Dilatometric technique for evaluation of the kinetics of solid-state transformation of maraging steel

Solid-state transformation kinetics of a 350 grade commercial maraging steel were investigated using a nonisothermal dilatometric technique. Two solid-state reactions—namely, precipitation of intermetallic phases from supersaturated martensite and reversion of martensite to austenite—were identified. Determination was made of the temperatures at which the rates of these reactions reached a maximum at different heating rates. The kinetics of the individual reactions in terms of activation energy were analyzed by simplified procedures based on the Kissinger equation. An estimated activation energy of 145 ± 4 kJ/mol for the precipitation of intermetallic phases was in good agreement with reported results based on the isothermal hardness measurement technique. Martensite to austenite reversion was associated with an activation energy of 224 ± 4 kJ/mol, which is very close to the activation energy for diffusion of substitutional elements in ferrite. Results were supplemented with microstructural analysis.