Modelling of kinetics and dilatometric behaviour of austenite formation in a low-carbon steel with a ferrite plus pearlite initial microstructure

The compiled knowledge in literature regarding the isothermal formation of austenite from different initial microstructures (pure and mixed microstructures), has been used in this work to develop a model for non-isothermal austenite formation in low-carbon steels (C < 0.2 wt%) with a mixed initial microstructure consisting of ferrite and pearlite. Likewise, calculations of relative change in length have been made as a function of temperature, and the differences between theoretical and experimental results have been analysed in 0.1C-0.5Mn low-carbon low-manganese steel. Experimental kinetic transformation, critical temperatures as well as the magnitude of the overall contraction due to austenite formation are in good agreement with calculations. (C) 2002 Kluwer Academic Publishers.