Analysis of the <Emphasis Type="Italic">γ</Emphasis> → <Emphasis Type="Italic">α</Emphasis> transformation in a C-Mn steel by phase-field modeling

This article deals with the austenite (γ) decomposition to ferrite (α) during cooling of a 0.10 wt pct C-0.49 wt pct Mn steel. A phase-field model is used to simulate this transformation. The model provides qualitative information on the microstructure that develops on cooling and quantitative data on both the ferrite fraction formed and the carbon concentration profile in the remaining austenite. The initial austenitic microstructure and the ferrite nucleation data, derived by metallographic examination and dilatometry, are set as input data of the model. The interface mobility is used as a fitting parameter to optimize the agreement between the simulated and experimental ferrite-fraction curve derived by dilatometry. A good agreement between the simulated α-γ microstructure and the actual α-pearlite microstructure observed after cooling is obtained. The derived carbon distribution in austenite during transformation provides comprehension of the nature of the transformation with respect to the interface-controlled or diffusion-controlled mode. It is found that, at the initial stage, the transformation is predominantly interface-controlled, but, gradually, a shift toward diffusion control takes place to a degree that depends on cooling rate.     

Formation of austenite in 1.5 pct Mn steels

The formation of austenite from different microstructural conditions has been studied in a series of 1.5 pct Mn steels that had been heated in and above the intercritical (α+ γ) region of the phase diagram. The influence of variables such as cementite morphology, initial structural state of the ferrite and the carbon content has been assessed in terms of their respective effects on the kinetics of austenite formation and final microstructure. Austenite was found to form preferentially on ferrite-ferrite grain boundaries for all initial structures. The results of this study have shown that the 1.5 pct Mn has lowered both the AC₃ and AC₁, lines causing large amounts of austenite to form in low carbon steel. The kinetics of austenite formation at 725 °C were not only very slow but also were approximately independent of the amount formed. Austenite appeared to form slightly more rapidly from cold rolled ferrite than from recrystallized ferrite or ferrite-pearlite structures.     

Modeling of kinetics of austenite-to-allotriomorphic ferrite transformation in 0.37C-1.45Mn-0.11V microalloyed steel

The present article is concerned with the theoretical and experimental study of the growth kinetics of allotriomorphic ferrite in medium carbon vanadium-titanium microalloyed steel. A theoretical model is presented in this work to calculate the evolution of austenite-to-allotriomorphic ferrite transformation with time at a very wide temperature range. At temperatures above eutectoid temperature, where allotriomorphic ferrite is the only austenite transformation product, the soft-impingement effect should be taken into account in the modeling. In that case, the Gilmour et al. analysis reliably predicts the progress of austenite-to-allotriomorphic ferrite transformation in this steel. By contrast, since pearlite acts as a carbon sink, the carbon enrichment of austenite due to the previous ferrite formation is avoided, and carbon concentration in austenite far from the α/γ interface remains the same as the overall carbon content of the steel. Hence, the soft-impingement effect should be neglected, and allotriomorphic ferrite is considered to grow under a parabolic law. Therefore, assumption of a semi-infinite extent austenite with constant boundary conditions is suitable for the kinetics of the isothermal decomposition of austenite. An excellent agreement (higher than 93 pct in R ²) has been obtained between the experimental and predicted values of the volume fraction of ferrite in all of the ranges of temperature studied.     

