Dislocation structure of coarse-plate perlite in carbon steel after cold and high-temperature strain

It is demonstrated that during cold plastic deformation of coarse-plate perlite in carbon steel, planar cementite defects play the key role in deformation transfer through interphase boundaries and promote dissolution of cementite plates. It is first established that the austenite substructure formed upon high-temperature deformation is inherited by cementite and ferrite components of perlite during the subsequent phase transformation.Translated from Izvestiya Vysshikh Uchebnykh Zavedenii, Fizika, No. 8, pp. 18–27, August, 2004.     

Influence of magnetic field on ferrite transformation in a Fe-C-Mn alloy

The kinetics of ferrite transformation in a Fe-0.10mass%C-2.94mass%Mn alloy in a strong magnetic field of 8 T were studied with regard to alloying element-partitioned and partitionless growth. According to the theory of diffusion-controlled growth, the slow Mn diffusion dictates partitioned growth that occurs at a low undercooling, whereas partitionless growth at a larger undercooling is rate-controlled by fast carbon diffusion. The alloy was austenitized and isothermally reacted at temperatures that encompass the two growth modes. The nucleation and growth rates of ferrite increased at all temperatures in the magnetic field, whereas the amount of increase was somewhat greater at lower temperatures. In the region of slow growth, besides its sluggish diffusion Mn possibly destabilizes the ferrite phase due to the influence on the magnetic moment and the Curie temperature of bcc Fe solid solution, and partially offsets the accelerating effect of transformation. The temperature of transition from the slow to the fast growth is predicted to increase, due to the shift in the ferrite/austenite phase boundaries in the presence of magnetic field.     

On the nucleation of cementite on bainitic ferrite–austenite interphase boundaries

Among all possible variants of the Isaichev orientation relationship between cementite and ferrite, a single major cementite variant has been observed to appear in bainite. Interphase boundary nucleation of cementite on ferrite–austenite semi-coherent interfaces is considered a plausible reason for this observation. With the aid of known crystallographic relations and habit planes of the ferrite–cementite, ferrite–austenite and austenite–cementite phases, a model for cementite nucleation has been proposed. The interphase-boundary nucleus is assumed to form on a semi-coherent ferrite–austenite interface and to possess ferrite–cementite and austenite–cementite habits as two main facets of the nucleus. It is shown that interphase cementite nucleation will be viable if the energies of all facets of the nucleus are in the semi-coherent range.     

Carbon-content dependent effect of magnetic field on austenitic decomposition of steels

The transformed microstructures of the high-purity Fe-0.12C alloy and Fe-0.36C alloy heat treated without and with a 12 T magnetic field have been investigated to explore the carbon-content dependent field effect on austenitic decomposition in steels. Results show that, the field-induced transformed morphology characteristics in different alloys differ from each other. In the Fe-0.12C alloy, the pearlite colonies are elongated along the field direction, and shaped by the chained and elongated proeutectoid ferrite grains in the field direction. However, in the Fe-0.36C alloy, the field mainly reduces the amount of Widmänstatten ferrite and elongates the formed proeutectoid ferrite grains in the field direction. No clear field direction alignment is obtained. The magnetic field also demonstrates carbon-content dependent effect on the texture of the formed ferrite. It clearly enhances the 〈001〉 fiber of the ferrite in the transverse field direction in the Fe-0.36C alloy. This field effect is related to the crystal lattice distortion induced by carbon solution and this impact becomes stronger with the increase of the carbon content. For the Fe-0.12C alloy, this field effect is greatly reduced due to the reduced carbon oversaturation in ferrite and elevated formation temperature. The orientation relationships (ORs) between the pearlitic ferrite and the pearlitic cementite in both alloys are less affected by the magnetic field. No obvious changes in the either type of the appearing ORs and their number of occurrences are detected.     

