High-Temperature Behavior of Copper-Containing Steels
Summary
Copper-bearing steels exhibit a complex array of microstructural and mechanical phenomena when exposed to elevated temperatures typical of reheating, hot rolling and forging operations. At temperatures above 800 °C, copper partitions to grain boundaries and may form low-melting eutectic films that promote hot shortness and intergranular embrittlement. Simultaneously, copper-rich precipitates coarsen or dissolve within the austenitic matrix, altering hardenability and creep resistance. The presence of copper also modifies the adherence and morphology of oxidation scales, influencing descaling efficiency and surface quality. Understanding these behaviours is essential for optimising scrap-based steelmaking routes, in which residual copper levels have risen with increased recycling. By elucidating the interplay between oxidation kinetics, phase transformations and mechanical integrity at high temperatures, researchers aim to improve the reliability of copper-containing steels in applications ranging from structural components to power-plant tubing.
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High-Temperature Behavior of Copper-Containing Steels publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in high-temperature behavior of copper-containing steels across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Hot shortness: Embrittlement and cracking that occur during hot working due to low-melting films at grain boundaries.
Oxidation scale: A layered oxide film formed on steel surfaces at high temperatures, affecting surface quality and subsequent processing.
Austenite: The face-centred cubic phase of iron or steel stable at elevated temperatures.
Descaling: Mechanical or hydraulic removal of oxidation scales to restore a clean metal surface before rolling or forming.
Precipitation strengthening: Hardening mechanism in which fine particles of a second phase impede dislocation motion within the metal matrix.
References
- Effect of Cu Additions on Scale Structure and Descaling Efficiency of Low C Steel Reheated in a Combustion Gas Atmosphere. High Temperature Corrosion of Materials (2022).
- Synergistic effect of residual elements on oxidation rates and oxide/metal interface characteristics in a low-carbon steel oxidized at 1180°C for 3 hours. Ironmaking & Steelmaking Processes Products and Applications (2023).
- Effect of Residual Elements during the Hot‐Working Process of Steel Production: A Critical Review. Steel Research International (2024).
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