AbstractThe precipitation reactions occurring in C–Mn–Al and C–Mn–Nb steels before and after hot deformation have been examined and their influence upon hot ductility is discussed. Precipitation has been studied at 850°C, when ductility is poor, and also at 1100°C, when the ductility is good. Rapid intergranular precipitation occurred at 1100°C, but the precipitation present before deformation did not prove to be detrimental to ductility and grain boundary mobility at this temperature. Although only a limited amount of precipitation occurred at 850°C before deformation, intergranular precipitation continued during deformation resulting in embrittlement of the steels. At this temperature, strain induced transgranular precipitation of Nb(CN) occurred in the C–Mn–Nb steel and this is thought to be a major cause of poor hot ductility in this steel. By holding the steels for 15 min at 800–850°C before reheating to 1100°C, the area fraction of intergranular precipitation at 1100°C was increased. This produced a decrease in ductility at this temperature in the C–Mn–Al steel but had a less marked effect in the C–Mn–Nb steel.MST/107