Synergies of niobium and boron microalloying in molybdenum based bainitic and martensitic steels

Bainitic and martensitic steels have a great potential for structural as well as automotive applications due to the lean alloying concept and the favorable combination of strength and ductility. These steels are being considered as the material of choice for many advanced applications where yield strengths above 500 MPa are required to reduce component weight. Traditionally Mo has been a key alloying element in producing such steels. In order to expand the envelope of such steels it is interesting to combine Mo alloying with the microalloying element Nb and in some cases B. Cross effects between these elements bear synergies that cannot be achieved by single alloying. This paper demonstrates how these synergies can be beneficially used in combination with appropriate processing. (AU) Copyright © 2014 Companhia Brasileira de Metalurgia e Mineração (CBMM) All rights reserved.