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An assessment of the additivity principle in predicting continuous-cooling austenite-to-pearlite transformation kinetics using isothermal transformation data

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Abstract

The limits of applicability of the Additivity Principle, necessary for the prediction of continuous-cooling transformation kinetics from isothermal transformation data, are clarified based on an analysis of recently measured austenite-to-pearlite transformation kinetics in a eutectoid, plain-carbon steel. It has been found that additivity holds for the transformation event, exclusive of the incubation period, in this steel. But the isokinetic condition defined by Avrami, and the early site-saturation criteria postulated by Cahn as sufficient conditions for additivity are not satisfied. Thus a new condition, termed “effective site saturation”, is proposed in which the growth of pearlite nucleated early in the transformation dominates the overall kinetics of austenite decomposition. A criterion for effective site saturation has been established.

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Abbreviations

b :

Kinetic parameter from Avrami equation

d :

Austenite grain diameter (mm)

f 1(t 1):

Fraction transformed in timet 1

f 2(t 2):

Fraction transformed in timet 2

G :

Pearlite growth rate, (mm/s)

G(x) :

Parameter that is solely a function of fraction transformed

H(T) :

Parameter that is solely a function of temperature

L :

Average length of the grain edge, mm

N :

Pearlite nucleation rate (no. nodules/mm3 s)

N c :

Grain corner nucleation rate

N e :

Grain edge nucleation rate

N s :

Grain surface nucleation rate

n :

Kinetic parameter from Avrami equation

t :

Time (s)

t Av :

Designation of start time for transformation

t a1 :

Time required to produce a given fraction transformed atT 1 (s)

t a1 :

Time required to produce a given fraction transformed toT 2 (s)

t a (T):

Isothermal time to reach fractionX a at temperatureT

t 0.5 :

Isothermal time to produce 0.5 volume fraction transformed

t 20 :

Isothermal time to 20 pct transformed—includes incubation time,i.e., t = 0 atT a1

t 90 :

Isothermal time to 90 pct transformed—includes incubation time,i.e., t = 0 atT a1

t 20T :

Isothermal time to 20 pct transformed—only transformation time,i.e., t = 0 att> a1

t 90T :

Isothermal time to 90 pct transformed—only transformation time,i.e., t = 0 att Av

V 20 :

Volume contribution at 90 pct transformed of nodules nucleated in the first 20 pct of the transformation

V 90 :

Volume present at 90 pct transformation

V Ex :

Extended volume fraction, neglects impingement

V Tr :

True volume fraction—extended volume fraction corrected for impingement

X :

Fraction transformed

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Mechanical Engineering, Louisiana State University, 70808, Baton Rouge, LA

    M. B. Kuban Ph.D. (Graduate Student)

  2. The Tata Iron and Steel Company, Ltd., Bombay House, 24, Homi Mody Street, Fort, 400023, Bombay, India

    R. Jayaraman

  3. The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada

    E. B. Hawbolt (Professor, Metallurgical Engineering)

  4. The Centre for Metallurgical Process Engineering, Department of Metallurgical Engineering, The University of British Columbia, V6T 1W5, Vancouver, BC, Canada

    J. K. Brimacombe (Stelco/NSERC Professor and Director)

Authors
  1. M. B. Kuban Ph.D.
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  2. R. Jayaraman
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  3. E. B. Hawbolt
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  4. J. K. Brimacombe
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Kuban, M.B., Jayaraman, R., Hawbolt, E.B. et al. An assessment of the additivity principle in predicting continuous-cooling austenite-to-pearlite transformation kinetics using isothermal transformation data. Metall Trans A 17, 1493–1503 (1986). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02650085

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