AUSTENITE GRAIN-GROWTH KINETICS IN AL-KILLED PLAIN CARBON-STEELS

Austenite grain growth kinetics have been investigated in three Al-kil led plain carbon steels. Experimental results have been validated usin g the statistical grain growth model by Abbruzzese and Lucke, which ta kes pinning by second-phase particles into account. It is shown that t he pinning force is a function of the pre-heat-treatment schedule. Ext rapolation to the conditions of a hot-strip mill indicates that grain growth occurs without pinning during conventional processing. Analytic al relations are proposed to simulate austenite grain growth for Al-ki lled plain carbon steels for any thermal path in a hot-strip mill.