Correlation Between the Microstructural Development of Bainitic Ferrite and the Characteristics of Martensite-Austenite Constituent

Microstructural development of bainitic ferrite under a simulated weld heat-affected zone (HAZ) of low-carbon steel was correlated with the characteristics of martensite-austenite (M-A) constituent. By combining laser scanning confocal microscopy (LSCM) observations and electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD) analysis, we evaluated variant pair formation in time-series, which was related to the second-phase formation phenomenon. Furthermore, the classification of the microstructural development showed that the characteristics of M-A in a weld HAZ can be predicted from the microstructural development of bainitic ferrite.