The evolution of the relative fraction of high-carbon austenite with austem
pering time and temperature was analyzed ill a compacted graphite (CG) cast
iron (average composition, in wt pet: 3.40C, 2.8Si, 0.8Mn, 0.04Cu, 0.01P,
and 0.02S) at five different austempering temperatures between 573 and 673
K. Samples were characterized by Mossbauer spectroscopy, hardness measureme
nts, and optical microscopy. During the first stage of transformation, the
kinetics parameters were determined using the Johnson-Mehl's equation, and
their dependence with temperature in the range from 573 to 673 K indicates
that the transformation is governed by nucleation and growth processes. The
balance between growth-rate kinetics and nucleation kinetics causes the ki
netics parameter (k) to have a maximum at approximate to 623 K Of 3.9 x 10(
-3)(s(-1)). The evolution of the C content in the high-carbon austenite was
found to be controlled by the volume diffusion of carbon atoms from the fe
rrite/austenite interface into austenite, with a dependence of t(0.40+/-0.0
5) On the austempering time (t).