Relationship between crystallographic structure of the Ti2O3/MnS complex inclusion and microstructure in the heat-affected zone (HAZ) in steel processed by oxide metallurgy route and impact toughness

A new method based on electron back scattered diffraction (EBSD) is proposed to determine the structure of titanium oxide/MnS complex inclusion which induced the formation of intragranular acicular ferrite (IAF) in heat-affected zone (HAZ) in steel processed by oxide metallurgy route. It was found that the complex inclusion was Ti2O3/MnS, the orientation relationship between Ti2O3 and MnS was also examined, and the crystallographic orientation relationship among IAF, Ti2O3/MnS complex inclusion, austenite, bainite formed at lower temperature is researched systematically. It was observed that MnS precipitated on Ti2O3 at specific habit plane and direction and MnS had a specific orientation relationship ({0001} Ti2O3//{111} MnS), Ti2O3// MnS) with respect to Ti2O3. Intragranular acicular ferrite (IAF) nucleated on MnS part of the Ti2O3/MnS complex inclusion had no specific orientation relationship with MnS. IAF and the surrounding bainite had different Bain groups, so that there was an increase in high angle boundaries, which was beneficial for the toughness of HAZ. •The inclusion of TiOx/MnS that induced IAF formation is identified to be Ti2O3/MnS.•The inclusion is identified based on electron back scattered diffraction (EBSD).•MnS and Ti2O3 had specific orientation relationship of Ti2O3/MnS complex inclusion.•The IAFs formed on the same inclusion tend to be in one Bain group.•IAF and the surrounding bainite tend to be in different Bain groups.