Ultra Fine Grain Steel Alloys by Severe Plastic Deformation

This STTR program proposes to exploit the tremendous benefits that could be offered by the development of ultra fine grain steel alloys for application to the production of high performance components for military rotorcraft applications. A severe plastic deformation technology based on isothermal forging technologies will be explored here. The goal is to demonstrate a practical, production level manufacturing approach to producing bulk-sized steel alloy components with ultra fine grain microstructures. Ultra fine grain steel alloys would be particularly advantageous for higher performance transmission/power system, engine, and airframe structures and components needed for next generation military rotorcraft. The effect of different thermomechanical conditions to achieve the requisite microstructure-properties also needs to be understood to control recrystallization and grain growth, and modeling will be performed for this purpose.