Effect of ausforming temperature and strain on the bainitic transformation kinetics of a low carbon boron steel

Abstract

The effect of ausforming temperature and strain on the bainitic transformation kinetics was investigated in a low carbon boron steel. A new mechanism, which is based on the competition between the increase in nucleation rate and the decrease in average volume of bainite sheaf after deformation, is proposed. The increase in nucleation rate is due to the decrease in boron concentration at the grain boundaries after small deformation and the formation of sub-grain boundaries at the grain interior after large deformation. The decrease in average volume of bainite sheaf is ascribed to the frequent impingement of bainite sub-units after deformation. The increase in nucleation rate after deformation results in the decrease in incubation time, which is confirmed from the experiment. The increase in nucleation rate overcomes the decrease in average volume of bainite sheaf, resulting in the increase in transformation velocity and volume fraction after small deformation. On the contrary, the decrease in the average volume of bainite sheaf overcomes the increase in nucleation rate after large deformation, leading to the decrease in transformation velocity and volume fraction of bainite.

Keywords:

• bainitic transformation
• dislocation
• steel
• ausforming
• boron segregation

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

The work was supported by the University Research Committee of HKU [grant number 201111159053]; Research Grants Council of Hong Kong [grant number HKU712713E].