EVOLUTION OF THE AUSTENITE GRAIN SIZE DURING HOT STRIP ROLLING OF NIOBIUM MICROALLOYED STEELS

The occurrence of dynamic recrystallization in the intermediate stands of the Finishing Mill of a Hot Strip Mill promotes substantial softening of the rolling stock, a situation that can cause operational problems and even scrapping of the strip. The aim of this work was to identify the specific process conditions that can lead to this situation, which was carried out through the application of a microstructural evolution model. It was verified, for the specific conditions of the Cubatão Works of Usiminas, that this problem generally occurs during the processing of thin hot coils, with a relatively low Nb content and under rolling temperatures slightly lower than the normal range