Carbide Spheroidization Kinetics in a Low-Alloy Medium-Carbon Steel: Relevance of Deformation After Transformation

摘要

A spheroidization kinetic study has been carried out in a low alloy medium carbon steel by means of image analysis techniques. Two different initial pearlite microstructures, coarse and fine pearlite, have been generated at two different transformation temperatures of 700 and 630℃. The effect of a deformation application once the steel is completely transformed has been analyzed and compared with that observed in non deformed samples. The deformation accelerates spheroidization kinetics and leads to a higher spheroidization degree. Several phenomena that take place during the spheroidization treatment contribute to the matrix softening.