Alloying Effects on Reverse Transformation to Austenite from Pearlite or Tempered Martensite Structures

Abstract

Reverse transformation has been frequently used to refine austenite grain size for refining ferrite, pearlite and martensite structures. However, kinetics and microstructure change during reverse transformation to austenite has not been examined systematically compared with the austenite decomposition reaction. Therefore, alloying effects of 1mass% Mn, Si and Cr on reverse transformation kinetics from pearlite and tempered martensite structures in Fe-0.6mass%C alloys were investigated in this study. Vickers hardness of all the specimens increases with increasing holding time at 1073K because reversely-formed austenite transforms to martensite by quenching. In the reverse transformation from pearlite structure, the kinetics of reverse transformation is hardly changed by the Mn addition while Si and Cr additions delay it. Kinetics of reverse transformation from tempered martensite structure becomes slower than from the pearlite structure in all the alloys. In particular, retarding effect by the Cr addition is most significant among those elements.