Papers by Keyword: Non-Equilibrium Grain Boundary Segregation

Abstract: When failure occurs in material, it is often occurs by fracture along some grain boundaries and often by the micro-segregation of embrittling impurity to the grain boundaries. In the present work, the non-equilibrium grain-boundary segregation (NGS) kinetics of phosphorus and the temper embrittlement at the same solution treatment and different isothermal holding temperature in steel 2.25Cr1Mo are studied. The NGS kinetics curves of phosphorus at the same solution temperature （1050 oC ）and different isothermal holding temperature (540 oC and 600 oC) are given. Experimental results provide a direct evidence of NGS kinetic model and show that the grain boundary segregation concentrations of phosphorus for specimen isothermal holding at 540 oC are higher than those at 600 oC. The peak values of AES patterns of solute atoms for specimen isothermal holding at 540 oC are also higher than those at 600 oC. It is therefore concluded that the lower the isothermal holding temperature, the higher the segregation concentration of phosphorus at the grain-boundaries, and also the higher the degree of embrittlement.

Abstract: Temper embrittlement and fracture control method based on both non-equilibrium grain-boundary segregation (NGS) theory and grain refinement technique are studied in this paper. Grain refinement technique by deformation induced phase transformation in low-alloy steels, 12Gr1MoV and 2.25Gr1MoNb, is investigated. A single-pass hot rolling process by using a Gleeble-1500 system is performed. Experimental results show that steel strength and toughness may be controlled and improved by grain refinement, and that the grain sizes were affected by the deforming temperature, strain reduction, and strain rate. According to the NGS theory, a control method of brittle fracture along grain-boundary is proposed so that some catastrophically brittle fracture failure may be averted. Grain refinement may decrease both the concentration of phosphorus at grain boundaries and the critical time. With the grain refinement technique, the temper embrittlement of steel may be improved, and the critical time may be shortened. The cost of heat treatment for fracture control will therefore be reduced.

Abstract: In the present paper, the non-equilibrium grain-boundary segregation of P atom was studied in low alloy steels subjected to a low tensile stress at different temperatures. The AES (Auger electron spectroscopy) experiments and dynamic analyses were conducted to study on the non-equilibrium grain-boundary segregation of P atom. The research results show that non-equilibrium segregation of phosphorus occurred at the grain boundaries of the steels 2.25Cr1Mo and 12Cr1MoV, while the critical time reached about 0-1 hour at constant temperatures 773 and 813K. The relationship between the diffusion rate and the diffusion time for the complex and the phosphorus atom was investigated based on the experimental results. Eventually the diffusion coefficients of complex and P were calculated with using a proposed dynamic model.

Abstract: The non-equilibrium grain-boundary segregation (NGS) isotherms and its kinetics serve to provide a more complete understanding of inter-granular segregation behavior in relation to mechanical properties, not only for the engineering steels but also for a wide range of structural alloys. The NGS of phosphorus and temper embrittlement dynamics on the same heat treatment condition at the same isothermal holding time in two Cr-Mo steels, 12Cr1MoV and 2.25Cr1Mo, was experimentally studied. The fracture behaviour was also observed by tensile tests in situ in a scanning electron microscope (SEM). Results show that both the concentration of phosphorus atoms in grain boundaries and the degree of embrittlement reaches a maximum at the critical time. It can be satisfactorily elucidated by the temper embrittlement mechanism of NGS caused by cooling from solution temperature to isothermal holding temperature.