Phase transformations

Felipe Castro Cerda, Ph.D.

Bernd Schulz, Ph.D.

3 – Eutectoid reactions I

1
1. Motivation
Why does pearlite forms in the Fe-C system?
Why does bainite?
How does it?
How fast?
What morphology?

2
1. Thermodynamics

Eutectoid reaction:
γ→α+θ
θ

In Fe-C system, the products of

the eutectoid decomposition
of austenite can be either
Pearlite or Bainite

3
 1. Thermodynamics

Eutectoid reaction:
γ→α+θ
θ

In Fe-C system, the products of

the eutectoid decomposition
of austenite can be either
Pearlite or Bainite

Why does pearlite forms in both hipo and hypereutectoid steel?

Why does pearlite involves ferrite and cementite and not graphite?
4
2. The Fe-C System

0.45 %C steel, 680 °C, 120 s 5

2. The Fe-C System

Bainite

Pearlite

0.45 %C steel, 680 °C, 120 s 6

3. The pearlite reaction
Pearlite consist on a spatial equidistant
arrangement (lamellar in 2D) of ferrite and
cementite

7
3. The Pearlite reaction

8
3. The Pearlite reaction

9
3. The pearlite reaction
Pearlite consist on a spatial equidistant
arrangement (lamellar in 2D) of ferrite and
cementite
The formation of pearlite is a thermally
activated process, i.e., it requires nucleation
and growth.

10
3. The Pearlite reaction

Pearlite grows radial-wise towards

austenite.

Fig. 6-14, P. Shewmon, “Transformations in metals”

Pearlite nucleates preferentially at

grain boundaries.

11
3. The pearlite reaction
Pearlite consist on a spatial equidistant
arrangement (lamellar in 2D) of ferrite and
cementite
The formation of pearlite is a thermally
activated process, i.e., it requires nucleation
and growth.
The boundary between the growing pearlite
and austenite is incoherent, hence of high
mobility.

12
 3. The pearlite reaction
Example: Consider the isothermal growth of pearlite

At a very early stage, t = t1

Pearlite
Interface

Austenite

Interface

13
Fig. 6-14, P. Shewmon, “Transformations in metals”
 3. The pearlite reaction
Example: Consider the isothermal growth of pearlite

Gibbs free energy

T = T1 Gθ
Gγ

Gα

T = T1
XCα/θ
XCα/γ X0 XCγ/α
XCα/γ X0 XCγ/α XCα/θ XCθ
Mole fraction C
Fig. 6-14, P. Shewmon, “Transformations in metals”

14
 Task 1:
3. The pearlite reaction Repeat G-X diagram
for hypereutectoid
steel

Example: Consider the isothermal growth of pearlite

Gibbs free energy

T = T1 Gθ
Gγ

Gα

T = T1
XCα/θ
XCα/γ X0 XCγ/α
XCα/γ X0 XCγ/α XCα/θ XCθ
Mole fraction C
Fig. 6-14, P. Shewmon, “Transformations in metals”
Even well below the eutectoid
temperature A1, cementite might
not be immediately able to
nucleate. 15
1. Respecto del curso

16
 3. The pearlite reaction
Example: Consider the isothermal growth of pearlite

Gibbs free energy

T = T2 Gγ

Gα Gθ
L1

XCα/θ
T = T2
XCα/γ X0 XCγ/α XCα/γ
XCα/θ X0 XCγ/α XCθ
Mole fraction C
Fig. 6-14, P. Shewmon, “Transformations in metals”

17
 3. The pearlite reaction
Example: Consider the isothermal growth of pearlite

Gibbs free energy

T = T2 Gγ

Gα Gθ
L1

XCα/θ
T = T2
XCα/γ X0 XCγ/α XCα/γ
XCα/θ X0 XCγ/α XCθ
Mole fraction C
Fig. 6-14, P. Shewmon, “Transformations in metals”
Pearlite only nucleates and grows
when both ferrite and cementite
are stable, i.e., within the coupled
zone. 18
 3. The pearlite reaction Task 2:
What is the
case at t = 0
and t = ∞?

Cementite Interface

Ferrite

Austenite t = t1
½ SP
½ SP

SP: interlamellar spacing

The isothermal growth of

pearlite involves the
½ SP Austenite t = t2 > t1
movement of both ferrite
and cementite plates at the
same time.

19
 3. The pearlite reaction
The role of carbon: Cooperative growth
Equilibrium in front of ferrite:
Gibbs free energy

Gγ

XCγ/α
Gα
L1

X0

XCα/γ

XCα/γ X0 XCγ/α
Mole fraction C Fig. 6-6, P. Shewmon, “Transformations in metals”

20
3. The pearlite reaction
The role of carbon: Cooperative growth
Equilibrium in front of cementite:

21
 3. The pearlite reaction
The role of carbon: Cooperative growth
Equilibrium in front of cementite:
Gibbs free energy

Gγ
XCθ

Gθ

X0
XCγ/θ
XCγ/θ X0 XCθ
Mole fraction C

22
3. The pearlite reaction
The role of carbon: Cooperative growth

23
4. Kinetics of pearlite growth
The growth rate for either phase is given by

v = DCγ(XCγ - X0)/4ηS*(XCγ - XCα)

Or else
v = kDCγ(∆T)2

24
4. Kinetics of pearlite growth
The growth rate for either phase is given by

v = DCγ(XCγ - X0)/4ηS*(XCγ - XCα)

Or else
v = kDCγ(∆T)2 Task 3:
Prove

25
4. Kinetics of pearlite growth

The growth velocity of

pearlite is inversely
proportional to the
interlamellar spacing.

