Mechanism and Transformation Kinetics of the Alpha → Sigma Phase Transformation in Iron-Vanadium Alloys

Abstract

Electrical-resistance measurements of the alpha (α) → sigma (σ) phase transformation in body-centred cubic iron-vanadium alloys containing tantalum, tungsten, manganese, rhenium, and zirconium suggest that the degree of long-range order present in the a phase before the transformation is a controlling factor in the reaction kinetics. The influence of ternary alloying elements on the transformation is probably dependent on the manner in which they affect the longrange order. Twinning has been observed in the bcc iron-vanadium phase which shows long-range order.