Simulation of ferrite growth in continuously cooled low-carbon iron alloys

The growth of a planar ferrite (α): austenite (γ) boundary in low-carbon iron and Fe-Mn alloys continuously cooled from austenite through the (α+γ) two-phase field and the α single-phase field was simulated by incorporating carbon diffusion in austenite, intrinsic boundary mobility, and the drag of an alloying element. At a very high cooling rate (≥ 10³ °C/s), the width of the carbon diffusion spike in austenite approaches the limit at which spikes are viable, so that the growth of ferrite in which carbon is not partitioned can occur even above the α solvus. In this context, the upper limiting temperature of partitionless growth of ferrite is the T ₀ temperature. In the presence of drag of an alloying element, e.g., Mn, both carbon-partitioned and partitionless growth of ferrite begins to occur at finite undercoolings from the Ae ₃, T ₀, or α-solvus temperature, at which the driving force for transformation exceeds the drag force. The intrinsic mobility of the α:γ boundary may play a significant role at an extremely high cooling rate (≥10⁵ °C/s). This article is based on a presentation made at the symposium entitled “The Mechanisms of the Massive Transformation,” a part of the Fall 2000 TMS Meeting held October 16–19, 2000, in St. Louis, Missouri, under the auspices of the ASM Phase Transformations Committee.     

Phase transformation in an Fe-10.1Al-28.6Mn-0.46C alloy

The microstructure of an (α + γ) duplex Fe-10.1Al-28.6Mn-0.46C alloy has been investigated by means of optical microscopy and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). In the as-quenched condition, extremely fine D0₃ particles could be observed within the ferrite phase. During the early stage of isothermal aging at 550 °C, the D0₃ particles grew rapidly, especially the D0₃ particles in the vicinity of the α/γ grain boundary. After prolonged aging at 550 °C, coarse K’-phase (Fe, Mn)₃AlC precipitates began to appear at the regions contiguous to the D0₃ particles, and —Mn precipitates occurred on the α/γ and α/α grain boundaries. Subsequently, the grain boundary β-Mn precipitates grew into the adjacent austenite grains accompanied by a γ→ α + β-Mn transition. When the alloy was aged at 650 °C for short times, coarse. K-phase precipitates were formed on the α/γ grain boundary. With increasing the aging time, the α/γ grain boundary migrated into the adjacent austenite grain, owing to the heterogeneous precipitation of the Mn-enrichedK phase on the grain boundary. However, the α/γ grain boundary migrated into the adjacent ferrite grain, even though coarse K-phase precipitates were also formed on the α/γ grain boundary in the specimen aged at 750 °C.     

Analysis of lattice parameter changes following deformation of a 0.19C-1.63Si-1.59Mn transformation-induced plasticity sheet steel

Austenite and ferrite lattice parameters were monitored using X-ray diffraction subsequent to deformation in uniaxial and biaxial tension and plane straining of a 0.19C-1.63Si-1.59Mn transformation-induced plasticity (TRIP) sheet steel. Details from peak position results suggest the presence of stacking faults in the austenite phase, especially after deformation in uniaxial tension. The results also indicate residual stress or composition effects (through changes in the average carbon concentration due to selective transformation of lower carbon regions of austenite). Compressive residual stresses in the ferrite matrix were measured, and found to increase with increasing effective strain in specimens tested in biaxial tension and plane strain. Strain partitioning between softer ferrite and harder austenite (and possibly bainite or martensite) may be responsible for these residual compressive stresses in the ferrite, although volume expansion from the γ → α′ transformation and texture gradients through the sheet thickness are also possible contributors.     

Direct observations of the <Emphasis Type="Italic">α</Emphasis> → <Emphasis Type="Italic">γ</Emphasis> transformation at different input powers in the heat-affected zone of 1045 C-Mn steel arc welds observed by spatially resolved X-ray diffraction

