Coarsening kinetics of Cu-rich precipitates in a concentrated multicomponent Fe–Cu based steel

Abstract

Abstract The coarsening kinetics of Cu-rich precipitates in a concentrated multicomponent Fe–Cu based steel, containing 1.12 at.% Cu, aged at 550 °C or at 550 °C plus 2 h at 200 °C is investigated. The temporal evolution of the precipitates, heterophase interfaces, and a-Fe matrix compositions and precipitate morphology are presented. Coarsening time exponents are determined for the mean radius, <R(t)>, and number density, Nv(t), and compared to the Lifshitz – Slyzov – Wagner model for coarsening, modified for concentrated multicomponent alloys by Umantsev – Olson. The experimental results indicate that <R(t)> and Nv(t) are in reasonable agreement with Umantsev – Olson model behavior. Additionally, we compare the results to earlier investigations of similar concentrated multicomponent steels containing 1.82 at.% Cu and 1.17 at.% Cu, aged at 500 °C.