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New experimental data are reported relative to the development of banded structures in Mn-segregated Dual Phase steels during the austenite-to-ferrite transformation stage of their final heat treatment. Two types of ferrite are detected to grow simultaneously, i.e. allotriomorph and acicular ferrite, with distinct consequences on the topology of the final (ferrite + martensite) microstructure: allotriomorph ferrite sharpens the banded structure of ferrite and martensite between Mn-poor and Mn-enriched regions, respectively, whereas acicular ferrite favours more isotropic microstructures. Owing to an original image treatment procedure, the sharpness of banded structure is quantitatively analyzed for different heat treatment conditions. Results confirm those of previous works, but we propose to rather explain them by considering that a change in a heat treatment parameter results in a variation in the respective amounts of both ferrite types. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effect of heat treatment on mechanical properties and microstructure of high-strength low-alloy ferrite-bainite pipe steels is studied. Specimens are heated in a laboratory furnace up to a temperature in the range 100-850°C. Dependences for the change in mechanical properties on heating temperature and the main features of steel structure are determined. TEM is used to study excess phase precipitation, including Nb and V carbonitrides, during heating. Unfavorable temperature ranges are determined for heating pipe steels with a ferrite-bainite structure. The results obtained may be used in industrial production and during development of new technology for thermomechanical treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]