A review of the development and application of microalloyed medium carbon steels

Microalloyed medium-carbon steels with ferrite-pearlite microstructure were developed in the FRG in early 1972, with the primary aim of saving the cost of heat treatment. A steel with roughly 0.47% C, 0.75% Mn, 0.060% S and 0.1 % V was first used for crankshafts in cars manufactured by one of the largest European automobile companies. The effect of microalloying elements such as vanadium and niobium (niobium instead of columbium is used in this paper) in these steels and their dependence on the cooling rate from drop-forging temperatures is reviewed. Although niobium is more effective than vanadium, it leads to problems while manufacturing these steels with ~0.47% C, due to the high solution temperature of the niobium precipitates, so that preference has been given to vanadium. Further development work carried out to improve the ductility of these steels is reported. Steel compositions, which could make these steels applicable for various automobile and other engineering components, are presented.