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Fig. 7. Fracture surface of Charpy V-notch specimens containing acicular ferrite a) magnification x
670;b) detail magnification x 1620
a) b)
Obr. 7. Lomov plocha vzork s acikulrnm feriten a Charpyho V-vrubem a) zvten x 670;b) detail
zvten x 1620
Acicular ferrite represents woven, chaotic matrix showing favourable toughness. Typical acicular
ferrite fracture surfaces Fig. 7 a. and Fig. 7b.demonstrate. Fracture surface shows even dimple
character and the average dimple diameter equals 2.4m. In case of granular bainite results of the
microfractography analysis corresponds to the determined different values of the impact toughness of
specimens taken from the web and flange. The fracture surfaces have a cleavage feature and the
intergranular fractures are not observed. The average dimension of fracture facets corresponds to
20m in the case of web as can be seen in Fig. 8a. On the contrary the average dimension of flange
cleavage facets is 7m only as it follows from Fig. 8b. In this figure higher occurrence of ductile ridges
can be observed.
METAL 2009 19. 21. 5. 2009, Hradec nad Moravic
____________________________________________________________________________________________________
Fig. 8. Fracture surface of Charpy V-notch specimen a) web; b) flance (magnification
x 500)
a)
Obr. 8. Lomov plocha vzork s Charpyho V-vrubem a) stojina; b) pruba (zvten
x 500)
4. DISCUSSION
Acicular ferrite plates (laths) are nucleated intragranularly on specific non-metallic particles at the
same temperature as upper bainite, practically [5-7]. The plates (laths) are realized without diffusion
process, by displacive mechanism showing chaotic configuration. The filling corresponded to pearlite
microstructure in presented case. Displacive mechanism is connected with higher dislocation density,
what was also confirmed. The dislocation density corresponded to 10
14
m
-2
of order. However, it is
interested, that the similar value was also detected in case of alotriomorphic ferrite, even when this f
errite type is diffusion austenite transformation product. Hence, there could be awaited the dislocation
density lower in order. It is true, the measurement was only informative. The higher dislocation density
of acicular ferrite is supposed to contribute to general favorable hydrogen induced cracking resistance,
too [8]. Higher dislocation density represents other potential traps for regular hydrogen distribution,
even when the main response for the hydrogen resistance can be taken into account the high angle
boundaries being detected among neighbouring acicular ferrite plates (laths) corresponding to energy
obstacle for cleavage crack propagation [9, 10].
Regarding the thicker part of the U-profile-web, the higher volume fraction of M/A constituent
corresponds to its lower cooling rate unlike the thinner flange following from Fig. 3a. and Fig. 3b.
Based on diffusion-less formation of granular bainite, the possible effect influencing the M/A
constituent formation can be described as follows. During the granular bainite transformation, its sub-
unit grains form and inherit the full carbon content of the parent austenite. In practice, the whole of the
austenite grain does not transform instantaneously owing to kinetic restriction (heterogeneous
nucleation). The first sub-unit grain forms with full super-saturation what is followed with a process of
the excess carbon rejecting into the residual austenite. As the granular bainite ferrite transformation
proceeds, in the residual austenite the carbon concentration will be gradually increased up to the
critical carbon content corresponding to temperature when austenite and ferrite of given composition
have equal free enthalpy. When austenite being enriched with carbon is continuously cooled to a
temperature lying below the martensite transformation start (temperature M
s
) it will transform to
martensite partially. The result of this process is the M/A constituent formation. Hence, the amount of
the M/A constituent is related to the critical carbon content of the residual austenite where the bainite
transformation increases [11].
The detected high carbon content of 0.60% represents 7.5 times higher carbon level than is
analyzed in Table 1. Observed substructure documented by Figs. 6a., 6b. and detected dislocation
density of the M/A constituent are an evidence of high carbon martensite being formed by displacive
mechanism.
5. CONCLUSIONS
Two microstructures being formed by displacive mechanism are compared. It regards acicular
ferrite and M/A constituent being granular bainite product. Acicular ferrite demonstrated a higher
dislocation density (1.1.10
14
m
-2
in average). It can be held for further hydrogen traps in case of
hydrogen resistance evaluation. Results show 7.5 times higher carbon content in M/A constituent
being evidence of high carbon martensite. It was confirmed through substructure of M/A constituent
plate.
METAL 2009 19. 21. 5. 2009, Hradec nad Moravic
____________________________________________________________________________________________________
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
Authors acknowledge the Department of Industry and Trade of Czech Republic for financial
support (FI-IM 3/159).
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