Enhanced Toughness of Microalloyed Ferritic–Pearlitic Steel via Boron‐Facilitated Pearlite Nucleation on Intragranular Ferrite.

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Title: Enhanced Toughness of Microalloyed Ferritic–Pearlitic Steel via Boron‐Facilitated Pearlite Nucleation on Intragranular Ferrite.
Authors: Zhang, Shuhai1,2,3 (AUTHOR), Luo, Huimin1,2,3 (AUTHOR), Zhao, Fan1,2,3,4 (AUTHOR) zhaofan@ustb.edu.cn, Zhang, Zhihao2,3 (AUTHOR)
Source: Steel Research International. Jul2026, Vol. 97 Issue 7, p3776-3784. 9p.
Subjects: Boron steel, Metal microstructure, Phase transitions, Yield strength (Engineering), Grain refinement, Low alloy steel, Durability
Abstract: Vanadium microalloyed steel with a ferritic–pearlitic microstructure (microalloyed ferritic–pearlitic steel) is widely used in hot forging applications to eliminate the need for subsequent heat treatment processes. However, the ferritic–pearlitic microstructure obtained after high‐temperature forging typically exhibits a coarse‐grained structure and low toughness. This study presents the development of a microalloyed ferritic–pearlitic steel with enhanced strength–toughness through the incorporation of boron. This modification increases the impact energy from 33.3 to 52.7 J, tensile strength from 835 to 888 MPa and yield strength from 531 to 640 MPa. The primary factor contributing to the increased strength is the reduction in the ferrite volume fraction combined with the refinement of pearlite lamellae spacing. The improvement in toughness is attributed to a unique mechanism underlying pearlite nodule refinement. During the cooling process, boron incorporation delays the precipitation of grain boundary ferrite and promotes the nucleation of pearlite on intragranular ferrite. As a result, the number of pearlite nucleation sites increases, leading to the refinement of pearlite nodules and a decrease in the average equivalent grain size. This study thus presents a novel approach for simultaneously enhancing the strength and toughness of microalloyed ferritic–pearlitic steels designed for hot forging applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Copyright of Steel Research International is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
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  Data: Enhanced Toughness of Microalloyed Ferritic–Pearlitic Steel via Boron‐Facilitated Pearlite Nucleation on Intragranular Ferrite.
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="JN" term="%22Steel+Research+International%22">Steel Research International</searchLink>. Jul2026, Vol. 97 Issue 7, p3776-3784. 9p.
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Boron+steel%22">Boron steel</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Metal+microstructure%22">Metal microstructure</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Phase+transitions%22">Phase transitions</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Yield+strength+%28Engineering%29%22">Yield strength (Engineering)</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Grain+refinement%22">Grain refinement</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Low+alloy+steel%22">Low alloy steel</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Durability%22">Durability</searchLink>
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  Data: Vanadium microalloyed steel with a ferritic–pearlitic microstructure (microalloyed ferritic–pearlitic steel) is widely used in hot forging applications to eliminate the need for subsequent heat treatment processes. However, the ferritic–pearlitic microstructure obtained after high‐temperature forging typically exhibits a coarse‐grained structure and low toughness. This study presents the development of a microalloyed ferritic–pearlitic steel with enhanced strength–toughness through the incorporation of boron. This modification increases the impact energy from 33.3 to 52.7 J, tensile strength from 835 to 888 MPa and yield strength from 531 to 640 MPa. The primary factor contributing to the increased strength is the reduction in the ferrite volume fraction combined with the refinement of pearlite lamellae spacing. The improvement in toughness is attributed to a unique mechanism underlying pearlite nodule refinement. During the cooling process, boron incorporation delays the precipitation of grain boundary ferrite and promotes the nucleation of pearlite on intragranular ferrite. As a result, the number of pearlite nucleation sites increases, leading to the refinement of pearlite nodules and a decrease in the average equivalent grain size. This study thus presents a novel approach for simultaneously enhancing the strength and toughness of microalloyed ferritic–pearlitic steels designed for hot forging applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
– Name: AbstractSuppliedCopyright
  Label:
  Group: Ab
  Data: <i>Copyright of Steel Research International is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract.</i> (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
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RecordInfo BibRecord:
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    Identifiers:
      – Type: doi
        Value: 10.1002/srin.202501100
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      – Code: eng
        Text: English
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        PageCount: 9
        StartPage: 3776
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Boron steel
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Metal microstructure
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Phase transitions
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Yield strength (Engineering)
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Grain refinement
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      – SubjectFull: Low alloy steel
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Durability
        Type: general
    Titles:
      – TitleFull: Enhanced Toughness of Microalloyed Ferritic–Pearlitic Steel via Boron‐Facilitated Pearlite Nucleation on Intragranular Ferrite.
        Type: main
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            NameFull: Zhang, Shuhai
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            NameFull: Luo, Huimin
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            NameFull: Zhao, Fan
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            NameFull: Zhang, Zhihao
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            – D: 01
              M: 07
              Text: Jul2026
              Type: published
              Y: 2026
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