Abstract
The temporal evolution of microstructures and carbon distributions in a Fe-0.323C-1.231Mn-0.849Si (mol pct) dual-phase steel during heat treatments are simulated using a two-dimensional cellular automaton model. The model involves austenite nucleation, phase transformations controlled by ferrite (α)/austenite (γ) interface mobility and the local carbon concentration, and long-range carbon diffusion. It is also coupled with a solute drag model to account for the effect of substitutional elements on the interface migration. The results show that after holding at 800 °C for 300 seconds the transformed γ-volume fraction is lower than the paraequilibrium prediction. During subsequent cooling at 6 °C s−1, the γ → α transformation takes place after a stagnant stage; the carbon concentrations in both the α- and γ-phases increase and become non-uniform. When cooled below 450 °C, the γ-volume fraction is nearly unchanged. A small amount of carbon enriched martensite, transformed from the remaining γ-phase, exists in the room temperature microstructure. The simulated microstructures and carbon concentrations in martensite compare reasonably well with the experimental micrographs and atom-probe tomographic measurements. During tempering at 400 °C, martensite decomposes and the carbon concentration in the α-matrix increases. The simulation results are used to understand the mechanisms of yield strength variations after different heat treatments.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 436-450 |
| Number of pages | 15 |
| Journal | Metallurgical and Materials Transactions A: Physical Metallurgy and Materials Science |
| Volume | 50 |
| Issue number | 1 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Jan 1 2019 |
Funding
This work was financially supported by A. O. Smith Corporation, USA, NSFC (Grant Nos. 51371051, 51501091), the Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Advanced Metallic Materials (BM2007204), and the Scientific Research Foundation of Graduate School of Southeast University (YBJJ1628). Mr. Dong An is grateful for the financial support from the China Scholarship Council (CSC). APT was performed at the Northwestern University Center for Atom-Probe Tomography (NUCAPT). The LEAP tomograph at NUCAPT was purchased and upgraded with Grants from the NSF-MRI (DMR-0420532) and ONR-DURIP (N00014-0400798, N00014-0610539, N00014-0910781, N00014-1712870) Programs. This work made use of the EPIC Facility of Northwestern University’s NUANCE Center. NUCAPT and NUANCE received support through the MRSEC Program (NSF DMR-1720139) at the Materials Research Center and the SHyNE Resource (NSF ECCS-1542205), NUCAPT from the Initiative for Sustainability and Energy (ISEN), at Northwestern University; NUANCE from the International Institute for Nanotechnology (IIN); the Keck Foundation; and the State of Illinois, through the IIN. This work was financially supported by A. O. Smith Corporation, USA, NSFC (Grant Nos. 51371051, 51501091), the Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Advanced Metallic Materials (BM2007204), and the Scientific Research Foundation of Graduate School of South-east University (YBJJ1628). Mr. Dong An is grateful for the financial support from the China Scholarship Council (CSC). APT was performed at the Northwestern University Center for Atom-Probe Tomography (NUCAPT). The LEAP tomograph at NUCAPT was purchased and upgraded with Grants from the NSF-MRI (DMR-0420532) and ONR-DURIP (N00014-0400798, N00014-0610539, N00014-0910781, N00014-1712870) Programs. This work made use of the EPIC Facility of Northwestern University’s NUANCE Center. NUCAPT and NUANCE received support through the MRSEC Program (NSF DMR-1720139) at the Materials Research Center and the SHyNE Resource (NSF ECCS-1542205), NUCAPT from the Initiative for Sustainability and Energy (ISEN), at Northwestern University; NUANCE from the International Institute for Nanotechnology (IIN); the Keck Foundation; and the State of Illinois, through the IIN.
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Condensed Matter Physics
- Mechanics of Materials
- Metals and Alloys