NOVEL THERMAL PROCESSING OF DUAL PHASE STEELS: I – MICROSTRUCTURAL DESIGN

The possibility of varying the volume fraction, scale and distribution of the non-ferritic phases (NFP) in the final microstructure of dual phase steels has been investigated. Two approaches were explored: i) varying the initial microstructure prior to intercritical annealing and ii) utilizing rapid heating with varying thermal paths to the intercritical annealing temperature. The provision of initial microstructures of various length scales …