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Effect of strong magnetic field on isothermal transformation of degenerate

pearlite in an Fe-C-Mo alloy

Article  in  Acta Metallurgica Sinica (English Letters) · August 2010

DOI: 10.11890/1006-7191-104-248

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Acta Metall. Sin.(Engl. Lett.)Vol.23 No.4 pp248-254 August 2010

Effect of strong magnetic field on isothermal transformation

of degenerate pearlite in an Fe-C-Mo alloy
∗
Zhenni ZHOU, Guohong ZHANG and Kaiming WU
Hubei Province Key Laboratory of Systems Science in Metallurgical Processing, Institute of Advanced
Steels and Welding Technology, Wuhan University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430081, China
Manuscript received 10 December 2009; in revised form 1 April 2010

The pearlite transformation in a Mo-containing iron alloy was investigated under 12 T

magnetic field. The pearlite transformation was accelerated owing to the application
of a strong magnetic field. Pearlite was of degenerated morphology without the
presence of a strong magnetic field; but the degeneracy of pearlite is reduced when
a strong magnetic field was applied, which may be attributed to the effect of strong
magnetic field on faster carbon diffusion and less molybdenum segregation caused by
a strong magnetic field.
KEY WORDS Steels; Pearlite; Phase transformation; Strong magnetic field

1 Introduction

Owing to the scientific and industrial importance, the influence of alloying elements on
the growth kinetics of proeutectoid ferrite in Fe-C-X alloys has attracted much research
interest[1−3] . The alloying elements investigated include Mo, Cr, Mn, Ni, Co, Al, Si etc.
Because Mo preferentially inhibits pearlite formation and exhibits a deep bay at interme-
diate temperatures[4−6] , Fe-C-Mo alloy is regarded as one of the alloy systems in which
alloy element effects are actively investigated[1−14] . Most of these studies are focused on
solute drag effect of Mo, the growth kinetics of ferrite allotriomorphs and the incomplete
transformation[1−12] . In recent years, degenerate ferrite transformation and carbide pre-
cipitation of an Fe-0.28C-3.0Mo (wt pct) alloy were investigated under strong magnetic
fields[13,14] . It was found that the solute drag effect, caused by Mo element accumulation
at ferrite/austenite boundaries below the TTT-diagram bay, is greatly reduced by the ap-
plication of strong magnetic field[13] . The sequence of molybdenum carbide precipitation
during isothermal holding in an Fe-C-Mo allloy was changed by applying a 12 T high
magnetic field[14] . The present work aims to study the effects of strong magnetic filed on
pearlite transformation of this alloy.
The increasing availability of strong magnetic fields makes it possible to investigate
magnetic field effects on various phase transformations in steels, including martensite[15,16] ,
∗
Corresponding author. Professor, PhD; Tel.: +86 27 68862772 or 68893270; Fax: +86 27 68893261.

E-mail address: wukaiming@wust.edu.cn; wukaiming2000@yahoo.com (Kaiming WU)

 · 249 ·

bainite[17,18] , ferrite[19,20] and pearlite[21,22] transformations. Xu et al.[21] showed an in-

crease for the number of pearlite nodules of hypereutectoid steels in a field of 10 T. Re-
cently, the investigation for the effect of strong magnetic field on the formation of pearlite
in a Fe-0.12C steel revealed that pearlite colonies elongate and align along the field direc-
tion, and that this tendency increases with increasing magnetic field strength[22] . These
investigations are focused on Fe-C alloys, but few studies have been made for magnetic
field effects on pearlite transformation in Mo alloyed steel. And the alloying element Mo
has much strong influence on pearlite transformation[23−26] . Thus, the present work fo-
cuses the effects of strong magnetic field on pearlite transformation in a Mo alloyed steel,
especially on the morphology of pearlite.

2 Experimental

In order to avoid the complication of interactive effects among multiple solutes, the
alloy studied was prepared by vacuum induction melting utilizing high purity electrolytic
iron, graphite and molybdenum. The chemical composition (wt pct) of steel sample is
C 0.28%, Si<0.01%, Mn<0.01%, P<0.01%, S<0.01%, Mo 3.0%. Ingots were hot worked
and then homogenized at 1250 ◦ C for two days in a vacuum quartz capsule. Specimens of
4 mm×4 mm×18 mm were cut from the homogenized sample and austenitized at 910 ◦ C
for 30 min in an argon atmosphere and then isothermally transformed in a salt bath at
temperatures ranging from 610 to 700 ◦ C with and without the presence of a 12 T magnetic
field. Specimens were immediately quenched after isothermal holding. The schematic
illustration of heat treatment apparatus and the relative position between the specimen
and magnetic field direction are shown in Fig.1. After heat treatment specimens were
polished and etched with 3 vol. pct nital solution for microscopy analysis. The polished
planes were perpendicular to the field direction. The mean grain size after austenitization
was 12–20 µm.

