Influence of Copper on the Hot Ductility of 20CrMnTi Steel

The hot ductility of 20CrMnTi steel with x% copper (x = 0, 0.34) was investigated. Results show that copper can reduce its hot ductility, but there is no significant copper-segregation at the boundary tested by EPMA. The average copper content at grain boundaries and substrate is 0.352% and 0.318% respectively in steel containing 0.34% copper tensile-tested at 950 degrees C. The fracture morphology was examined with SEM and many small and shallow dimples were found on the fracture of steel with copper, and fine copper sulfide was found from carbon extraction replicas using TEM. Additionally, adding 0.34% copper caused an increase in the dynamic recrystallization temperature from 950 degrees C to 1000 degrees C, which indicates that copper can retard the dynamic recrystallization (DRX) of austenite. The detrimental influence of copper on hot ductility of 20CrMnTi steel is due mainly to the fine copper sulfide in the steel and its retarding the DRX.