State parameter-based modelling of microstructure evolution in micro-alloyed steel during hot forming

In steel production, thermo-mechanical treatment at elevated temperatures is an inevitable step for controlling the microstructure and, thus, the mechanical-technological properties of the final product. One of the main goals in modelling microstructure evolution is the prediction of progress and interaction of hardening and softening mechanism at temperatures, where reheating, hot rolling, finish rolling and coiling are typically carried out. The main mechanisms that need to be accounted for are precipitation, grain growth, solute drag, recovery, recrystallization and phase transformation, which are to be described as functions of temperature, external loading and chemical composition of the material. In the present work, we present a new approach for dealing with these problems and apply it to the thermal and mechanical loading of microalloyed steel. Within this model, we quantitatively predict, for instance, the phenomenon of recrystallization stop in the presence of precipitation. The computational treatment is verified against experimental data from literature, where good agreement is achieved.