Fig.1 Schematic illustration of heat treatment apparatus (a) and the relative position between the
specimen and magnetic field direction (b).
· 250 ·

3 Results

3.1 Fraction of pearlite transformed Table 1 Measured fraction of pearlite trans-

formed with and without the pres-
The progress of the overall transforma- ence of a strong magnetic field
tion was measured with the standard point-
Temperature 600 s 3600 s
counting technique at a magnification of
Off On Off On
500. The measured volume fraction of trans- 640 ◦ C 0 Very few 0.5% 1.2%
formed pearlite when a 12 T magnetic field 700 ◦ C 0.2% 0.4% 0.9% 2.5%
is on and off, is listed in Table 1.

3.2 SEM microstructures of pearlite

SEM micrographs of the specimens isothermally held in a magnetic field of 0 and 12 T
at 700 ◦ C for 600 s and 3600 s are presented in Figs.2 and 3. It is seen that transformed
products are predominantly ferrite grains and a lot of pearlite nodules. When specimens
were held for 600 s, less and smaller pearlite nodules were formed. With the increase of
isothermal holding, more and bigger pearlite nodules were formed. In addition, a typical
lamellar structure of pearlite was not observed. The mixed structures of ferrite and ce-
mentite are clearly seen. Ferrite and cementite layers are not continuous. This is so-called

Fig.2 SEM images of specimens isothermally held at 700 ◦ C for 600 s without (a) and with (b)
the presence of 12 T magnetic field.

Fig.3 SEM images of specimens isothermally held at 700 ◦ C for 3600 s without (a) and with (b)
the presence of 12 T magnetic field.
 · 251 ·

degenerate pearlite[23] . However, some lamellar structures or continuous layers are observed
in the pearlite nodules, as marked by circles in Figs.2b and 3b, when the specimen was
heat treated in a strong magnetic field.
Fig.4 shows SEM micrographs of pearlite transformed at lower temperature (640 ◦ C)
for 3600 s. It is seen that the pearlite is of serious degenerated morphology when the
specimen was heat treated without magnetic field. It is actually a mixed microstructures
consisting of granular cementite and ferrite, as marked by circles in Fig.4a. However, some
lamellar structures or continuous layers are observed in the pearlite nodules, as marked
by circles in Fig.4b, when the specimen was heat treated in 12 T magnetic field. This
indicates that the degeneracy of pearlite is reduced by the application of a strong magnetic
field.

Fig.4 SEM images of specimens isothermally held at 640 ◦ C for 3600 s without (a) and with (b)
12 T magnetic field.

At higher transformation temperature (700 ◦ C), pearlite formed at shorter (600 s)

and longer (3600 s) holding times (Figs.2 and 3). At lower transformation temperatures,
pearlite formed only at a longer holding time (3600 s), no matter whether a strong magnetic
field was applied or not (Table 1). Pearlite was just observable in the specimen isothermally
held at 640 ◦ C for a longer holding time (3600 s), which is caused by slow diffusion of carbon,
iron and molybdenum at lower temperature. No pearlite formed at 610 ◦ C even for longer
holding times.

4 Discussion

4.1 Effect of magnetic field on pearlite transformation rate

The effect of alloying elements on the transformation behavior of austenite in steels
may be rationalized on the basis of understanding of how the alloying elements are parti-
tioned between the various phases during the transformation. It is reported that pearlite
grows under partitioning of molybdenum between ferrite and cementite[24] . The addition
of molybdenum raises eutectoid temperature and partitions over the full range of pearlite
formation[25] . The diffusion of Mo and its interaction with carbon influences transformation
rate and product morphology.
Pearlitic alloy steels, especially Mo alloyed steel, exhibit slow growth rate. Adding
0.77 wt pct Mo to eutectoid steel is observed to increase the pearlite transformation time
· 252 ·