Spatially resolved X-ray diffraction (SRXRD) experiments have been performed during gas tungstenarc (GTA) welding of AISI 1045 C-Mn steel at input powers ranging from 1000 to 3750 W. In-situ diffraction patterns taken at discreet locations across the width of the heat-affected zone (HAZ) near the peak of the heating cycle in each weld show regions containing austenite (γ), ferrite and austenite (α+γ), and ferrite (α). Changes in input power have a demonstrated effect on the resulting sizes of these regions. The largest effect is on the γ phase region, which nearly triples in width with increasing input power, while the width of the surrounding two-phase α+γ region remains relatively constant. An analysis of the diffraction patterns obtained across this range of locations allows the formation of austenite from the base-metal microstructure to be monitored. After the completion of the α → γ transformation, a splitting of the austenite peaks is observed at temperatures between approximately 860 °C and 1290 °C. This splitting in the austenite peaks results from the dissolution of cementite laths originally present in the base-metal pearlite, which remain after the completion of the α → γ transformation, and represents the formation of a second more highly alloyed austenite constituent. With increasing temperatures, carbon, originally present in the cementite laths, diffuses from the second newly formed austenite constituent to the original austenite constituent. Eventually, a homogeneous austenitic microstructure is produced at temperatures of approximately 1300 °C and above, depending on the weld input power.     

Modeling of kinetics of austenite-to-allotriomorphic ferrite transformation in 0.37C-1.45Mn-0.11V microalloyed steel

The present article is concerened with the theoretical and experimental study of the growth kinetics of allotriomorphic ferrite in medium carbon vanadium-titanium microalloyed steel. A theoretical model is presented in this work to calculate the evolution of austente-to-allotriomorphic ferrite transformation with time at a very wide temperature range. At temperatures above eutectoid temperature, where allotriomorphic ferrite is the only austenite transormation product, thesoft-impingement effect should be taken into account in the modeling. In that case, the Gilmouret al., analysis reliably predicts the progress of austenite-to-allotriomorphic ferrite transformation in this steel. By contrast, since pearlite acts as a carbon sink, the carbon enrichment of austenite due to the previous ferrite formation is avoided, and carbon concentration in austenite far from the α/λ interface remains the same as the overal carbon content of the steel. Hence, the soft-impingement effect should be neglected, and allotriomorphic ferrite is considered to grow under a parabolic law. Therefore, assumption of a semi-infinite extent austenite with constant boundary conditions is suitable for the kinetics of the isothermal decomposition of austenite. An excellent agreement (higher than 93 pct inR ²) has been obtained between the experimental and predicted values of the volume fraction of ferrite in all of the ranges of temperature studied. C. CAPDEVILA, Research Associate, formerly with the Department of Physical Metallurgy, Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Metalurgicas (CENIM), Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Cientificas (CSIC), 28040 Madrid, Spain     

On the growth kinetics of grain boundary ferrite allotriomorphs

Previous work has shown that the thickening kinetics of proeutectoid ferrite allotriomorphs in an Fe-0.11 pct C alloy are often more rapid than the kinetics calculated for volume diffusion-control from the Dube-Zener equation for the migration of a planar boundary of infinite extent, assuming the diffusivity of carbon in austenite,D, to be constant at that of the carbon content of the Ae3. Recalculating the thickening kinetics, using a numerical analysis of the infinite planar boundary problem previously developed by Atkinson in which the variation ofD with composition is taken fully into account, was found to increase this discrepancy. Measurements were then made of the lengthening as well as the thickening kinetics of grain boundary allotriomorphs in the same alloy. Application to these data of Atkinson’s numerical analysis of the growth kinetics of an oblate ellipsoid, in which the composition-dependence ofD is similarly considered, produced an acceptable accounting for nearly all of the data. It was concluded that the growth of ferrite allotriomorphs is primarily controlled by the volume diffusion of carbon in austenite; the presence of a small proportion of dislocation facets along one of the broad faces of the allotriomorphs, however, usually results in growth kinetics which are somewhat slower. An alternate treatment of the lengthening and thickening data upon the basis of the theory of interfacial diffusion-aided growth of allotriomorphs indicated that, in the temperature range investigated (735° to 810°C),the diffusivities of carbon along γ:γ and γ:α boundaries required for this mechanism to make a significant contribution to growth are too high to be physically plausible. Formerly with Scientific Research Staff Formerly with Scientific Research Staff, Ford Motor Company     

A kinetic model of the γ → α + Gr eutectoid transformation in spheroidal graphite cast irons

