Effects of Zr on acicular ferrite formation in HAZ of Ti-bearing low carbon steels with high heat input of weld thermal simulations

To research the effect of Zr addition on inhibiting austenite grain growth of Ti-bearing low carbon steels,two steels with different Zr contents were prepared using a laboratory vacuum induction furnace. The performance of HAZ under weld thermal simulations was investigated. The impact toughness,microstructure and the second-phase particle performance of HAZ under weld thermal simulations were investigated. The HAZ toughness was improved from 13 J to 87 J by addition of 0. 010 % Zr into the steel,with the fracture mechanism changing from cleavage fracture to toughness fracture,which was mainly attributed to the second-phase particles that were potent to nucleate acicular ferrite in HAZ during welding. It was concluded that the second-phase particles TiO x + MnS,ZrO 2 + MnS or TiO x + ZrO 2 + MnS were nucleated on ZrO 2 or TiO x ( x =1. 5,2) . This method can be applied to grain refinement by promoting the acicular ferrite formation and growth during large-scale welding,as in the cases of thick steel plates requiring higher heat inputs during welding.