Effect of Homogenizing Annealing of Continuous Cast Billets on the Structure and Mechanical Properties of Rolled Products Made of ShKh15 Bearing Steel
摘要
The effect of homogenizing annealing (HA) of continuously cast billets (CCB) with a cross-section of 250 × 300 mm on the structure formation and mechanical properties of rolled ShKh15 bearing steel after spheroidizing annealing (SA) and comparison of them with those without HA has been studied. HA modes: heating to 1200°C and holding for 6 h. Comparative studies were conducted on rolled billets with diameters of 5.5, 11.5, and 18.5 mm, with and without prior HA of CCB. The rolled billets were produced using an improved in-line heat treatment mode on a Stelmor line, which allows for the production of an initial fine-grained lamellar pearlite structure with interlamellar spacing of 0.126–0.235 μm. The structure of the rolled products after preliminary HA of CCB and final spheroidizing annealing is guaranteed to be free of axial segregation, with fully globularized pearlite forming. The results of the studies of the macro- and microstructure, hardness according to GOST 801, and mechanical properties of rolled products have been presented; these results generally meet regulatory and consumer requirements.