Papers by Keyword: Iron-Chromium Alloys

Abstract: The paper considers theoretical aspects of the kinetics of austenite → ferrite transformation in an Fe–9 %Cr alloy, a common model of diffusionless transformation. In previous studies it was shown that this transformation under isothermal conditions shows a behaviour typical for nucleation site saturation, including the change of the Avrami exponent n (determined as the slow of transformation curve on double logarithmic scale) from 4 to 1. Activation energies determined in two ways: by the ‘nose’ temperature of the normal C-curve and by the slope of the C-curve re-drawn on a reverse temperature scale are unexpectedly similar (272–315 kJ/mole) and not temperature-dependent. But the complete TTT diagrams calculated using these values determined directly from experimental data and the precise formula of Cahn’s solution of grain face nucleated transformation problem do not provide good agreement with experiment in the whole temperature range. This may mean that the theory of site saturation needs some correction.

Abstract: Cluster dynamics (CD) is used to study the evolution of the size distributions of vacancy clusters (VC), self-interstitial atom (SIA) clusters (SIAC) and Cr precipitates in neutron irradiated Fe-12.5at%Cr alloys at T = 573 K with irradiation doses up to 12 dpa and a flux of 140 ndpa/s. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and small angle neutron scattering (SANS) data on the defect structure of this material irradiated at doses of 0.6 and 1.5 dpa are used to calibrate the model. A saturation behavior was found by CD for the free vacancy and free SIA concentrations as well as for the number density of the SIAC and the volume fraction of the Cr precipitates for neutron exposures above 0.006 dpa. The CD simulations also indicate the presence of VC with radii less than 0.5 nm and a strong SIAC peak with a mean diameter of about 0.5 nm, both invisible in SANS and TEM experiments. A specific surface tension of about 0.028 J/m² between the a matrix and the Cr-rich a' precipitate was found as best fit value for reproducing the long-term Cr evolution in the irradiated Fe-12.5%Cr alloys observed by SANS.

Abstract: The values of nitrogen solubility in the liquid Fe-N-Cr alloy and in liquid chromium were determined experimentally. The alloy of a chromium content of 8; 13; 18; 25; 35; and 69, respectively, and chromium of purity of 99.7 wt % were subjected to experiment. The original data on nitrogen solubility in liquid iron and the data on nitrogen solubility in liquid chromium (the authors' own studies) were converted in relation to the new standard state that is represented by pure nitrogen. The energy parameter, h Fe-Cr, was determined based on literature data. Using the coefficient values for the Fe-Cr alloy, calculated on the basis of our own investigation results, the values of the energy parameter h were determined. The determined energy parameter h in the form of a temperature function relationship will enable the determination of the numerical values of the for the Fe-Cr alloy of any arbitrary composition.