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Phase Transformation in Metals: Dr. Aneela Wakeel
Phase Transformation in Metals: Dr. Aneela Wakeel
PHASE
TRANSFORMATION IN
METALS
Dr. Aneela Wakeel
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For each curve, data were collected after rapidly cooling a specimen composed of
100% austenite to the temperature indicated; that temperature was maintained constant
throughout the course of the reaction
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Rate of transformation
According to equation, the transformation rate at
some particular temperature is inversely
proportional to the time required for the reaction to
proceed to 50% completion (to the dashed line in
Figure 10.13).
That is, the shorter this time, the higher is the rate.
3.5sec 15sec
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Coarse pearlite:
At temperatures just below the eutectoid, relatively thick layers of both the α -
ferrite and Fe3C phases are produced; this microstructure is called coarse pearlite,
and the region at which it forms is indicated to the right of the
completion curve on Figure 10.14.
At these temperatures,
diffusion rates are relatively
high, such that during the
transformation carbon atoms
can diffuse relatively long
distances, which results in
the formation of thick
lamellae.
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Bainite:
The microstructure of bainite
consists of ferrite and cementite
phases, and thus diffusional processes
are involved in its formation.
Bainite forms as needles or plates,
depending on the temperature of the A, austenite; C,
transformation. proeutectoid cementite;
P, pearlite.
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Spheroidite
If a steel alloy having either pearlitic or bainitic
microstructures is heated to, and left at, a
temperature below the eutectoid for a sufficiently
long period of time—for example, at about 700℃
for between 18 and 24 h—yet another
microstructure will form. It is called spheroidite
(Figure 10.19).
Instead of the alternating ferrite and cementite
lamellae (pearlite), or the microstructure
observed for bainite, the Fe3C phase appears as
sphere-like particles embedded in a continuous α
phase matrix.
This transformation has occurred by additional
carbon diffusion with no change in the
compositions or relative amounts of ferrite and
cementite phases. The driving force
for this transformation is the reduction in –Fe3
C phase boundary area.
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Martensite
o Yet another microconstituent or phase
called martensiteis formed when
austenitized iron–carbon alloys are rapidly
cooled (or quenched) to a relatively low
temperature (in the vicinity of the ambient).
o Martensite is a non-equilibrium single-phase
structure that results from a diffusionless
transformation of austenite.
o It may be thought of as a transformation
product that is competitive with pearlite and
bainite.
o The martensitic transformation occurs when
the quenching rate is rapid enough to
prevent carbon diffusion. Any diffusion
whatsoever will result in the formation of
ferrite and cementite phases.
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Martensitic transformation
The martensitic transformation is not well understood. However, large
numbers of atoms experience cooperative movements, in that there is only a
slight displacement of each atom relative to its neighbors. This occurs in such
a way that the FCC austenite experiences a polymorphic transformation to a
body-centered tetragonal (BCT) martensite.
Austenite-Martensite transformation
The austenite-to-martensite transformation
is, however, represented on the isothermal
transformation diagram.
Since the martensitic transformation is
diffusionless and instantaneous, it is not
depicted in this diagram as the pearlitic
and bainitic reactions are.
The beginning of this transformation is
represented by a horizontal line designated
M(start) (Figure 10.22). Two other
horizontal and dashed lines, labeled
M(50%) and M(90%), indicate percentages
of the austenite-to-martensite
transformation.
The temperatures at which these lines are
located vary with alloy composition but,
nevertheless, must be relatively low
because carbon diffusion must be virtually
nonexistent.
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Summary
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The layer thickness of each of the ferrite and cementite phases in the microstructure
also influences the mechanical behavior of the material. Fine pearlite
is harder and stronger than coarse pearlite, as demonstrated in Figure 10.30a, which
plots hardness versus the carbon concentration.
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The reasons for this behavior relate to phenomena that occur at the α-Fe3C –
phase boundaries.
First, there is a large degree of adherence between the two phases across a
boundary. Therefore, the strong and rigid cementite phase severely restricts
deformation of the softer ferrite phase in the regions adjacent to the boundary;
thus the cementite may be said to reinforce the ferrite.
For fine pearlite there are more boundaries through which a dislocation must
pass during plastic deformation. Thus, the greater reinforcement and restriction
of dislocation motion in fine pearlite account for its greater hardness and
strength.
Coarse pearlite is more ductile than fine pearlite, as illustrated in Figure 10.30b,
which plots percentage reduction in area versus carbon concentration for both
microstructure types. This behavior results from the greater restriction to plastic
deformation of the fine pearlite.
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Spheroidite
The cementite phase has distinctly different shapes
and arrangements in the pearlite
and spheroidite microstructures (Figures).
Alloys containing pearlitic microstructures have
greater strength and hardness than do those
with spheroidite. This is demonstrated in Figure
10.30a, which compares the hardness as a
function of the weight percent carbon for
spheroidite with both the other pearlite structure
types.
Bainite
Bainitic steels have a finer structure (i.e., smaller α -ferrite and Fe3C
particles), they are generally stronger and harder than pearlitic ones; yet they
exhibit a desirable combination of strength and ductility.
Martensite
Martensite is the hardest
and strongest and, in
addition, the most brittle;
it has, in fact, negligible
ductility.
Its hardness is dependent
on the carbon content, up
to about 0.6 wt% as
demonstrated in Figure
10.32, which plots the
hardness of martensite
and fine pearlite as a
function of weight percent
carbon.
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Martensite Property
In contrast to pearlitic steels, strength and hardness of martensite are not thought
to be related to microstructure. Rather, these properties are attributed to the
effectiveness of the interstitial carbon atoms in hindering dislocation motion (as a
solid-solution effect, and to the relatively few slip systems (along which dislocations
move) for the BCT structure.
Austenite is slightly denser than martensite, and therefore, during the phase
transformation upon quenching, there is a net volume increase. Consequently,
relatively large pieces that are rapidly quenched may crack as a result of internal
stresses; this becomes a problem especially when the carbon content is greater
than about 0.5 wt%
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