Effect of boron on phosphorus-induced temper embrittlement

Combined equilibrium and non-equilibrium grain boundary segregation of solu te atoms in dilute ternary alloys is modelled through consideration of site competition between two solutes. Model predictions are made for a low-allo y steel containing boron. The predicted results indicate that the kinetics of phosphorus segregation are dramatically facilitated by quenched-in vacan cies, and the magnitude of the segregation, however, is substantially suppr essed by the competition of boron with phosphorus for segregation sites, an d in turn the phosphorus-induced embrittlement may be alleviated. (C) 1999 Kluwer Academic Publishers.