Crystallographic Features of Phase Transformations in High-Strength Low-Carbon Pipe Steel

Pipe steel 06Mn2MoNb is studied after hot rolling and subsequent heat treatment, i.e., austenitizing at 980°C, 30 min and cooling at different rates. By means of orientation microscopy and crystallographic analysis using various orientation relationships the possibility is demonstrated of creating structural and textural characteristics based upon transformation products (martensite, bainite) of deformed austenite within the steel. It is shown that the crystallographic texture resulting from a multivariant γ → α-transformation may be explained by α-phase generation at crystallographically ordered boundaries between deformed γ-phase grains.