Effect of Precipitates on Austenite Grain Growth Behavior in a Low-Carbon Nb-V Microalloyed Steel

Abstract:

The effect of precipitates on austenite grain growth behavior in a Nb-V microalloyed steel was investigated. The precipitates were identified by selected area electron diffraction (SAED) and energy dispersive spectrometer (EDS) analysis. Because of pinning effect of NbC and/or VC on austenite grain boundaries, grains grew slowly at 850oC-1000oC. However, when temperature reached 1050 oC, abnormal grain growth was observed, which was attributed to dissolution of NbC particles. The NbC precipitates dissolved significantly at 1150 oC. However, grain sizes were still very small. Thus, austenite grains grew rapidly at 1050-1150 oC. The fully dissolution temperature of this steel was 1150-1250oC. Finally, the relationship between grain coarsening temperature (T_GC) and fully dissolution temperature (T_DISS) could be illustrated as follows: 100 oC≤T_DISS -T_GC≤200 oC. When heating temperatures were 850-1050 oC and 1050-1250 oC, grain growth activation energies (Q) were 59945 J/mol and 135813 J/mol, respectively. The different grain growth models were mainly caused by the gradual dissolution of NbC particles.

• Periodical: Materials Science Forum (Volume 898)
• Pages: 783-790
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.4028/www.scientific.net/MSF.898.783
• Online since: June 2017
• Authors: Li Chong Zhang, Xin Li Wen, Ya Zheng Liu
• Keywords: Fully Dissolution Temperature, Grain Growth Model, Nb-V Microalloyed, Pinning Effect of NbC and/or VC, Selected Area Electron Diffraction

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