In-situ time-resolved SANS and ND study of the random VC precipitation kinetics in Nanosteels

Nano-steels are a new generation of Advanced High Strength Steels (AHSS), extremely suitable for lightweight
automotive applications. The matrix of the steel, which provides ductility and stretch, is significantly strengthened by
manometer-sized precipitates, which can increase the strength level by 30-50%. These steels contain different microalloying
additions, such as vanadium (V), which form the essential nano-precipitates. A resource-efficient use of these alloying additions requires further knowledge on the formation kinetics of these nanometer-sized vanadium carbides (VC). The formation of these nano-scale VC precipitates can be achieved by two mechanisms: (a) random precipitation from supersaturated ferrite and/or (b) interphase precipitation. Our previous studies have focused on interphase precipitation. In this experiment we want to explore random precipitation. Our aim is to measure the random VC-precipitation kinetics in Nano-steel by simultaneous in-situ time-resolved SANS and Neutron Diffraction (ND) at elevated temperatures to elucidate the effects of V and C additions.