Direct observation of Cu interphase precipitation in continuous cooling transformation by atom probe tomography

Atom probe tomography (APT) combined with electron back scatter diffraction and transmission electronic microscopy (TEM) is utilized to characterize the nature of copper precipitation during austenite–ferrite transformation in a continuous cooling high-strength low-alloy steel. The copper precipitation manners in association with the austenite decomposition kinetics are studied. The prevailing microstructure of the continuous cooling steel consists of acicular ferrite (AF), which is formed at an intermediate cooling rate of 10?°C/s. Besides, a limited volume of polygonal ferrite (PF) because of fast cooling rate and a trace of retained austenite are detected. Numerous copper-rich phase is found by TEM observation both in highly dislocated AF and dislocation-free PF. Generally, the copper-rich precipitates have comparatively large sizes and are considered to be formed by interphase precipitation during austenite–ferrite transformation. A high number density of nanometre sized copper-rich clusters that are lack of diffraction contrast in conventional TEM observation are detected by APT. These smaller copper-rich clusters, which are usually located between the linear-arranged copper-rich precipitates, are considered to be formed from supersaturated solid solution after the cessation of austenite–ferrite transformation. That means an ageing reaction for Cu precipitation occurs during continuous cooling transformation. The copper-rich precipitates and clusters are both rich in nickel, manganese and iron.     

Effect of annealing prior to cold rolling on magnetic and mechanical properties of low carbon non-oriented electrical steels

The effects of annealing prior to cold rolling on the microstructure, magnetic and mechanical properties of low-C grain non-oriented (GNO) electrical steels have been investigated. The grain structure of hot-rolled electrical steel strips is modified by annealing at temperatures between 700 and 1050 °C. Annealing at temperatures less than the ferrite to austenite+ferrite transformation temperature on heating (Ac₁) causes a marginal effect on the grain size. However, annealing in the intercritical region at temperatures between Ac₁ and Ac₃ (the ferrite+austenite to austenite transformation temperature on heating) causes rapid decarburization and development of large columnar ferrite grains free of carbide particles. This microstructure leads, after cold rolling and a fast annealing treatment, to carbide free, large ferrite grain microstructures with magnetic and mechanical properties superior to those observed typically in the same steel in the industrially fully processed condition. These results are attributed to the increment in grain size and to the {1 0 0} fiber texture developed during the final annealing at temperatures up to 850 °C. Annealing at higher temperatures, T>Ac₃, results in a strong {1 1 1} fiber texture and an increase of the quantity of second phase particles present in the microstructure, which lead to a negative effect on the final properties. The results suggest that annealing prior to cold rolling offers an attractive alternative processing route for the manufacture of fully processed low C GNO electrical steels strips.     

X-ray diffraction and Mössbauer spectroscopy studies of cementite dissolution in cold-drawn pearlitic steel

Cementite dissolution in cold-drawn pearlitic steel (0.8 wt.% carbon) wires has been studied by quantitative X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Mössbauer spectroscopy up to drawing strain 1.4. Quantification of cementite-phase fraction by Rietveld analysis has confirmed more than 50% dissolution of cementite phase at drawing strain 1.4. It is found that the lattice parameter of the ferrite phase determined by Rietveld refinement procedure remains nearly unchanged even after cementite dissolution. This confirms that the carbon atoms released after cementite dissolution do not dissolve in the ferrite lattice as Fe-C interstitial solid solution. Detailed analysis of broadening of XRD line profiles for the ferrite phase shows high density of dislocations (～10¹⁵/m²) in the ferrite matrix at drawing strain 1.4. The results suggest a dominant role of ?1?1?1? screw dislocations in the cementite dissolution process. Post-deformation heat treatment leads to partial annihilation of dislocations and restoration of cementite phase. Based on these experimental observations, further supplemented by TEM studies, we have suggested an alternative thermodynamic mechanism of the dissolution process.     