The eutectoid transformation of austenite in spheroidal graphite cast iron can follow one of two paths: (a) transformation to a mixture of ferrite and graphite or (b) transformation to pearlite. The extents to which the two reactions occur determine the relative amounts of ferrite and pearlite in the microstructure and, hence, the properties of the iron. In this paper, the kinetics of the γ → α+ Gr reaction is studied, and a model is developed to predict the isothermal transformation rates. The transformation occurs at a rate determined by the rate of carbon diffusion. The diffusion of carbon through ferrite, as well as through austenite, has been considered. The model predicts that the volume fraction of austenite transformed isothermally increases with increasing number density of graphite spheroids. Predictions of the model are compared with data available in literature.     

The formation of austenite from mixtures of ferrite and cementite as observed by HVEM

The detailed mechanism of the transformation of various mixtures of ferrite and austenite was studied byin situ experiments in a high voltage electron microscope. Various phenomena were observed which seemed to be controlled by the rate of carbon diffusion when the γ/α interface was curved. The effect of manganese was studied by using commercial steels. In agreement with theoretical predictions based upon the local equilibrium model, the dissolution of cementite in ferrite can be more or less prevented by manganese. The effect on the dissolution in austenite is smaller. The reaction from lamellar pearlite to austenite is more complex, the cementite lamellae providing carbon to the austenite but also acting as barriers. M. NEMOTO, formerly with Division of Physical Metallurgy, The Royal Institute of Technology, S-100 44 Stockholm 70, Sweden     

Phase transformations in an Fe-7.8Al-29.5Mn-1.5Si-1.05C alloy

Phase transformations in an Fe-7.8Al-29.5Mn-l.5Si-1.05C alloy have been investigated by means of optical microscopy and transmission electron microscopy. In the as-quenched condition, a high density of fine (Fe,Mn)₃AlC carbides could be observed within the austenite matrix. When the as-quenched alloy was aged at temperatures ranging from 550 °C to 825 °C, aγ → coarse (Fe,Mn)₃AlC carbide + DO₃ reaction occurred by a cellular precipitation on theγ/γ grain boundaries and twin boundaries. Both of the observations are quite different from those observed by other workers in Fe-Al-Mn-C alloys. In their studies, it was found that the as-quenched microstructure was austenite phase(γ), and (Fe,Mn)₃AlC carbides could only be observed within the austenite matrix in the aged alloys. In addition, aγ →α (ferrite) + coarse (Fe,Mn)₃AlC carbide reaction or aγ →α + coarse (Fe,Mn)₃AlC carbide +β-Mn reaction was found to occur on theγ/γ grain boundary in the aged Fe-Al-Mn-C alloys.     

Phase-field model prediction of nucleation and coarsening during austenite/ferrite transformation in steels

A phase-field simulation is performed to study the kinetics of austenite to ferrite (γ → α) transformation in a low-carbon steel during continuous cooling. Emphasis is placed on the influence of nucleation, along with ferrite grain coarsening behind the transformation front, on microstructural evolution. Results show that grain coarsening is significant even before all nucleation has been completed and occurs via two different coarsening mechanisms, grain boundary migration and ferrite grain crystallographic rotation, both of which can be clearly observed occurring as the simulated microstructure evolves. For some grains, sudden growth jumps are predicted by the model—a phenomenon that has been observed before by synchrotron X-ray diffraction. This study quantitatively demonstrates the phenomenon that increasing cooling rate leads to nucleation off initial austenite grain boundaries, which is also verified by studying the morphology of ferrite grains as predicted using different nucleation mode assumptions. A relationship between nucleation site distribution and the nucleation rate is demonstrated by computer simulation.     

