Deformation-induced phase transformation and twinning in Fe and Fe–C alloys

Abstract

The phase transformations and twinning in a nano-sized face-centred cubic (FCC) crystal of iron with different carbon contents are studied by molecular dynamic (MD) simulations. The simulation cells are stretched uniaxially along the $[100{]}_{FCC}$ direction. It is found that the FCC matrix transforms into the body-centred cubic (BCC) phase following the Nishiyama–Wassermann orientation relationship (OR). Then, the ‘BCC$\leftrightarrow$hexagonal close-packed (HCP)’ and ‘BCC$\leftrightarrow$FCC’ transformations occur following different variants of the Burgers OR and the Pitsch OR, respectively. The $\{112{\}}_{BCC}$ twins form between two neighbouring BCC grains. Additionally, the carbon atoms can destabilise the BCC phase, inhibit the phase transformation and pin phase interfaces, leading to tiny BCC twins.

KEYWORDS:

• Phase transformation
• twinning
• tensile deformation
• Fe and Fe-C alloy
• molecular dynamics simulation

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

The present work receives financial support from National Natural Science Foundation of China [grant number 51901248].