ASTM A516-70 & A572 Improvement Project

As part of my Summer 2024 internship at JSW Steel USA, I led a project focused on enhancing the mechanical performance of ASTM A516-70 and A572 steel grades. The objective was to improve toughness and reduce production variability through metallurgical and process optimizations.

Condition	Depth within plate thickness	Temperature	Normalize Time (min/in)	Normalize Time (min)	Thickness (in)	Slab Grade	Charpy Avg
1	1/4 T	1650	As Rolled	0	0.875	A516-70	44
2	1/4 T	1650	As Rolled	0	0.75	A516-70	39
3	1/4 T	1650	As Rolled	0	0.75	A516-70	42
4	1/2 T	1650	As Rolled	0	1.375	A516-70	22
5	1/2 T	1650	As Rolled	0	1.375	A516-70	9
6	1/2 T	1650	30	45	1.375	A516-70	20
7	1/4 T	1650	30	45	1.375	A516-70	13
8	1/4 T	1650	30	40	1.29	A516-70	37.67
9	1/2 T	1650	30	40	1.29	A516-70	31.33
10	1/4 T	1650	60	80	1.31	A516-70	30.67
11	1/2 T	1650	60	80	1.31	A516-70	20.67
12	1/4 T	1650	30	25	0.79	A516-70	47.33
13	1/4 T	1650	60	50	0.78	A516-70	44.67
14	1/4 T	1650	30	20	0.65	A516-70	43
15	1/4 T	1650	60	40	0.67	A516-70	41
16	1/4 T	1650	30	25	0.78	A516-70	54.67
17	1/4 T	1650	60	50	0.8	A516-70	51.67
18	1/4 T	1700	30	30	1	A516-70	24.33
19	1/4 T	1700	60	60	1	A516-70	42.67
20	1/4 T	1700	30	35	1.15	A516-70	37
21	1/4 T	1700	60	70	1.15	A516-70	33.67

Key Investigations:

Microstructure & Chemistry Research: Examined microstructural features and chemical composition, focusing on elements such as Niobium, Vanadium, Molybdenum, and Silicon for grain refinement.
Rolling & Heat Treatment Trials: Adjusted 4HI rolling parameters (entry/exit temperatures and drafts) and conducted normalizing trials at varying times and temperatures.
Data Analysis: Used Minitab and Excel to correlate chemistry and process changes to Charpy impact toughness.

Results:

ASTM A516-70: Increasing normalizing time or temperature did not significantly affect toughness. However, decreasing plate thickness led to better impact performance. New chemistry standards were proposed for Molybdenum (0.095–0.115%) and Silicon (0.3–0.4%).
ASTM A572: Recommended reducing exit rolling temperature from 1400°F to 1300°F. Further validation is required for full implementation.

Tools & Skills Gained:

Metallographic analysis, Charpy testing, regression modeling
Root-cause analysis, collaborative trial planning, and technical presentations

This project strengthened my understanding of the interplay between composition, processing, and mechanical properties in industrial steelmaking.

Project information

Category Technical
Client JSW Steel USA
Project date May 2024 - August 2024