Impact of Pilot-Scale Rolling and Heat Treatment on the Toughness of CrNiMoV Steel Plates

Abstract

The thermomechanical processing of CrNiMoV steels presents significant challenges due to their complex alloy composition and the need to achieve an optimal balance between hardness and toughness. In this study, a CrNiMoV steel slab, industrially produced at 8 inches thick, was hot rolled to a final plate thickness of 1.5 inches using a pilot-scale rolling mill with a capacity of 4.5 metric Tons. The rolling trials were designed to simulate industrial rolling practices while exploring the effect of deformation on microstructural evolution. A dilatometry study was performed to investigate phase transformations under varying cooling rates, providing insights into critical phase changes during processing. After rolling, the plates were subjected to a comprehensive heat treatment cycle, including normalization, subcritical annealing, quenching, and tempering, to achieve maximum mechanical performance. The processed plates were then compared to an industrially produced 1-inch-thick plate from the same steel batch. The microstructure evolution was analyzed at different stages of the heat treatment cycle, and Charpy impact tests were conducted to evaluate toughness in both the as-rolled and heat-treated conditions. The results highlight the significant influence of rolling thickness reduction on microstructure refinement and toughness improvement. This study provides critical insights into the relationship between rolling practices, phase transformations, and mechanical properties in CrNiMoV steels, aiming to optimize controlled rolling strategies for industrial production of thick plates.

Department(s)

Materials Science and Engineering

Keywords and Phrases

Charpy impact test; CrNiMoV steel; Microstructure evolution; Thermomechanical processing

International Standard Book Number (ISBN)

978-093076740-2

Document Type

Article - Conference proceedings

Document Version

Citation

File Type

text

Language(s)

English

Rights

© 2026 Association for Iron and Steel Technology, All rights reserved.

Publication Date

01 Jan 2025

Link to Full Text

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