Experimental Validation of the Carbon Diffusion Model for Transformation of Ferritic-Pearlitic Microstructure into Austenite during Continuous Annealing of Dual Phase Steels

Abstract

Modeling of the transformation of the starting ferritic-pearlitic microstructure into austenite during heating in continuous annealing process was the objective of the work. Kinetics of this transformation was predicted by solving Avrami equation as well as carbon diffusion equation with a moving boundary. Mathematical and numerical models describing austenitic phase transformation were created for the 1D and 2D domains. Developed models were solved using the Finite Difference, as well as the Finite Element Method. Results of the numerical simulations include austenite volume fraction and carbon segregation profiles in the austenite. The former were compared with the experimental data obtained in laboratory simulations of the continuous annealing. Developed and validated model was applied to simulation of the austenitic transformation during annealing of DP steels.