Evolution of microstructure and precipitation state during thermomechanical processing of a X80 microalloyed steel

► Industrial hot rolling simulation of high-strength X80 low-carbon microalloyed steel. ► Austenite hardening role on microstructure and precipitation during and after rolling. ► Finer and more equiaxed ferrite grains after cooling from severely deformed austenite. ► More acicular ferrite and higher strength if last finishing passes are less intense. ► Cuboidal TiNbCN particles exist from reheating and finer NbMoCN appears near 1000 °C.