by approximately 28000 times, compared with the alloy without Mo addition[26] . Mo prefer-
entially inhibits pearlite formation when Mo concentration reaches higher levels[4−6,10−12] .
This is attributed to an interaction between the alloying element and carbon in the trans-
formation interface, leading to a reduction in the diffusion coefficient of carbon and in the
driving force for diffusion[27] . In the present work, the alloy contains 3.0Mo and 0.28C,
which causes the slow transformation observed.
Because the ferrite is ferromagnetic below about 770 ◦ C whereas the austenite in low-
alloy steels is paramagnetic, it is expected that transformation under the influence of a
magnetic field will increase the driving force for austenite-pearlite transformation. The
phase diagram in a ternary Fe-C-Mo alloy in the presence of 12 T magnetic field was
calculated using Weiss molecular field theory, which took into account phenomenologically
the influence of alloying element (Mo) on the magnetic moment and the Curie temperature
of iron solid solution. The full details
of calculation procedure have been re-
ported elsewhere[19,28] . The relevant thermo-
1000

dynamic data were taken from Uhrenius0

C

900

compilation[29] . Fig.5 shows the isoplethal

o
Temperature /

+cem
+

section of Fe-C-3Mo (wt pct) system with 800

and without a 12 T magnetic field. The

upper Ae1 temperature[30] (the upper tem-
700

+ +cem
+cem

perature limit for pearlite formation) of the 600

present alloy was 747 ◦ C without magnetic

field whereas it increased to 758 ◦ C with a
0.0 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5 0.6 0.7 0.8

Carbon content / wt pct

12 T magnetic field. Thus, a 12 T magnetic

field raised the transformation temperature, Fig.5 Isoplethal section of Fe-C-3.0%Mo sys-
increased the undercooling and accelerated tem without (solid line) and with
(dashed line) a 12 T magnetic field.
the pearlite transformation.

4.2 Effect of magnetic field on pearlite morphology

Degenerated morphology of pearlite was observed in the specimens no matter whether
a strong magnetic field was applied or not. However, the degeneracy of pearlite was
reduced by the presence of a 12 T magnetic field, especially at lower temperature (Fig.4).
Similar to lamellar pearlite, degenerated pearlite is also formed by diffusion process and
the formation of the latter is attributed to the insufficient diffusion of carbon to develop
continuous lamellae[31] . It is recently reported that a strong magnetic field can reduce
grain boundary segregation of substitutional solutes in iron alloy[32] . It is suggested that
magnetic field can assist carbon diffusion in γ-iron[32] . It is also reported that the solute
drag effect, caused by the segregation of Mo and the interaction of carbon and Mo, in a
Fe-C-Mo alloy was greatly reduced by applying a 12 T magnetic field[13] . The reduction of
pearlite degeneracy may thus be attributed to the effects of strong magnetic field on the
faster diffusion of carbon and less segregation of molybdenum, which nevertheless needs
further studies.
Recently, Song et al. investigated the effect of strong magnetic field on the formation
of pearlite in a Fe-0.12C steel[22] . It was reported that pearlite colonies elongated and
aligned along the field direction due to the preferential nucleation of proeutectoid ferrite in
 · 253 ·

the late stage of proeutectoid transformation. The pearlite colonies elongated and aligned
along the field direction were not observed. In the present work, the polishing planes of
field-treated specimens were perpendicular to the field direction.

4.3 Effect of austenitizing temperature on pearlite transformation

Pearlite transformation is preferentially inhibited by the addition of Mo[4−6] . It is
reported that pearlite did not form even for a longer time (10000 s) when specimens
were austenitized at 1250 ◦ C or higher[4−6,10−12] . In these conditions the grain size after
austenitization reached 200–300 µm. It is worthy of noting that the present alloy was
austenitized at a much lower temperature (910 ◦ C), pearlite formation was observed in
the specimens isothermally held for even shorter times (600 s). In the present study, the
grain size after austenitization is 12–20 µm and the average is 14.6 µm. The pearlite
transformation in the present study is also promoted by much smaller austenite grain size.

5 Conclusions

The isothermal transformation of degenerate pearlite in an Fe-0.28C-3.0Mo (wt pct)

steel was investigated under 12 T magnetic field utilizing scanning electron microscopy
(SEM). Degenerate pearlite was both observed in the temperature range from 640 to 700 ◦ C
without and with applying a strong magnetic field. Pearlite was of degenerated morphology
when magnetic field was not applied whereas some lamellar structures formed when a strong
magnetic field was applied. The reduction of pearlite degenerency is probably attributed
to the assistance of carbon diffusion and reduction of molybdenum segregation caused by
a strong magnetic field.

Acknowledgements—The authors express their thanks to Professor M. Enomoto, Ibaraki University, Japan,
for providing alloy specimen and conducting magnetic heat treatment in his laboratory.
The authors gratefully acknowledge the financial support for this research from State
Ministry of Education (No.NCET-05-0680) and from Natural Science Foundation of
Hubei Province (No.2006ABB037).

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