IDENTIFICATION AND RANGE QUANTIFICATION OF STEEL TRANSFORMATION PRODUCTS BY TRANSFORMATION KINETICS

This study applied the generalized kinetic reaction rate equation to i sothermal transformation kinetic data of a high-carbon low-alloy steel and a plain-carbon steel. AS a result, a relationship between the cur ve shape constant n and transformation temperature emerged. Detailed a nalysis of this relationship yielded a correlation between austenite d ecomposition mode and transformation temperature. Using this correlati on, it is possible to determine pearlite, upper bainite, and lower bai nite transformation temperature ranges and to find the transition temp erature region between any two reactions. This development led to a ne w microstructural characterization technique which identified transfor mation product through transformation kinetics with minimal metallogra phic analysis.