Mechanism of grain growth in Fe−V−N and Fe−Nb−N alloys

Abstract

1. The addition of vanadium and niobium nitrides to pure iron inhibits austenite grain growth, increasing the temperature at which the process occurs. Niobium nitride inhibits grain growth more than vanadium nitride. This is explained by its higher thermal stability. 2. Grain growth in alloys containing vanadium nitride occurs mainly by the mechanism of "fusion," and in alloys with niobium nitride by the migration mechanism. This is also due to the more rapid solution of vanadium nitride (compared with niobium nitride) and its elimination from the grain boundaries.