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Nb is a classical microalloying element in the design of thermomechanical treatments in low carbon steels for flat products applications. However, its use in medium-high carbon grades, as occurs in hot rolling of bars, is less common. This is, in part, because of the diversity of characteristics required to those grades of steels and the less knowledge about the function of Nb in these cases. Consequently, less information is reported concerning thermo-mechanical processing of Nb microalloyed steels in long products applications. In this case, it is necessary to consider the singularities related to these processes, such as the short interpass times and the wide range of chemical compositions usually applied on these products. Short interpass times result in high strain rate values that can lead to metallurgical changes on the mechanisms occurring during the hot rolling must be considered. Moreover, the high Carbon contents applied in long products, usually between 0.20–0.40%, can influence the Nb solubility and precipitation in each stage of the process: prior to hot rolling on the reheating furnace, during the process and after hot rolling, depending on the cooling strategy adopted and on the post-rolling heat treatments that can be applied. This paper analyses different singularities associated with the use of Nb microalloying for long products. Several aspects, such as the partial or complete dissolution of the Nb prior to hot rolling, its role in the control of austenite microstructure and its incidence in the final microstructure and mechanical properties, will be considered.

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While the role of Nb in flat rolling of low carbon steels has been investigated in many works, the information about the use of Nb in rebar rolling of higher carbon grades is more limited. Rebar rolling presents differences relative to flat rolling that can affect the role of Nb, such as the application of higher number of rolling passes, higher strain rates, lower interpass times, and, consequently, enhanced adiabatic heating. Increasing the number of passes can contribute to austenite grain refinement. However, the high finishing temperatures in rebar rolling can lead also to significant austenite grain growth and microstructural heterogeneity development before phase transformation. This phenomenon will directly influence the final grain size and can also lead to the appearance of second hard phases in the final product. One of the options to avoid austenite grain growth is to add microalloying elements that retard grain growth kinetics, either in solid solution or as precipitates. This can open new roles for the application of Nb in rebar rolling. To analyze this, in this work laboratory torsion tests were performed with two 0.2%C steels microalloyed with two different Nb contents (0.029% and 0.015%). Soaking temperatures from 1100°C to 1250°C were applied to obtain different amounts of Nb in solid solution before grain growth study. The study shows that not only finish rolling temperature and cooling time, but also reheating temperature and the amount of Nb remaining in the form of undissolved precipitates are important factors controlling austenite grain growth.

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