsequent holding of steel in molten salt at a higher temperature for carbon diffusion into residual austenite and its stabilization. This treatment was developed for the steels 0,25С-1,6Si-1,47Mn-0,51Cr-0,27Mo, 0,33С-1,85Si-1,44Mn-0,58Cr и 0,44С-1,81Si- 1,33Mn-0,82Cr-0,28Mo.
4. Four-stage tretment quenching-partitioning-tempering (Q-P-T), in which the first three operations are similar to quenching- partitioning treatment (Q&P), while the third operation consists of heating to a temperature higher than the temperature of partitioning for extracting excess phase particles and additional dispersion strengthening of steel. This treatment was developed for the steels 0,23С-1,70Si-1,40Mn-0,50Cr-0,21Mo-0,05Nb-0,035Ti, 0,34С-1,77Si- 1,35Mn-0,56Cr-0,20Mo-0,04Nb-0,031Ti, 0,33С-1,75Si-1,38Mn-0,78Cr-0,27Mo-0,17V-0,05Nb, 0,41С-1,81Si-1,14Mn-1,06Cr-0,71Mo-0,04Nb-0,03Ti    and 0,53С-1,60Si-0,90Mn-0,76Cr-0,14V-0,05Nb.
5. Thermomechanical treatment of quenched blanks (tempforming) to produce a structure consisting of thin plate-like grains with a high dislocation density and a uniform distribution of disperse nano-dimensional carbide particles. This treatment was developed for the steel 0,43С-1,60Si-0,01Mn-1,1Cr-0,95Mo-0,08V- 0,05Nb-0,04Ti.

Education and retraining of personnel:

• Additional training completed by 6 employees of the Laboratory in the program «Modern methods of orientation electron microscopy for metals and alloys» on the grounds of Belgorod State University».
• Additional training of 11 employees of the Laboratory in the program «Fractography of construction steels and alloys» on the grounds of Belgorod State University.
• Two employees of the Laboratory completed an internship at the Research Institute of Materials Science and Innovative Technologies of Belgorod State University, where they mastered methods of microstructure research and sample preparation, methods of researching mechanical properties.