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Details of Grant 

EPSRC Reference: EP/C512820/1
Title: Investigating The Behaviour Of Aluminium In Steels:- A New Role For The Steelmaker's Friend
Principal Investigator: Brydson, Professor RMD
Other Investigators:
Edmonds, Professor DV
Researcher Co-Investigators:
Professor R Cochrane Dr A Scott
Project Partners:
Tata Steel Limited
Department: Institute of Materials Research
Organisation: University of Leeds
Scheme: Standard Research (Pre-FEC)
Starts: 01 May 2005 Ends: 31 August 2008 Value (£): 170,521
EPSRC Research Topic Classifications:
Materials Characterisation
EPSRC Industrial Sector Classifications:
Manufacturing Transport Systems and Vehicles
Related Grants:
EP/C512839/1
Panel History:  
Summary on Grant Application Form
Aluminium has been added to steels for many decades primarlily to produce grain refined clean (low inclusion content) steels. Despite this, the metaurgical effects of the Al, which remains in solid solution after oxides and nitrides has been formed during processing, remain unclear. Recent studies have concentrated on using much larger Al additions, upto 1/2%, to promote microstructures with improved forming characteristics. In additon, exceptional level: of impact toughness have been demonstrated in similar steels. These levels of toughness are such that the complex rolling currently used to produce tough fine grained structural steels could be avoided with consequent major benefits to the costs of rolling, perhaps saving upto 20%. However, the mechanisms I which a) the toughness improvement occurs and b) the role of Al in changing microstructure appear to linked to the segregation behaviour of Al in solid solution. Calculation using semi-empirical electron density alloying theories indicates Al should be as effective in segregation terms as the more well knoll elements responsible for structure-sensitive phenomena as temper embrittlement, eg Sb, As and P, or creep rupture ductility (P, Sb, Sri). The proposed research seeks to investigate the role of Al in solid solution firstly by carrying out high resolution TEM/PEELS studies to allow more positive evidence of Al segregation and its effect in changing grain boundary structure and secondly by an assessment of the changes in mechanical properties and transformation behaviour.
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Organisation Website: http://www.leeds.ac.uk