Multi-phase transformation kinetics of HSLA steels during continuous cooling: experiments and cellular automaton (CA) simulation

ABSTRACT

Kinetics of multiply ferrite/bainite phase transformation of HSLA steels is investigated by experiments and cellular automaton (CA) simulation. Peak-differentiation method to elucidate the sequential ferrite and bainite phase transformation individually, which is verified by the CA simulation. Such CA modelling executed using classic JMAK theory, but also gives an insight of microstructure evolution of the multi-phase transformation routine on different cooling rate. From that, it enables classic JMAK modelling to capture the detached phase transformation with different growth models and interface-migration mechanisms. Also, we find that the final phase constitution is sensitive to the cooling rate. With increasing the cooling rate, bainite sheaves nucleated at prior austenite boundaries and ferrite/austenite interfaces are significantly facilitated, which seriously inhibits the growth of prior ferrites. The scenario can be interpreted by the CA simulation and the influence of the cooling rate on sequential multi-phase transformation can be also obtained.     

Fe-C合金中形变诱导动态相变的蒙特卡罗模拟

采用蒙特卡罗（MC）方法模拟了Fe-C合金在奥氏体-铁素体相变的平衡温度之上的形变诱导动态相变过程.通过建立合适的MC规则,在一个MC模型中同时实现了奥氏体-铁素体相变、铁素体-奥氏体逆相变以及奥氏体动态再结晶过程的模拟.同时,一个基于矢量变换的拓扑模型被嵌入此MC相变模型,用来跟踪由于塑性变形导致的晶粒形貌变化.在此基础上模拟分析了动态相变过程中铁素体的形成特点,讨论了由于相变、逆相变和动态再结晶交互作用所带来的影响. 关键词： 形变诱导动态相变 蒙特卡罗模型 动态再结晶 介观模拟     

Chemical transformations in the zone of spall damageability

The results of experiments on studying the perlite–ferrite structure in steels under short-term negative pressures are described. It is shown that in the localized deformation bands formed in the zone of interference of unloading waves, where the tension stress is lower than the dynamic strength of the material, the cementite bands in perlite are crushed, their fragments are in part dissolved and enriched with carbon, and the cementite can pass into a steady spherical form on the boundary with ferrite. At relatively high shock-wave amplitudes, the perlite in its entirety acquires a spheroidal shape.     

Abnormal austenite–ferrite transformation behaviour of pure iron

The isochronal and isothermal austenite (γ) → ferrite (α) transformation of pure iron was measured by high-resolution dilatometry and differential thermal analysis. Both abnormal and normal transformation kinetics were recognized for the first time in pure iron according to the variation in the ferrite formation rate. The occurrence of the type of γ?→α transformation strongly depends on the grain size; the transformation type changes from abnormal to normal with decreasing grain size. The abnormal transformation process involves the occurrence of additional peaks in the transformation rate for the first stage of the transformation. A phase transformation model, involving repeated nucleation (autocatalytic nucleation), interface-controlled continuous growth and incorporating correction for impingement, has been employed successfully to describe the observed kinetics of the abnormal transformation.     

Kinetics of the eutectoid colony growth in a solid solution for simple alloy models

A simple model, which reflects the main features of the phase equilibria between austenite, ferrite, and cementite, is proposed to study the growth kinetics of pearlite-type eutectoid colonies. The previously developed microscopic theory of diffusional phase transformations in alloys developed earlier is used to simulate steady-state colony growth for several versions of this model. The existing phenomenological approaches are found to describe the main features of the colony growth kinetics qualitatively correctly; however, these approaches are insufficient to draw quantitative conclusions. The changes in the colony front shape as temperature T approaches eutectic point T _e and the structure of the interphase boundaries at various T are studied. At T near T _e , the initial phase (austenite) is found to wet the boundaries between the forming phases (ferrite, cementite), which results in a sharp increase in the interphase boundary thickness and a decrease in the junction angle between the phases at the colony front. The differences in the diffusion mobilities of interstitial (carbon) atoms in different phases are shown to be important to adequately describe the colony growth kinetics.     

