Phase transformations

Felipe Castro Cerda, Ph.D.

Bernd Schulz, Ph.D.

2 – Diffusion controlled growth I

1
1. Growth of ferrite in Fe-C
Why does ferrite grow in the Fe-C system?
How does it?
How fast and what controls it?
What morphology?

2
 2. The Fe-C System

Fig. 1, J. Chipman, Met. Trans. A, 3A, pp. 55 (1972) 3

 2. The Fe-C System

Fig. 1, J. Chipman, Met. Trans. A, 3A, pp. 55 (1972) 4

 2. The Fe-C System

Consider a 0.45 %C steel in the

fully austenitic range which is
quenched to a temperature
below A3.

Fig. 1, J. Chipman, Met. Trans. A, 3A, pp. 55 (1972) 5

2. The Fe-C System

0.45 %C steel, 720 °C, 120 s 6

2. The Fe-C System

0.45 %C steel, 720 °C, 120 s 7

 Task 1:
2. The Fe-C System Study the
Dubé
morphological
Initial classification
austenitic system
grain
boundary

Representative
volume of the
microstructure

0.45 %C steel, 720 °C, 120 s 8

 3. Flat-interface growth
Example: Consider the growth of ferrite

At a very early stage, t = t1

Interface

Austenite

Parent austenitic grain

boundary
9
 3. Flat-interface growth Task 2:
Learn the
assumptions
for the model
Example: Consider the growth of ferrite at 720 °C
Interface

At a very early stage, t = t1 Ferrite Austenite

Constant Austenite
t = t2 > t1
Temperature
below A3

t = t∞ F Austenite
?
10
 3. Flat-interface growth
Example: Consider the growth of ferrite at 720 °C

Ci: weight percent of carbon in phase i

Fig. 6-6, P. Shewmon, “Transformations in metals” 11

 3. Flat-interface growth Task 3:
Investigate
Hultgren´s
extrapolation
Example: Consider the growth of ferrite at 720 °C

Ci: weight percent of carbon in phase i

Fig. 6-6, P. Shewmon, “Transformations in metals” 12

 3. Flat-interface growth Task 3:
Investigate
Hultgren´s
extrapolation
Example: Consider the growth of ferrite at 720 °C

Ci: weight percent of carbon in phase i

Fig. 6-6, P. Shewmon, “Transformations in metals” 13

3. Flat-interface growth
The Flux of carbon through the α/γγ interface
can be written
J = vα/γ(XCγ - XCα)
Constant
From Fick´s
Fick s first law: Temperature

J = DCγ(XCγ - X0)/L

XCγ: mole fraction of carbon in austenite nearby α/γ interface

L : diffusion distance

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 3. Flat-interface growth Task 4:
Solve for Xα/γ
and vα/γ.

Equating fluxes one has

DCγ(XCγ - X0)/(Δy) = vα/γ(- XCα)

Solving for the distance

yα/γ = k1t1/2
And the velocity
vα/γ = k2t-1/2
Where k1 and k2 are constants depending on the diffusivity and the
carbon content in ferrite and austenite.
Hint: H. I. Aaronson, “The proeutectoid ferrite and proeutectoid cementite reactions” in V. F. Zackay and H. I. Aaronson (ed.) 15
“Decomposition of austenite by diffusional processes”
3. Flat-interface growth
y v

Planar interface
ferrite follows the
Constant
so-called parabolic
Temperature
growth law.

t
16
Summary
Ferrite can have several shapes
The growth process involves both
crystallographic reconfiguration and long-
range diffusion of carbon
Local Equilibrium at the flat interface
determines the flux of carbon

17
Assignment:
Calculate the velocity of ferrite growth and
the position of the interfase for the following
materials
0.1 %C
0.3 %C
0.5 %C
for T = 650 °C and 10, 20 and 40 % volume
fraction (when the case)
Make the necessary assumptions.

18
Phase transformations
Felipe Castro Cerda, Ph.D.
Bernd Schulz, Ph.D.

2 – Diffusion controlled growth II

19
4. Widmanstätten growth

20
4. Widmanstätten growth

21
4. Widmanstätten growth

111

001 101 22
4. Widmanstätten growth

111

001 101 23
4. Widmanstätten growth

M.V. Kral, and G. Spanos, ‘Three dimensional analysis of grain boundary nucleated proeutectoid ferrite precipitates’, Metallurgical and
Materials Transactions A, vol. 36, no. 5, 2005, pp. 1199–1207.

Widmanstätten ferrite have plate morphology in 3D.

24
4. Widmanstätten growth
From Fick´s first law:

J = vWα/γ(XCγ - XCα)
Austenite

Ferrite r
J = DCγ(X’Cγ - X0)/L

J = DCγ(XCγ - X0)(1-r*/r)/k·r
X’Cγ

X0
vWα/γ = k3·t
Where k3 is a constant depending on the critical
radius, diffusivity and the carbon content in ferrite
25
and austenite.
4. Widmanstätten growth
Constant
Temperature From Fick´s first law:

J = DCγ(X’Cγ - X0)/L
Austenite

Ferrite r
J = DCγ(XCγ - X0)(1-r*/r)/k·r

vWα/γ = (XCγ - X0)(1-r*/r)/

X’Cγ
(XCγ - XCα)k·r
X0
yWα/γ = k3·t
Where k3 is a constant depending on the critical
radius, diffusivity and the carbon content in ferrite
26
and austenite.
 4. Widmanstätten growth Task 5:
Gibbs-
Thomson
effect

T = T1
X’Cγ = Xr

(X’Cγ - X0) = (XCγ - X0)(1-r*/r)

X0 X r2 X r1 X r∞ The radius or curvature r of

the tip has an effect on the
equilibrium composition of
austenite.

Fig. 6-6, P. Shewmon, “Transformations in metals” 27

4. Widmanstätten growth
y v
Constant
Temperature

Planar interface
ferrite follows the
so-called parabolic
growth law.

28
4. Widmanstätten growth
Crystallography: Orientation relationship

M.V. Kral, and G. Spanos, ‘Three dimensional analysis of grain boundary nucleated proeutectoid ferrite precipitates’, Metallurgical and
Materials Transactions A, vol. 36, no. 5, 2005, pp. 1199–1207.

29
Summary
The isothermal kinetics of W ferrite is
constant
The equilibrium concentration of carbon in
austenite in contact with the tip needs to be
corrected
The curvature radius plays a role in the
kinetics
The marked anisotropy of plate growth
stems in the crystallography.

30
Assignment:
Section 3.5 “Interface migration”, Porter &
Easterling.
Section 3.5.1 “Diffusion controlled and
interface controlled growth”, Porter &
Easterling.

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32