Atomistic Monte Carlo Simulations of Homogeneous and Heterogeneous Precipitation on Grain Boundaries of NbC in Steels

Abstract:

The precipitation of niobium carbides in industrial steels is commonly used to control the recrystallization process or the amount of interstitial atoms in solid solution. It is then important to understand the precipitation kinetics and especially the competition between homogeneous and heterogeneous precipitation, since both of them have been observed experimentally, depending on the alloy composition, microstructure and thermal treatments. We propose Monte Carlo simulations of NbC precipitation in α-iron, based on a simple atomic description of the main parameters which control the kinetic pathway : - realistic diffusion properties, with a rapid diffusion of C atoms by interstitial jumps and a slower diffusion of Fe and Nb atoms by vacancy jumps - a simple model of grain boundaries which reproduces the equilibrium segregation properties of Nb and C - a point defect source which drives the vacancy concentration towards its equilibrium value. Depending on the precipitation conditions, MC simulations predict different kinetic behaviours, including homogeneous and heterogeneous NbC precipitation, early segregation of C atoms and its importance as a first stage for NbC precipitation, wetting phenomena on grain boundaries and transient precipitation of metastable carbides.

• Periodical: Defect and Diffusion Forum (Volumes 237-240)
• Pages: 721-726
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.4028/www.scientific.net/DDF.237-240.721
• Online since: April 2005
• Authors: Céline Hin, Frederic Soisson, Philippe Maugis
• Keywords: Grain Boundary, Heterogeneous Precipitation, Homogeneous Precipitation, Monte-Carlo Simulation, Niobium Carbide

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