γ-α相变中不同晶界特征下铁素体生长形貌的相场模拟

利用多相场模型模拟了奥氏体(γ)-铁素体(α)相变过程中不同晶界特征下铁素体晶粒的形貌与生长动力学.模型中通过能量梯度系数和耦合项系数的协同变化定量表达晶界能与晶界迁移率的各向异性,同时固定相场界面宽度来保证计算精度.模拟结果显示:随着原奥氏体晶界能与铁素体-奥氏体晶界能比值σ_(γ,γ)/σ_(α,γ)的增加,三叉相界面处的平衡角β减小,铁素体晶粒沿原奥氏体晶界与垂直于奥氏体晶界方向的生长速率差变大.铁素体与奥氏体晶粒间的晶粒取向越接近,铁素体生长越缓慢.模拟结果可描述铁素体晶粒生长形貌的多样性,与实验结果符合.     

Five-parameter crystallographic characteristics of the interfaces formed during ferrite to austenite transformation in a duplex stainless steel

The crystallography of interfaces in a duplex stainless steel having an equiaxed microstructure produced through the ferrite to austenite diffusive phase transformation has been studied. The five-parameter interface character distribution revealed a high anisotropy in habit planes for the austenite–ferrite and austenite–austenite interfaces for different lattice misorientations. The austenite and ferrite habit planes largely terminated on (1 1 1) and (1 1 0) planes, respectively, for the austenite–ferrite interfaces associated with Kurdjumov–Sachs (K–S) and Nishiyama–Wasserman (N–W) orientation relationships. This was mostly attributed to the crystallographic preference associated with the phase transformation. For the austenite–ferrite interfaces with orientation relationships which are neither K–S nor N–W, both austenite and ferrite habit planes had (1 1 1) orientations. Σ3 twin boundaries comprised the majority of austenite–austenite interfaces, mostly showing a pure twist character and terminating on (1 1 1) planes due to the minimum energy configuration. The second highest populated austenite–austenite boundary was Σ9, which tended to have grain boundary planes in the tilt zone due to the geometrical constraints. Furthermore, the intervariant crystallographic plane distribution associated with the K–S orientation relationship displayed a general tendency for the austenite habit planes to terminate with the (1 1 1) orientation, mainly due to the crystallographic preference associated with the phase transformation.     

Influence of Ni/Mn ratio on magnetostructural transformation and magnetocaloric effect in Ni_(48-x)Co_2Mn_(38+x)Sn_(12)(x = 0, 1.0, 1.5, 2.0,and 2.5) ferromagnetic shape memory alloys

An investigation on the magnetostructural transformation and magnetocaloric properties of Ni_(48-x)Co_2Mn_(38+x)Sn_(12)(x = 0, 1.0, 1.5, 2.0, and 2.5) ferromagnetic shape memory alloys is carried out. With the partial replacement of Ni by Mn in the Ni_(48)Co_2Mn_(38)Sn_(12) alloy, the electron concentration decreases. As a result, the martensitic transformation temperature is decreased into the temperature window between the Curie-temperatures of austenite and martensite. Thus, the samples with x = 1.5 and 2.0 exhibit the magnetostructural transformation between the weak-magnetization martensite and ferromagnetic austenite at room temperature. The structural transformation can be induced not only by the temperature,but also by the magnetic field. Accompanied by the magnetic-field-induced magnetostructural transformation, a considerable magnetocaloric effect is observed. With the increase of x, the maximum entropy change decreases, but the effective magnetic cooling capacity increases.     

On the theory of austenite-cementite phase equilibria in steels

A microscopic model is proposed, which describes the structure and thermodynamic properties of cementite (an ordered iron carbide with a composition of Fe₃C_{1 ? δ}) and the phase equilibria between cementite and austenite (a disordered solid solution of carbon in face-centered cubic iron). Based on this model, chemical and stress-induced (deformational) interactions of carbon atoms in cementite and austenite structures are quantitatively evaluated. The “lattice” contributions in the equations of phase equilibria, which are related to changes in the crystal structure as a result of the cementite-austenite phase transition, are estimated. The proposed model well describes available data on the thermodynamics of cementite and austenite and provides a basis for the further microscopic investigation of high-temperature phase transformations in steels.     

