Papers by Author: Olivier Martin

Abstract: In situ high energy X-ray diffraction synchrotron was used to provide direct analysis of the transformation sequences in steel-based matrix composite (MMC) reinforced with TiC particles. Evolution of the phase fractions of the matrix and TiC particles as well as the mean cell parameters of each phase were determined by Rietveld refinement from high energy X-ray diffraction (ID15B, ESRF, Grenoble, France). In addition, some peaks were further analysed in order to obtain the X-ray strain during the cooling step. Non-linear strain evolutions of each phase are evidenced, which are either associated with differences in the coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) between matrix and TiC particle or to the occurrence of phase transformation. Micromechanical calculations were performed through the finite element method to estimate the stress state in each phase and outline the effects of differences in CTE and of volume change associated with the matrix phase transformation. The calculated results led to a final compressive hydrostatic stress in the TiC reinforcement and tensile hydrostatic stress in the matrix area around the TiC particles. Besides, the tendencies measured from in situ synchrotron diffraction (mean cell parameters) matched with the numerical estimates.

Abstract: The phase transformation kinetics on cooling and resulting microstructures of steel-based matrix composites (MMC) reinforced with TiC particles by powder metallurgy were studied. In addition, the phase transformation kinetics of the MMC were compared to those of the same steel without TiC and consolidated in the same conditions. The presence of TiC particles strongly favors the diffusive transformations in the steel matrix of the MMC. Different complementary techniques (XRD, SEM, TEM/EDX, atom probe tomography, in situ synchrotron XRD) were performed to analyze the chemical reactivity between TiC particles and the steel powders occurring during consolidation process and further heat treatments. Composition changes in the TiC as well as in the matrix were characterized. The chemical composition after treatment in the TiC particles tends toward the thermodynamic calculations with ThermoCalc. The effect of changes in chemical composition and the role of TiC particles acting as new favorable nucleation sites are discussed in regards to the obtained results.