Microstructural Changes and Variations of Hot Deformation Stability with Homogenization Treatment of 1Cr-1.25Mo-0.25V Steel before Hot Forging

In order to investigate the effects of homogenization treatment on microstructural change and high temperature deformation stability, a series of hot compression tests and homogenization treatment were conducted for as-cast and upset-forged 1Cr-1.25Mo-0.25V steels. Microstructural inhomogeneity like dendritic morphology and elemental segregation in as-cast steel was homogenized after 10 hours-holding at 1200 °C, followed by the rapid grain coarsening up to about 700 μm after 20 hours-holding. However, upsetforged steel showed rapid grain coarsening even in the early stage of high temperature holding at 1200 °C. Compression tests for the 1Cr-1.25Mo-0.25V steels showed that flow stresses of as-cast 1Cr-1.25Mo-0.25V steel were higher than those of the upset-forged at temperatures lower than 1000 °C. By analyzing the compression test results based on a dynamic materials model, we concluded that the microstructural inhomogeneity diminished hot deformation stability of the as-cast 1Cr-1.25Mo-0.25V steel. It is clear that the microstructural homogenization of as-solidified steel prior to upset forging is essential for improving the hot deformation stability and soundness of hot forgings.