Micro alloyed steels are intermediate carbon steel alloys with 0.3 to 0.6% carbon content. They also include vanadium, columbium (niobium), titanium and so on. These micro alloys are tougher than higher alloys. Their enhanced strength is due to the precipitation hardening reaction where nitrides or carbonitrides are formed in steel. Therefore, nitrogen level control is a key factor.
Today we have second-generation and third generation micro alloys. These have 0.1 to 0.3 % carbon and 0.15% carbon respectively. These second-generation and third generation micro alloys are tougher than the earlier micro alloy grades.
Applications
High performance micro alloys are used in automotive, agricultural, truck and heavy equipment components.
