Effects of Rare Earth on Austenite-Ferrite Phase Transformation in a Low-Carbon Fe-C Alloy

doi:10.1007/s40195-022-01454-y

Abstract

Abstract:

The influence of rare earth (RE) elements on austenite-ferrite phase transformation in Fe-0.14%C alloy has been investigated by in situ observing the nucleation, growth and morphology of ferrite using high temperature laser scanning confocal microscopy, and controlled atmosphere decarburization experiments. It is found that under the low-oxygen condition in steel, trace RE addition can significantly influence the nucleation, morphology and growth of ferrite in Fe-0.14%C alloy by the combined effects of RE slowing down the carbon diffusion and decreasing grain boundary energy by segregating at grain boundaries. This research provides evidences of adjusting the phase transformation and improving the mechanical properties of steels by RE addition.

Key words: Steels, Diffusion, Austenite-ferrite transformation, Kinetics, Rare earth

Fei Guo, Cheng-Wu Zheng, Pei Wang, Dian-Zhong Li, Yi-Yi Li. Effects of Rare Earth on Austenite-Ferrite Phase Transformation in a Low-Carbon Fe-C Alloy[J]. Acta Metallurgica Sinica (English Letters), 2023, 36(1): 141-146.

Figures/Tables 5

Fig. 1 In situ observation of the austenite-ferrite transformation: a-d Fe-0.14%C alloy, e-h Fe-0.14%C-RE alloy

Fig. 2 a Statistic of the proportion of different ferrite according to the nucleation site and morphology in Fe-0.14%C and Fe-0.14%C-RE alloy, b growth rate of the length of ferrite in the longitudinal direction at various nucleation sites

Fig. 3 Micrographs of Fe-0.14%C-(RE) alloy specimens after decarburization, where a-c corresponding to decarburization time of 15 min, 1 h, and 2 h for Fe-0.14%C alloy specimens, respectively; d-f corresponding to decarburization time of 15 min, 1 h, and 2 h for Fe-0.14%C-RE alloy specimens, respectively

Fig. 4 EBSD IPF images of decarburized layer in a Fe-0.14%C alloy, b Fe-0.14%C-RE alloy specimen, respectively

Fig. 5 Evolution of the ferrite layer thickness during decarburization of the Fe-0.14%C-(RE) alloy at 880 °C as a function of the holding time

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