Indirect evidence for the existence of the Mn partitioning spike during the austenite to ferrite transformation

摘要

The growth kinetics during a final cooling down following cyclic partial phase transformations in the intercritical austenite + ferrite region has been investigated for a Fe-0.17Mn-0.023C alloy (wt.%). For the first time, a specific growth retardation stage was observed. The growth retardation is attributed to the residual Mn spikes in the austenite, as a result of the prior partial phase transformations. The experimental observations are in good agreement with theoretical calculations based on the local equilibrium concept.