Objectives

1. Describe how nucleation and growth processes are affected by supercooling and superheating 2. Use a TTT diagram to design a cooling process to produce a desired microstructure 3. Explain the microstructure produced on a TTT diagram in terms of nucleation and growth mechanisms

Formation of New Phases Follows A Nucleation + Growth Process

In Solidification This Results in Grains

Can Model Growth: y = 1 exp (-k tn) y - fraction transformed k, n - constants

By Convention Rate r=1 t 0.5

t 0.5 = time for 50% conversion

Rate is Temperature Dependent

r=Ae

Q / RT

The resulting microstructure give evidence of this process:

Dendrites

Square Mold Solidification:

Three cast structures of metals solidified in a square mold (a) Pure metals (b) Solid-solution alloys ( c) Structure obtained using nucleating agents

In solidification undercooling affects rates

Equilibrium Phase Diagram will give -Accurate identification of phases at a given temperature. -Phase breakdown for slow processes

Equilibrium Phase Diagram will NOT tell you -Non-equilibrium structures -Phases present in rapidly cooled parts For this you need a TTT diagram

Time Temperature Transformation Diagram -Identifies non-equilibrium structures produced in processing -Realistic cooling rates

Iron Carbon TTT

Four Microstructures in Steel

Austenite: FCC iron w/ carbon Pearlite: Layers of ferrite and Fe3C Produced just below eutectoidthick layers Fine- Produced @540 C, thin layers Bainite: 200 500 C Transformation Martensite: Rapid Cooling Coarse-

Heat Treatment for hardening begins with Austenite -FCC Iron -High Carbon Solubility Softening Heat Treatments just require reheating.

Pearlite
Austenite Boundaries Cementite Ferrite

Bainite
Acicular Upper at 330 500 C Lower at 200 300 C
Cementite Ferrite

Martensite -Body Centered Tetragonal -Carbon Trapped -Very Hard + Brittle

Tempering (Tempered Martensite) Reheat Martensite -Improves toughness -Small reduction in hardness

Tempered Martensite

Principles of TTT Diagram -Time is time at that temperature, earlier temperatures do not count - The Etch-A-Sketch principle -Fractions must total 100%

Cool Rapidly to 350 C, hold for 10 ^3 s, then quench to room temp. A. B. C. 100% Pearlite 100% Bainite 100% Martensite

Rapidly cool to 625 C, hold for 10 s, then quench to room temp. A. B. C. 100% Coarse Pearlite 100% Medium Pearlite 100% Coarse Bainite

Rapidly cool to 600 C, hold for 4 s, rapidly cool to 450 C, hold for 10 s, then quench to room temp. A. B. C. 50P/25B/25M 25P/50B/25M 50P/50B

Reheat the specimen in part C to 700 C for 20 hrs.

Rapidly cool to 300 C, hold for 20 s, then quench to room temp in water. Reheat to 425C for 10 ^3 s and slowly cool to room temp. A. B. C. Martensite Fine Bainite Tempered Martensite

H. Rapidly cool to 350 C, hold for 150 s, then quench to room temp.

Microstructure Determines Hardness

Effect of Alloying on TTT Diagram 4340 Steel

It is often easier to quench at a fixed rate: Continuous Cooling Diagram

Effect of Alloying Elements

Most alloying elements added to control rate of FCCBCC transformation Some elements add corrosion resistance The alloy itself does not affect properties greatly at low concentration

Follow- Up Heat Treats

Stress Relieving Annealing Normalizing Spheroidizing

Ferrous Materials
Iron Wrought (low % C) Cast (high % C) Plain Carbon Low Alloy Steels Alloy Steels

Annealing 1. Soften Material for Machining 2. Relieve Stresses 3. Alter Properties 4. Condition for Subsequent work

Normalizing 1. Relieve Stress 2. Refine Grains 3. Homogenize Part

Spheroidizing Convert carbide inclusions to a more spherical shape

Spheroidite
(1000X)

Problems of Quick Cooling

Rapid Quenching Problems

1. 2.

Distortion (Thermal > SY) Cracking

Tricks
Marquenching Quench to MS Slow Cool to MF in Air Austempering Make Bainite Just Above MS Slow Cool to Room Temp.