THE EFFECT OF DEFORMATION ON THE INTERNAL FRICTION OF IRON MEASURED AT THE CARBON PEAK POSITION

Abstract

Experiments have been carried out to investigate the influence of deformation on the internal friction of iron measured at the carbon peak. As a result of deformation the internal friction increased and then decreased with time. These changes, corrected for a background change associated with the deformation, were shown to follow a time law predicted for carbon segregation to dislocations. It is concluded that the amount of carbon in random solid solution is increased by the deformation. By analyzing the rate of decrease of internal friction following deformation in terms of strain-aging theory the final dislocation densities were determined. The results also indicate that in some cases the carbon put into solution by the deformation was initially present in the form of iron carbide particles.