Kinetic Transition During Ferrite Growth Induced by Interfacial Solute Segregation in an Fe–C–Mn–Si Alloy

The kinetic transition of partitionless proeutectoid ferrite transformation from austenite, experimentally reported earlier in an Fe–C–Mn–Si alloy, is simulated incorporating interfacial segregation of carbon and alloy elements. The time-dependent diffusion equations of solutes are solved within the α/γ interface to evaluate the transient effects of solute accumulation on the migration of interface. The carbon concentration at the interface in the matrix decreased faster and the interface migration ceased, or the so-called stasis occurred, when the carbon concentration gradient in the immediate front of the interface turned to null or reversed. This can happen earlier than the partitionless-to-partitioned growth transition predicted from conventional theory in the absence of interfacial segregation, depending upon austenite grain size, i.e., the extent of soft impingement of carbon diffusion fields in the matrix in which a large carbon supersaturation remained. The subsequent transformation may be resumed accompanying the bulk partitioning of Mn (and probably Si) and/or nucleation of new ferrite crystals.

     

Spatially resolved X-ray diffraction mapping of phase transformations in the heat-affected zone of carbon-manganese steel arc welds

Phase transformations that occur in the heat-affected zone (HAZ) of gas tungsten arc welds in AISI 1005 carbon-manganese steel were investigated using spatially resolved X-ray diffraction (SRXRD) at the Stanford Synchrotron Radiation Laboratory. In situ SRXRD experiments were performed to probe the phases present in the HAZ during welding of cylindrical steel bars. These real-time observations of the phases present in the HAZ were used to construct a phase transformation map that identifies five principal phase regions between the liquid weld pool and the unaffected base metal: (1) α-ferrite that is undergoing annealing, recrystallization, and/or grain growth at subcritical temperatures, (2) partially transformed α-ferrite co-existing with γ-austenite at intercritical temperatures, (3) single-phase γ-austenite at austenitizing temperatures, (4) δ-ferrite at temperatures near the liquidus temperature, and (5) back transformed α-ferrite co-existing with residual austenite at subcritical temperatures behind the weld. The SRXRD experimental results were combined with a heat flow model of the weld to investigate transformation kinetics under both positive and negative temperature gradients in the HAZ. Results show that the transformation from ferrite to austenite on heating requires 3 seconds and 158°C of superheat to attain completion under a heating rate of 102°C/s. The reverse transformation from austenite to ferrite on cooling was shown to require 3.3 seconds at a cooling rate of 45 °C/s to transform the majority of the austenite back to ferrite; however, some residual austenite was observed in the microstructure as far as 17 mm behind the weld.     

The effect of additives on the eutectoid transformation of ductile iron

The eutectoid transformation of austenite in cast iron is known to proceed by both the meta-stable γ → α + Fe₃C reaction common in Fe-C alloys of near eutectoid composition, and by the direct γ → α + Graphite reaction, with the graphite phase functioning as a car-bon sink. In addition, the meta-stable cementite constituent of the pearlite can dissolve near the graphite phase (Fe₃C → α + Graphite), producing free ferrite. Isothermal trans-formation studies on a typical ductile iron (nodular cast iron) confirmed that all of these reaction mechanisms are normally operative. The addition of 1.3 pct Mn was found to substantially retard all stages of the transformation by retarding the onset of the eutectoid transformation, decreasing the diffusivity of carbon in ferrite, and stabilizing the cemen-tite. Minor additions of Sb (0.08 pct) or Sn (0.12 pct) were found to inhibit the γ →α + Graphite reaction path, as well as the Fe₃C → α + Graphite dissolution step, but did not significantly affect the meta-stable γ → α + Fe₃C reaction. Scanning Auger microprobe analysis indicated that Sn and Sb adsorb at the nodule/metal interphase boundaries during solidification. This adsorbed layer acts as a barrier to the carbon flow necessary for the direct γ → α + Graphite and Fe₃C → α + Graphite reactions. With the graphite phase dis-abled as a sink for the excess carbon, the metal transforms like a nongraphitic steel. The effects of Mn, Sn, and Sb on the eutectoid transformation of ductile iron were shown to be consistent with their behavior in malleable iron.     

