Constitutive Analysis of Dynamic Recrystallization and Flow Behavior of a Medium Carbon Nb-V Microalloyed Steel

The dynamic recrystallization (DRX) and flow behavior of a medium carbon Nb-V microalloyed steel was investigated using hot isothermal compression experiments in a wide range of temperatures (1123-1473 K) and strain rates (0.01-10 s(-1)). The flow stress curves were analyzed comprehensively, and it was found that the flow stress of this steel is higher than C-Mn steel and V microalloyed steel. All the curves obtained can be ranged into three principal types: work hardening, dynamic recovery, and DRX. The DRX behavior of this steel was investigated, including critical strain, kinetics of DRX, and microstructure. The constitutive equation to predict the flow stress of the tested steel was also developed, and the analysis result indicates that the developed model has a high accuracy in predicting the flow stress during hot deformation.