Mössbauer spectroscopic investigation of retained-austenite content of high-carbon tool steel during isothermal tempering of as-quenched samples

This work presents the results of investigations using Mössbauer spectroscopy technique and their interpretation concerning retained austenite (RA) and its transformation during tempering in relation to previously conducted dilatometric, microscopic and mechanical investigations. This research was conducted on a new high-carbon alloy steel 120 MnCrMoV8-6-4-2, which was designed in 1998, in Phase Transformations Research Group at the AGH UST. The influence of the tempering time on the mechanical and chemical stability of retained austenite and on the products of its transformation, nucleation and solubility of ε carbides and cementite nucleation and growth, was determined.     

Multi-phase field simulation of grain growth in multiple phase transformations of a binary alloy

This work establishes a temperature-controlled sequence function, and a new multi-phase-field model, for liquid–solid–solid multi-phase transformation by coupling the liquid–solid phase transformation model with the solid–solid phase transformation model. Taking an Fe–C alloy as an example, the continuous evolution of a multi-phase transformation is simulated by using this new model. In addition, the growth of grains affected by the grain orientation of the parent phase(generated in liquid–solid phase transformation) in the solid–solid phase transformation is studied. The results show that the morphology of ferrite grains which nucleate at the boundaries of the austenite grains is influenced by the orientation of the parent austenite grains. The growth rate of ferrite grains which nucleate at small-angle austenite grain boundaries is faster than those that nucleate at large-angle austenite grain boundaries. The difference of the growth rate of ferrites grains in different parent phase that nucleate at large-angle austenite grain boundaries, on both sides of the boundaries, is greater than that of ferrites nucleating at small-angle austenite grain boundaries.     

Autocatalytic nature of the bainitic transformation in steels: a new hypothesis

To ensure improvements in predicting the kinetics of bainite formation, it is important to understand the autocatalytic nature of the transformation so that this accelerating effect can be rigorously incorporated in kinetic models. In the present paper, it is assumed that the broad faces of bainitic plates in particular provide new potential nucleation sites for autocatalytic nucleation. The dislocations in the austenite near a bainitic plate are thought to stimulate autocatalysis because carbon is assumed to pile up at these regions and thereby other austenite–bainite interface regions may contain less carbon which promotes nucleation. Based on these assumptions, it is derived that the autocatalytic contribution is proportional to the volume fraction of as-formed bainite, which is consistent with the dependence proposed by Entwisle [V. Raghavan and A.R. Entwisle, Special Report No. 93, The Iron and Steel Institute, London, 1965, p.30] on the basis of empirical knowledge. In addition, it is assumed that autocatalytic nucleation can also depend on the morphology of bainite due to the associated difference in cementite precipitation. This new hypothesis for autocatalysis offers a viable explanation for the irregular variation in kinetics associated with the transition from upper to lower bainite measured for an alloy with eutectoid composition. Furthermore, comparison with experimental data of a Si-rich steel demonstrates that the isothermal kinetics of bainite formation can only be satisfactorily described when the autocatalytic factor is inversely proportional to the thickness of bainitic plates, which is consistent with the model proposed.     

Cu对Ni50Mn36In14相变和磁性的影响

文章研究了Cu替代部分Ni对铁磁性形状记忆合金Ni₅₀Mn₃₆In₁₄相变和磁性的影响规律. 研究表明,在Ni_50-xCu_xMn₃₆In₁₄中,随着Cu含量的增加,相变温度逐渐降低. Cu含量低于5%时,奥氏体的磁性强于马氏体的磁性, 母相和马氏体相的饱和磁化强度的差值ΔM随着Cu含量的增加而增大. 当Cu含量x=4.5时, ΔM迅速增加到80 emu/g, 并在该材料中观察到了磁场驱动的马氏体到奥氏体的转变,显示了该材料作为磁驱动磁电阻材料的潜在应用前景.当Cu含量高于5%时,奥氏体保持铁磁状态, 马氏体相由反铁磁状态变为铁磁状态,马氏体的磁性强于奥氏体的磁性, ΔM大大削弱,磁场驱动性质消失.