Isothermal transformation kinetics

T Time-Temperature-Transformation curve
(TTT-curve)

Time to 50% completion

time
Eutectoid decomposition
Low nucleation rate
High diffusivity Small
undercooling
l: 0.81C-0.07Si-0.65Mn (wt%), Austenitized at 860°C, Transformed at 705°C:

NOTE:
50 µ m Soft impingement
is minimal for
t=150 sec t=300 sec eutectoid growth.
t=600 sec
Large pearlite
colonies Coarse pearlite
(large spacing)

NOTE:
Each colony is a
complex 5µ m
intertwined set
t=800 sec of one ferrite
grain and one t=2000 sec t=2000 sec
cementite grain.
Eutectoid decomposition

teel: 0.81C-0.07Si-0.65Mn (wt%), Austenitized at 860°C:

Higher nucleation rate

Higher growth rate

50 µ m
650°C t=10 sec 650°C t=70 sec

650°C t=20 sec

550°C t=0.5 sec 550°C t=0.7 sec

Eutectoid decomposition

eel: 0.81C-0.07Si-0.65Mn (wt%), Austenitized at 860°C, Transformed at 500°C:

t=0.5 sec

50 µ m 5µ m

t=2 sec

50 µ m 5µ m

Around the “knee” of the TTT curve, we see both pearlite and upper bainite.
Summary of eutectoid decomposition
Proeutectoid ferrite
Steel: 0.55wt%C, Austenitized at 860°C, Transformed at 705°C:

t=20 sec t=120 sec (2 min) t=1200 sec (20 min)

t=3600 sec (1 hr) t=7200 sec (2 hr)

Here we see typical grain boundary nucleation of ferrite, which thickens
and grows as grain boundary allotriomorphs, followed by decomposition of
austenite to pearlite, as indicated by the TTT diagram to the right.
Proeutectoid ferrite
Steel: 0.55wt%C, Austenitized at 860°C:

50 µ m

705°C t=7200 sec 650°C t=150 sec 550°C t=15 sec

Below the A1, the

amount of proeutectoid
decreases with
decreasing isothermal
hold temperature.
Notice the dramatic
increase in
transformation rate.

500°C t=5 sec

Proeutectoid ferrite
Steel: 0.55wt%C, Austenitized at 730°C (partial)
~71% austenite
Normal Grain Size Large Grain Size

10 µ m 40 µ m

Water quenched 650°C Water quenched 650°C

550°C 500°C 500°C

For small austenite grains, ferrite “nucleates”

For the large grain size, the ferrite
and grows on the undissolved ferrite, rather
than nucleating new GBAs, resulting in an
650°C forms an almost continuous
network.
irregular structure. For large austenite grains,
new GBAs are nucleated.
t=150 sec
Proeutectoid ferrite
650°C
705°C

0.15 wt% C

0.25 wt% C

0.4 wt% C

The amount of ferrite formed

decreases with increasing
carbon content.
0.6 wt% C
The ferrite morphology also
changes with carbon content.
Proeutectoid ferrite
Proeutectoid ferrite

0.25 wt% C, Austenitized at 1150°C

Transformed
isothermally
at 600°C.

Transformed
at 5°C/min.
Undissolved ferrite and “degenerate” pearlite

Austenitized just above the A1 Austenitized just below the A3

Large amounts of undissolved ferrite Small amounts of undissolved ferrite have

affect the subsequent decomposition. little effect on subsequent decomposition.
Degenerate pearlite
Pearlite and Bainite
0.25 wt% C

675°C 625°C

600°C 500°C