MathematicalModellingofBainiteTransformationKinetics.pdfVIP

OJ PPHYS. IV FRANCE 7 (1997) Colloque C5, Suppl6ment au Journal de Physique 111de novembre 1997 Mathematical Modelling of Bainite Transformation Kinetics N.A. Chester and H.K.D.H. Bhadeshia University of Cambridge, Department of Materials Science and Metallurgy, Pembroke Street, Cambridge CB2 3Q.Z U.K. Abstract: Steels with a mixed microstructure of allotriomorphic ferrite, bainitic ferrite, retained austenite and martensite have potentially good combinations of high strength and formability. This work describes a kinetic theory for the formation of bainite in steels where the precipitation of carbides is suppressed. The theory is based on the mechanism of transformation. It includes, for example, a nucleation model based on the Magee/Olson/Cohen theory for martensite, growth by a diffusionless mechanism in which sheaves of bainite form by the repeated nucleation of sub-units. These latter platelets grow to a size limited by plastic accommodation of the shape deformation. The theory is compared against experimental data. 1. INTRODUCTION Continuously annealed steels, of the type proposed for applications where strength and formability are important, contain a mixed microstructure of allotriomorphic ferrite, bainitic ferrite, martensite and some austenite which is retained. The purpose of the work presented here was to develop and validate a theory which should permit the estimation of the formation of bainite within such steels. There has been a variety of models published on the kinetics of the bainite transformation, but only one which is based on a physical mechanism of transformation [l]. Consistent with a vast array of experimental evidence [2], the growth of bainite is taken to be diffusionless, with the carbon partitioning into the residual