Recrystallization kinetics of microalloyed steels deformed in the intercritical region

A plain carbon and two microalloyed steels were tested under interrupted loading conditions. The base steel contained 0.06 pct C and 1.31 pct Mn, and the other alloys contained single additions of 0.29 pct Mo and 0.04 pct Nb. Double-hit compression tests were performed on cylindrical specimens of the three steels at 820 °C, 780 °C, and 740 °C within the α + γ field. A’softening curve was determined at each temperature by the offset method. In parallel, the progress of ferrite recrystallization was followed on quenched specimens of the three steels by means of quantitative metallography. It was observed that, in the base steel, a recrystallizes more slowly thany. The addition of Mo retards recrystallization and has a greater influence on γ than on α recrystallization. This effect is in agreement with calculations based on the Cahn theory of solute drag. Niobium addition has an even greater effect on the recrystallization of the two phases. In this steel, the recrystallization of ferrite was incomplete at the three intercritical temperatures. Furthermore, the austenite remained completely unrecrystallized up to the maximum time involved in the experiments (1 hour). The metallographic results indicate that the nucleation of recrystallization occurs heterogeneously in the microstructure, the interface between ferrite and austenite being the preferred site for nucleation.     

Growth of intragranular ferrite in Fe-Ni-P alloys

Analytical electron microscopy (AEM) techniques were used to study the growth of intragranular ferrite in Fe-Ni-P alloys. The spatial resolution of the AEM was exploited to gather microchemical information regarding elemental redistribution at ferrite/austenite interfaces in order to determine the growth mechanism for intragranular ferrite. In this alloy system, the growth kinetics are dictated by the bulk diffusion of Ni in austenite. Full equilibrium occurs during intragranular ferrite growth with full partitioning of Ni and P between austenite and ferrite, and chemical equilibrium occurs at the α/γ interface in both phases. A numerical model to simulate ferrite growth was developed based on equilibrium growth considerations. The Ni concentrations and precipitate sizes predicted by the model agree well with those measured by AEM techniques in the experimental alloys. The computer model has been extended to predict the thermal histories of iron meteorites and their parent asteroidal bodies.     

Molybdenum accumulation at ferrite: Austenite interfaces during isothermal transformation of an Fe-0.24 pct C-0.93 pct Mo alloy

A scanning transmission electron microscope (STEM) technique was used to measure Mo concentrations at ferrite:austenite (α:γ) interfaces in an Fe-0.24 pct C-0.93 pct Mo alloy partially transformed at 650°C, 630°C, and 610°C. These concentrations were quite small at 650°C, which is just below the bay temperature of the time-temperature-transformation (TTT) curve for the initiation of ferrite formation. There were larger concentrations at 630°C, a temperature at which transformation stasis (incomplete transformation) occurred. Concentrations at 610°C were intermediate between the values observed at 650°C and 630°C. The average accumulation at the latter temperatures increased appreciably as a function of transformation time. After each heat treatment, there was considerable variation in Mo accumulation from one α:γ interface to another and, to a lesser extent, from one region to another along the same interface. These higher Mo concentrations were deduced to have developed largely through volume diffusion of Mo, mainly through ferrite, to interfaces whose ledgewise growth had been interrupted by growth stasis. (Mo₂C precipitation at α:γ boundaries occurred only at the end of growth stasis.) It appears that only a very small amount of Mo segregation is needed, probably at specific interfacial sites, in order to produce growth cessation. Growth kinetics anomalies of this kind continue to provide the best evidence available for the operation of a coupled-solute drag effect. This article is based on a presentation given in the symposium “The Effect of Alloying Elements on the Gamma to Alpha Transformation in Steels,” October 6, 2002, at the TMS Fall Meeting in Columbus, Ohio, under the auspices of the McMaster Centre for Steel Research and the ASM-TMS Phase Transformations Committee.