Fig. 6-17, P. Shewmon, “Transformations in metals”

26
4. Kinetics of pearlite growth

In plain carbon steel,

the prediction of the
interface velocity is
somewhat lower than
the experimental
values.

Fig. 5.58, D. Porter and K. Easterling, “Phase transformations in metals and alloys”

27
Summary
Pearlite growth considers the cooperative
advance of ferrite and cementite into
austenite
The interface must be incoherent
The degree of undercooling determines the
interlamellar spacing.

28
Phase transformations
Felipe Castro Cerda, Ph.D.
Bernd Schulz, Ph.D.

3 – Eutectoid reactions II

29
5. Bainitic growth

Bainite

Pearlite

0.45 %C steel, 680 °C, 120 s 30

5. Bainitic growth
Bainite consists of an arrangement of
Widmanstätten ferrite side plates and
cementite

31
32
5. Bainitic growth
Bainite consists of an arrangement of
Widmanstätten ferrite side plates and
cementite
When cementite precipitates between
ferrite plates, it is called upper bainite
When cementite precipitates within ferrite
plates, it is called lower bainite

33
upper bainite

lower bainite 34
5. Bainitic growth

35
5. Bainitic growth

36
5. Bainitic growth
Diffusional paradigm: Bainite grows under
Austenite
carbon diffusion

1. The edgewise growth of a

Widmanstätten plate
Ferrite

37
5. Bainitic growth
Diffusional paradigm: Bainite grows under
Austenite
carbon diffusion

1. The edgewise growth of a

Widmanstätten plate
Ferrite 2. The subsequent precipitation and
growth of cementite

38
5. Bainitic growth
Diffusional paradigm: Bainite grows under
Austenite
carbon diffusion

1. The edgewise growth of a

Widmanstätten plate
Ferrite 2. The subsequent precipitation and
growth of cementite

39
Schrader A, Wever F. Arch. Eisenhüttenwesen 1952;23:489
5. Bainitic growth
Diffusionless paradigm: Bainite grows
Austenite
essentially as martensite

1. The growth of a saturated ferrite sub-

unit
Ferrite

40
5. Bainitic growth
Diffusionless paradigm: Bainite grows
Austenite
essentially as martensite

1. The growth of a saturated ferrite sub-

unit
FerriteFerrite 2. The precipitation of cementite inside
ferrite and the growth of more sub-
units

41
5. Bainitic growth
Diffusionless paradigm: Bainite grows
Austenite
essentially as martensite

1. The growth of a saturated ferrite sub-

unit
FerriteFerrite 2. The precipitation of cementite inside
ferrite

Fig. 2.3 H.K.D.H. Bhadeshia, Bainite in

steels

42
 6. Bainite - Thermodynamics
Under carbon diffusion, the
limit for bainite growth is
given by the WBs line.

M. Hillert, L. Höglund, J. Agren, Metall. Mater. Trans. 2004, 35A, 3693. 43

 6. Bainite - Thermodynamics
Under carbon diffusion, the
limit for bainite growth is
given by the WBs line.

T = T1

X0 Xr2 Xr1 Xr∞

M. Hillert, L. Höglund, J. Agren, Metall. Mater. Trans. 2004, 35A, 3693. 44

 6. Bainite - Thermodynamics
Under carbon diffusion, the
limit for bainite growth is
given by the WBs line.

According to the diffusionless

paradigm, the limit for
bainite growth is set by the
T0’ line.

M. Hillert, L. Höglund, J. Agren, Metall. Mater. Trans. 2004, 35A, 3693. 45

 6. Bainite - Thermodynamics
Under carbon diffusion, the
limit for bainite growth is
given by the WBs line.

According to the diffusionless

paradigm, the limit for
bainite growth is set by the
T0’ line.

Task 4:
What´s the T0
line?

M. Hillert, L. Höglund, J. Agren, Metall. Mater. Trans. 2004, 35A, 3693. 46

 6. Bainite - Thermodynamics
Under carbon diffusion, the
limit for bainite growth is
given by the WBs line.

According to the diffusionless

paradigm, the limit for
bainite growth is set by the
T0’ line.

In the Fe-C system, the

experimental data fits the
carbon-diffusion controlled
growth mechanism.

M. Hillert, L. Höglund, J. Agren, Metall. Mater. Trans. 2004, 35A, 3693. 47

48
Summary
Bainite is the result of either non-
cooperative growth of ferrite and cementite
or the diffusionless formation of ferrite
followed by carbide precipitation within the
ferritic sub-units
Bainite can only grow inside the parent
austenitic grain boundary
Upper and lower bainite have marked
microstructural features

49
Assignment:
Section 8-6. “diffusion-controlled shear
transformations”, P. Shewmon,
Transformations in Metals.
Section 3.5. “Interface migration”, Porter &
Easterling, Phase Transformations in Metals
and Alloys.

50