Finite Difference Simulation of Peritectic Transformation in Iron-Carbon Alloy

Abstract

The process of peritectic transformation during cooling of iron-carbon alloys has been simulated by a numerical analysis based on the direct finite difference method. During the peritectic transformation, austenite is produced from δ-ferrite by precipitation and from liquid by crystallization. The amount of precipitated austenite is approximately four times as large as that of the crystallized one. Both the amounts of the precipitated austenite and the crystallized one increase when the carbon content of the alloy increases from 0.09 to 0.17 mass%, but they decrease when it increases from 0.17 to 0.53 mass%. The finishing temperature of the peritectic transformation falls with the increase in carbon content from 0.09 to 0.17 mass%, but it rises with the further increase in carbon content to 0.53 mass%. The increase in cooling rate accelerates the transformation rate and reduces the finishing temperature.